City to save money on Lynn Common bandstand rehab

LYNN – The city set aside $225,000 of the city $4 million bond bill to repair the bandstand on the commons, but it turns out less than half that amount will be needed.”The delta between what we had and what we needed is $55,500,” said Community Development Director James Marsh.That leaves $169,000 sitting in the bond account unattended. Marsh, however, said the bond bill has restrictions built in for just that kind of scenario.Marsh sought a grant to rehab the dilapidated bandstand at the same time discussions were occurring on which projects should be added to the bond bill, which was passed in late 2012. The city earmarked $225,000 for the project in case the bond fell through. Rehabbing the bandstand is part of a Master Plan that encompasses the entire Lynn Commons.The Gateways Cities Park Program awarded the city a $795,000 grant for the project but when it went out to bid the actual cost was $906,000, Marsh said.”The difference was $111,000 so we went back to the state and asked if it could reprogram the grant to make up the difference,” he explained.Marsh said the state agreed to put up half of the additional funding needed, or $55,500, if the city could put up the rest.”Our $55,500 will come from the $225,000 in the bond bill,” he said.When the City Council voted Monday to accept the additional $55,500 from the state, some wondered what would happen to the leftover. Ward 2 Councilor William Trahant suggested the money be set aside and used only if other projects under the bond bill came in at a cost higher than expected.Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy said tight restrictions require that the money remain in the account at least until every other project has been completed. Once the all projects, which range from rehabbing city parks to putting a new roof on Fraser Field, new steps at City Hall, miscellaneous school repairs and work at Seaport Marina, are completed, she can spend the money on capital improvements at her discretion.Despite the wintry weather, work has already begun on the bandstand. It is the sixth major park rehab Community Development has tackled almost as many years.”We did Manning, Flax Pond, Keany Park, High Rock and Neptune,” he said. “The next logical step was going to the commons, from there we may go to Barry Park.”