NAHANT — The town opened bids last week on its Town Hall and Public Library projects, according to Town Administrator Antonio Barletta.
The lowest bid came in at $436,000. Alternate bids range from $445,000 to $612,000 with alternate bids three and four exceeding the town’s budget.
“The bid docs were set up to prioritize the library, but also try to attract low prices from contractors that are capable of doing similar work that is needed on the library and the Town Hall,” said Barletta.
Barletta said the base bid of the project involves the stonework surrounding the library windows that has been deteriorating and causing water damage to the property. The town has also received four alternate bids that go beyond just stonework and include roofing, gutterwork, and additional work on the Town Hall.
“We have $500,000 approved through the borrowing authorized at last Town Meeting and then I believe $50,000 through (the) Mass Historical Commission,” said Barletta. “So, a total of $550,000.”
Chair Lynn Spencer said the Community Preservation Committee has a lot to think about.
“This is a fairly complicated menu of options and I appreciate that,” she said. “But I think we actually need to be able to look at this carefully and understand what this means.”
Barletta said he wasn’t surprised by the price tag associated with the project.
“I was kind of expecting it based on how the terrace went and how expensive the stonework — if you go look at the stonework that needs to be done on the library, it’s hard not to look at and think it’s going to be a cheap job,” he said. “It’s extensive work.”
