POLAND — Michel Giasson, architect for the Ricker Memorial Library expansion project, presented a rundown of design modifications to the Select Board on Tuesday night.
Changes in the original design were required due to the failure of getting another $550,000 added to the project this year on the $850,000 bond which passed by voters at town meeting in 2022.
The additional funds were requested because costs of the heating, air conditioning, and ventilation system were higher than anticipated following the COVID pandemic.
The alterations will not change the size of the library’s expansion or affect the intended larger children’s section.
Adjustments include plumbing and electrical work, use of existing bookcases and furniture or fund separate from bid work, replace lift with limited use elevator or improved lift, and combine outside side work with the anticipated town park contract.
Giasson also noted that significant additional savings were realized by modifying estimates with multiple design revisions, such reusing existing partitions and redesigning the windows.
Town officials hope to have bids on the project go out this spring or early summer.
Town manager Matthew Garside said the outside site work involving parking and drainage can be brought for the Planning Board approval once the town park layout is ready.
In other business the Select Board accepted the bid of $25,655 by Atlantic Recycling Equipment for a new compactor at the transfer station.
This money will come from a $598,000 Environmental Protection Agency grant awarded to the town.
The Select Board also approved the bids of $140,317 by O’Connor Manufacturing in Portland for a truck chassis, and $123,754 by HP Fairfield in Skowhegan for plowing/sanding equipment for 2023 or 2024, for a new 10-wheeled truck.
The truck’s purchase was approved earlier but due to a manufacturing backlog it is uncertain when delivery will be made.
Seven mobile vendor food truck license applications were approved for Christmas in Poland events scheduled on Dec. 2 and 9.
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