Waitsfield officials are moving to keep plans for a new town garage on schedule despite the abrupt closure of project architect Bread Loaf Corp., while also advancing a proposal to name the future facility after longtime road commissioner Charlie Goodman. Goodman died in June.
At its June 22 meeting, the Waitsfield Select Board discussed holding a special meeting to address both year-end warrants and decisions related to the garage project to maintain a construction timeline targeting 2027.
Town administrator York Haverkamp told the board timing has become increasingly important if the town hopes to remain on track for a November bond vote.
“For the timeline for the town garage, if we're going to stick with our original timeline of going out to bond in November and building in 2027, if everything keeps moving forward, it will be good to move on the town garage next week instead of three weeks,” Haverkamp said.
DESIGN WORK
The town had been working with Bread Loaf, Middlebury, on design work before the company’s closure this spring created uncertainty around how to proceed.
Select board chair Brian Shupe said the town had not yet received a formal proposal but indicated that transferring the contract to a newly formed firm operated by former Bread Loaf architects Mitch Hager and Michael Housley appears to be the most practical path forward.
“We don’t yet have a proposal to transfer the contract from Bread Loaf to a new company operated by some of the principals on the Bread Loaf team, but that seems to be the best course of action,” Shupe said.
Haverkamp said Hager and Housley have launched a new firm and received permission to assume project materials and complete conceptual design work and bond-level cost estimates.
He told board members that Waitsfield’s procurement policy allows exceptions for architectural and engineering services, particularly where continuity and project timing are important.
SINGLE FIRM
“For continuity of services with Mitch, who knows the project the best, I feel comfortable moving forward with this new firm with our procurement policy,” Haverkamp said.
He added that architectural and design costs for a project estimated at roughly $5 million would typically account for 6% to 8% of total costs.
Board members also discussed whether the town should hire a construction manager or pursue a design-build approach. Some members favored seeking multiple qualifications-based proposals rather than moving forward with a single firm.
