By Joan F. Simoneau, Community Reporter
Marlborough – Mayor Arthur Vigeant is asking the Marlborough City Council to appropriate $1 million from the city’s free cash account to fund the feasibility study phase of the proposed Richer Elementary School project. The study will include a schematic design for new construction or an addition to and renovation of the school at 80 Foley Road and include payment of all costs incidental or related for which the city will be eligible for a grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).
In his communication to the Council at the March 21 meeting, Vigeant stated: “During the feasibility study, the city will conduct procurements to hire an owner’s project manager and a designer. Once the professional team has been formed, they will begin to study the various options for the school.”
These will include analyzing a major repair of and addition to the existing building, identifying potential sites, testing those sites for suitability for construction, and designing the school project to the schematic design level of detail.
The mayor is in the process of forming a School Building Committee that will oversee the project and keep in communication with councilors. At the conclusion of the feasibility study, the city will return to the MSBA Board for approval of the entire project and to the council for approval to fund the full cost of the project.
At the close of Fiscal Year 2015, the city had more than $6 million in free cash available, due largely to economic growth, prudent spending, and the mild winter with less snow and ice costs, according to Vigeant.
“The city may earn up to two additional points on the reimbursement rate based on the MSBA review of our maintenance plan for our school facilities,” he said. “Depending on the type of project the city designs, there will be further opportunities to achieve incentive points and increase the city’s reimbursement rate.”
Councilors referred the request to the Finance Committee.