MONTAGUE — Montague will officially be getting a new Department of Public Works complex within the next few years, thanks to an exemption on Proposition 2½ passing at the town election earlier this week.
This ballot question asked voters whether they would approve of an exemption from the provisions of Proposition 2½ “to pay for the bond to cover the planning, designing, permitting, constructing, equipping and furnishing” the new facility. It passed with a slim margin, with 688 voting “yes” and 649 voting “no.”
“First of all, I’m overwhelmed they passed it, even if by a slim margin,” DPW Superintendent Tom Bergeron said. “I’m still grateful.”
The DPW Planning Committee met Tuesday night to discuss the process now that the plan has voters’ permission to move ahead.
“We’re going to go right ahead and not take much time,” Bergeron said of the project.
Town Planner Walter Ramsey and Town Administrator Steve Ellis will shortly be developing a Request for Proposals (RFP), which allows the town to announce that funding is available for the facility and companies can place bids for the project’s completion.
A project manager will be brought on board “as soon as we can,” according to Bergeron. This manager would oversee the project’s operation and ensure that the money is spent well.
Bergeron expects a groundbreaking to happen sometime in 2019 and for the project to be completed within a year or year and a half after groundbreaking.
“We’ll do our best and get the best products we can for the money,” Bergeron said.