Town Hall renovation bids on target at $2.25 million
By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER West Roxbury. The committee met with Kaffee Kang, the project's architect, on Tuesday, March 27, to discuss some of the project details. She told the committee O'Connor's recommendations were "better than average." "They have been in the business for a long time," she said. The committee has budgeted $100,000 for the windows to be restored as a separate part of the project. The bids for that job have not been solicited yet. Selectmen will review the committee's recommendation at their meeting on Monday, April 2.

Town Hall Building Committee members say they have enough money to accept the lowest bid for the building's renovation.

The committee met quickly and unofficially on Thursday, March 22, just over 24 hours after the project bids were accepted.

"This is just about where the bids had to come in," said Committee Chairman David Sargent.

M. O'Connor Contracting submitted the lowest base bid at $2,247,700. The company's bid was also the lowest including the two alternatives - a chiller for the ventilation system at $89,000 and additional roof work at $48,000.

The only other bid came in from Eastern General Contractors at $2,310,000 with the two alternatives costing $74,000 and $38,000, respectively.

The state bid process requires alternatives be taken in order if they are used at all.

Voters approved $2.729 million for the project in 2005 and within that sum the committee has to pay for the general bid, the architect, the project manager and other soft costs. Committee members also want to keep a small contingency fund in case there are unforeseen problems with the renovation.

Town officials opened the bids on Wednesday, March 21. Sargent said at 12:55 p.m. there was only one bid, the one from Eastern General, and O'Connor's bid arrived minutes before the 1 p.m. deadline.

The committee wants to review the budget and ensure all of the requirements are met before issuing a letter of intent to work with O'Connor. The bids are good for 30 days after they are open, so the committee has until April 21 to make a decision.

O'Connor is a small company based in