Construction progressing on schedule for PSB
By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

The new Public Safety Building is 16 percent complete, according the builders, who expect the completion date to be Aug. 18, 2008.

The Public Safety Committee met on Tuesday, Aug. 7, to discuss the progress of the building. The foundation is completely poured as is the north-facing wall and 75 percent of the two side walls were poured as of the meeting.

"Things are moving along fine," said Curtis A. Edgin, the project's architect from Caolo & Bieniek Associates.

One of the next steps for the committee will be selecting the color combinations for the building's exterior. Edgin recommended to the committee stick with earth tones because they are more attractive and they fade less quickly and they show less dirt over time.

The committee also got the final price for the change order to the design of the basement training room and kitchen area. Edgin was able to add a half-wall with a rolling window to separate the kitchen area from the training room for just over $16,000 in construction cost and $8,500 in design work.

"Now we have a separate kitchen with access to the hallway," Gagnon explained after the meeting. "It's really a nice set up. It didn't eat up the entire contingency amount."

Before the final bids for the construction of the building were received and construction was started, discussions were held about whether to build the bays for the Fire Department first and allow them access to that area during the winter months.

Gagnon said because construction has started on the entire project, the partial move is unlikely to occur.

"The contract owns the site. I just don't think it's going to work," he said.

Previous to the change order the kitchen and the training room were not separated.

The Fire Department has been housing their vehicles outside and in a garage owned by Cushing Academy since Central Station received structural damage during a fire at the Ashburnham TruValue Hardware store in January 2004.

"I would love to estimate a value in what they have donated just in the use of that building alone," Gagnon said. "We need to recognize the value of their in-kind services."

The private school has also donated money to the building's construction funds as well as the parcel of land where the new public safety building is being constructed.

Gagnon does not see there being a problem with the Cushing Academy leadership allowing the town to use the building until next summer.