Council Reviews DPW Space Study

The Medford City Council met with Mayor Michael J. McGlynn Tuesday to discuss the findings of a space needs study for the Department of Public Works.

The document is expected to provide a guideline for a new DPW facility to be constructed at the location of the dilapidated, soon-to-be-demolished DPW yard on James Street.

No cost estimates for the project were given at the Tuesday committee of the whole meeting, but McGlynn said a design firm should be chosen by mid-February.

From there, McGlynn said once a contract is in hand, he expects the entire project to be completed within 18 months as part of an "aggressive" timeline.

In 2009, six of the vehicle bays at the yard were condemned after the roof began to cave in. Last July, McGlynn called for the remaining 11 bays to be shuttered and for the yard to be demolished.

Space at the location would not allow for a combined complex for Medford Police, Fire and DPW, but McGlynn said there were many other "consolidations" that will open up space namely at City Hall and the Police Department.

McGlynn said all current DPW operations except for cemetery operations would be located at the new facility. Fleet maintenance for Police, Fire and DPW would also all take place at the new facility instead of spread out at several locations as it is now, according to McGlynn.

"We'll bring all of our mechanics back under the same roof to deal with the vehicles," McGlynn said.

City engineering (currently at City Hall), wiring (currently at the Fire Headquarters) and weights and measures (currently at the Police Headquarters) would also all be moved to the new facility, he said.

"We feel we've picked up 10,000 additional square feet at the Police Department," McGlynn said.

The space study was prepared by Donham & Sweeney Architects of Boston.

A request for quotation for the design work has been out since Jan. 16, McGlynn said.

"The timetable is a very aggressive one we intend to stick to," McGlynn said. Submittals for the RFQ are expected next week with a firm to be chosen by Feb. 14.

"We're saying right now from Feb. 19, to 18 months out...that everything is going to be designed, bid and built," McGlynn said.

He added he expects the current facility to be demolished in April.

Councilor Robert Penta asked if there was any aspect of the current building that could be saved, specifically the foundation. McGlynn said that was not part of the space needs study but the idea was to "start fresh" with a new facility.

Penta asked further about what might be expected in the design. McGlynn said some aspects originally proposed, like a "beautiful brick edifice with a bell tower and community rooms" will probably be scaled back given a need to trim costs.

"I'm assuming, based on what we know from what's happened in the last year, that there may not be the appetite to pay for something that expensive," McGlynn said.