CHICOPEE — Mayor John Vieau and the City Council hosted a special meeting on Aug. 1 to discuss funding for City Hall Phase 2 renovations.
Chicopee has been working on modernizing City Hall through two phases of renovation.
After completing the first phase at the end of 2022, the schematic and engineering design for Phase 2 has been completed but no construction has started yet.
Vieau shared that from 1980 to 2014, there had not been any capital improvements done to City Hall which led to fixing structural problems during Phase 1.
A historic structures report was conducted in April 2016 and recommended multi-phase improvements to the auditorium, City Hall exterior, annex exterior, reprogramming, interior renovations, sitework, elevator modernization and long-term maintenance.
Phase 1 renovations included an array of interior and exterior repairs such as efforts to repair damage to the City Hall annex, solidify foundational repairs, improve the building’s installation, replace HVAC equipment and modernize the building for accessibility purposes. The city also underwent extensive repairs to City Hall’s famed clock tower.
The city also remodeled its central auditorium with new flooring, a completely redesigned ceiling, stain glass windows and technological tools for filming meetings.
Phase 2’s focus is on interior improvements, such as remodeled office suites, enhanced security and technology services and renovations to the City Council’s chamber on the fourth floor.
Facilities Director Dave Rice explained some of the major deficiencies in the building including an aged and difficult generator, deteriorating wallpaper, walls and floors/carpet from water damage, a non-operational ADA complaint vertical lift, the rise of the stairs and electrical issues.
The scope for Phase 2 includes reconfiguration and renovation of office suites, ADA accessible upgrades, hazardous materials abatement, emergency generator replacement, new IT data server room and AV systems, complete electrical system replacement, mechanical systems update, building security and access systems, foundations waterproofing, interior finishes and secure, high-density file storage.
City Planner Lee Pouliot said the office suites renovations will be split into phases because the complex will not be vacated during construction.
The City Council agenda included two orders from the mayor, one for a City Hall Phase 2 bond authorization and another for a $4 million cash appropriation to capital projects special account.
The total estimate is approximately $24.7 million for construction, furniture, fixture and equipment and administration so the municipal bond authorization would be for $21 million.
Pouliot said so far, the project has secured $116,000 in grants and his department is “actively” looking at multiple grants to apply for to help alleviate the cost.
He added, “That $4 million would more than cover the furniture which doesn’t have a 30-year lifespan which is likely the term of the bonding we would look for so it would be appropriate to pay for those things out of pocket knowing they have more like a 20-year lifespan.”
Pouliot said he worked closely with the architect team and OPM to select furniture with the best warranty that are the most cost effective.
After nearly an hour of discussion and questions from each councilor, the City Council approved the bond authorization and cash appropriation unanimously for the Phase 2 City Hall renovation project.
Vieau shared some thoughts on the decision the City Council had to make to ensure City Hall receives the upgrades it desperately needs.
“I want to thank the team that is here today to present what I think is one of the most critical and important decisions that’s going to be made by the City Council this year if not for many years to come,” Vieau stated.
He added, “City Hall needs some upgrades. It has deficiencies. City councilors have already given us the opportunity to move forward with design and engineering for phase two which is really to maximize every square foot of the building and utilize that space to its full potential and to accommodate the public and employees.”
Pouliot said once the funding has been approved, the future schedule would be to let the architect know to begin finalizing the bid package, which would take three weeks.
After that, bidding and contracting is estimated to take until the end of October with the hopes that a contractor can mobilize by November. Pouliot said the city is estimating approximately a 31-month construction schedule which would be a May 2027 project closeout.
Vieau said the finance team has met multiple times to figure out the impact this project would have on Chicopee and said the city has “roughly” $21 million in the stabilization account and the city is in good financial shape.
He added, “We’re in excellent financial shape. This would not impact our bond rating and the financial team felt comfortable with this. The goal is to find creative ways, those are very conservative numbers, to reduce them. Possibilities of potentially using the central library space to enhance the timeframe could be a substantially savings and we will aggressively be looking for grant opportunities over the next few years.”
There are also other ways the city can save money as the project gets started and completed.
Vieau said, “There’s also going to be some savings to the taxpayer. It sounds like a lot of money but think about all the lighting being replaced with LEDs which are much more efficient. Looking at the HVAC systems being upgraded so they’re much more efficient. Public safety is paramount to the city of Chicopee and our success, and I do believe we need a little more than what we have.”
