Category: Pepperell Building Project

The Pepperell Building Committee invites all registered voters to cast ballots in a special June 12 referendum to decide whether the town will build a new public safety complex.

Town Meeting approved a Proposition 2 1/2 debt exclusion to fund the project, estimated to cost $37.235 million. State law requires approval by both Town Meeting and in a ballot referendum. Approval will allow the town to temporarily increase taxes to cover the debt it would incur as a result of the project. It is projected that the tax rate will increase by $1.16 per $1,000 of valuation.

The Pepperell Building Committee was formed in early 2020. Following a comprehensive review, the Committee identified that the Police and Fire Departments and Patriot Regional Emergency Communications Center work out of facilities that have numerous structural and functional deficiencies. Pepperell Police and Patriot RECC are headquartered at the former Shattuck School, which was built in 1895.

Committee members set goals of developing a cost-effective proposal that met established community needs, improves service levels, and is environmentally sustainable.

The Committee worked with its consultants, Tecton Architects and Vertex, to review all options, and held several listening sessions to obtain valuable community feedback.

The Committee agreed to bring forward a proposal for a single building that will house police, fire, emergency services, and communications. The Committee identified town-owned land at 47 Jersey St., near the Department of Public Works, as the preferred site.

The Town Meeting presentation on the proposed public safety complex may be viewed here.

The Committee expects ground to be broken in early July should votes approve the referendum.

Polls for the special referendum on Monday, June 12, will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Nissitissit Middle School, 33 Chace Ave. The last day to register to vote in the referendum is Friday, June 2.

The Town Clerk’s Office is offering early in-person voting at the following dates and times:

• Wednesday, May 31, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Thursday, June 1, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Friday, June 2, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Saturday, June 3, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Monday, June 5, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Tuesday, June 6, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 7, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Thursday, June 8, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Those interested in voting by mail are encouraged to submit a Vote by Mail Application as soon as possible.

Residents with questions about voting in the referendum are encouraged to contact Town Clerk Brynn Durno at 978-433-0339 or at bdurno@town.pepperell.ma.us.

The Pepperell Building Committee invites the community to an upcoming virtual forum on the proposed Public Safety Complex, where members of the committee will provide a progress report on their work.

The virtual forum will be held on Thursday, Feb. 23, starting at 6:30 p.m. To join the meeting from a computer, tablet or smartphone, visit https://meet.goto.com/214774661 or call 571-317-3122 and use access code 214-774-661.

Among updates that will be discussed is the completion of a list of prequalified vendors that were investigated by a Prequalification Subcommittee, comprised of Pepperell residents who are experts in large building projects. To view the list of prequalified vendors prepared by the subcommittee, click here.

This May, Town Meeting will be asked to approve adding a ballot question regarding the Public Safety Complex to town election ballots, and the committee is doing all it can to provide information to the public in advance of that meeting.

Additionally, on Thursday, March 16, at 11 a.m., the public is invited to  a presentation on plans for the Public Safety Complex which will be held at the Pepperell Senior Center. Lunch will be served.

“We would like to encourage all residents to attend one of our forums to learn more about this project in advance of the May Town Meeting, where voters will be asked to approve adding the Public Safety Complex proposal to the ballot and enabling all residents in town to have their say on the project,” said Committee Chair Catherine Lundeen. “We hope that all voters will take the time to learn more about the project, the hard work that has already been done, and the details behind why our first responders are so in need.”

The Pepperell Building Committee was formed in early 2020. The police and fire departments and Patriot Regional Emergency Communications Center work out of facilities that have been identified as having numerous structural and functional deficiencies. Pepperell Police and Patriot RECC are headquartered at the former Shattuck School, which was built in 1895.

The March 16 presentation will include an overview of the Committee’s work to date. Time will be allotted for questions following the presentation. Topics will include final design, including sustainable materials inside and out, and energy-efficient systems; initial permitting approvals; interior design; budget; ongoing working sessions; and a potential timeline for groundbreaking and completion.

The Committee also has scheduled a public session on April 22 at the Jersey Street fire station during the Earth Day celebration.

Those interested in more information about the Public Safety Complex Project may visit pepperellproject.com. Videos of Committee meetings may be found at Pepperell Community Media.

The Pepperell Building Committee invites the public to attend two public meetings scheduled to update the community about the Pepperell Public Safety Building Project.

Architects will present updated plans for the building during a virtual meeting set for Wednesday, April 6, at 7 p.m. The Building Committee also will hold an in-person public forum on Wednesday, April 20, at 7 p.m. at the Albert Harris Center, 37 Nashua Road.

Both meetings will feature presentations from the project manager and architect.

The police and fire departments and Patriot Regional Emergency Communications Center work out of facilities that have been identified as having numerous structural and functional deficiencies. Pepperell Police and Patriot RECC are headquartered at the former Shattuck School, which was built in 1895.

The Pepperell Building Committee began its work in early 2021 to determine the town’s best path forward. In June 2021, Town Meeting authorized a free-cash expenditure of $180,000 to hire an Owner’s Project Manager.

Vertex, the project manager, and Tecton Architects considered several sites and weighed numerous renovation and construction options. Based on that information, the Building Committee selected a parcel on Jersey Street next to a fire substation as the most viable site for a shared facility.

Tecton and Vertex representatives will present updates on the project during the April 6 virtual meeting, including an explanation of changes from earlier public sessions, new schematics, and an overview of current market conditions.

Residents interested in attending the April 6 virtual meeting can do so by clicking here.

Tecton representatives and the Building Committee hope to present a cost estimate during the April 20 meeting.

“Public input has been extremely important to guiding the Building Committee’s work,” Chairman Catherine Lundeen said. “We invite the public to attend these meetings to hear more about the project’s progress, and receive answers to any questions they may have.”

The Building Committee intends to request voters approve spending for the next phase of the project — schematic design — at this year’s Annual Town Meeting. Town Meeting begins on Monday, May 9, at 7 p.m. at Nissitissit Middle School.

Residents interested in updates about this effort may follow Pepperellproject.com. Visitors are encouraged to subscribe via email to receive notifications for new posts. Visitors also will be able to email the Committee directly through the site.

Upon review of the program, the Building Committee agreed that a new, combined public safety facility:

• Allows of optimization of shared spaces and building systems
• Simultaneously addresses each department’s need
• Results in a more cost-effective solution

PEPPERELL – The Pepperell Building Committee wishes to invite members of the community to a virtual information session this week, where it will provide an update on its work toward a new shared facility for the town’s police, fire and emergency communications departments.

On Thursday, Feb. 10, at 7 p.m., the committee will host an informational meeting alongside the owner’s project manager and architect that will update the community on its work since Town Meeting last spring.

To take part in the meeting, visit town.pepperell.ma.us/remote.

The group will bring attendees up to date on its efforts to conduct site selection and develop preliminary schematic designs. Additionally, it will share previews of what a new public safety facility could look like once completed.

The Building Committee began its work in early 2021 to determine the best path forward, as the police and fire departments and the Patriot Regional Emergency Communications Center continue to work out of structurally and functionally deficient facilities.

Through its work with Tecton and VERTEX, the Building Committee has identified the Jersey Street site that is currently home to a fire station as the most viable option for building a new, shared facility for Pepperell Police and Fire and Patriot RECC.

At Thursday’s session, the committee and its consultants will provide an in-depth look into its myriad considerations and the deliberative process that resulted in selecting the Jersey Street site and developing both conceptual and schematic designs.

The Shattuck School building, built in 1895 and used as the current police station and Patriot RECC headquarters, would ultimately have its future decided by the Select Board and the community once the agencies relocate to a new facility.

The project will soon enter its next phase, where schematic designs will be developed into architectural drawings. The Building Committee is working now to determine the feasibility of using American Rescue Plan Act funds for this phase in order to minimize the cost to Pepperell’s taxpayers. At Thursday’s meeting, community members will have an opportunity to learn more about what the future of the project holds.

###

PEPPERELL – The Pepperell Building Committee wishes to provide the community with an update on the work it’s completed in the latter half of 2021, which has so far resulted in the selection of a site and conceptual design for a future public safety complex.

The Building Committee began its work in early 2021 to determine the best path forward, as the police and fire departments and the Patriot Regional Emergency Communications Center continue to work out of structurally and functionally deficient facilities.

Through its work with Tecton and VERTEX, the Building Committee determined that the Jersey Street site and building footprint it has settled on best aligns with public safety needs, as well as community and town planning priorities.

The proposal has several favorable attributes, including likely costs to build, lowest impact to the neighborhood, and is best suited for the needs of the public safety agencies while leaving the Fitzpatrick School site available for other future uses.

The Shattuck School building, built in 1895 and used as the current police station headquarters, would ultimately have its future decided by the Select Board and the community once the department relocates.

Since earning Town Meeting approval last spring to continue its work, the Building Committee has partnered with Tecton Architects and VERTEX to develop design concepts and identify possible sites for a future public safety complex shared by the Pepperell Police and Fire Departments.

Through that process, the Building Committee has identified a tentative design and location on Jersey Street next to the current Fire Department substation as the most viable approach to building a new public safety complex. The Committee identified this particular path forward from among more than a dozen options, split between Jersey Street and the Peter Fitzpatrick School site.

The project will soon enter its second phase, where schematic designs will be developed into architectural drawings. The Building Committee is working now to determine the feasibility of using American Rescue Plan Act funds for this phase in order to minimize the cost to Pepperell’s taxpayers.

Once architectural drawings are complete, the committee will seek competitive bids that will clarify the cost to build the facility. In the meantime, draft schematic plans have been sent out for estimating and are due back in late winter. This will give the town a strong estimate of the future project cost.

“The entire committee has been working diligently with our consultants to identify how we can build a new public safety facility that best serves our first responders while remaining cost-effective,” Committee Chair Catherine Lundeen said. “The entire group is deeply cognizant of the need to keep costs down, and we’re confident that the timeline we’ve identified will help to both move this project forward and lock in lower costs to get it done.

“Waiting much longer could result in that opportunity slipping away, as inflation and pressures mean that costs could go up, while the need for this facility only grows with time,” Lundeen added.

Prior to Town Meeting on May 2, the Building Committee will host information sessions that are free and open to the community. More details about information sessions will be made available soon.

###