10/03/09 - The town will ask the public for an additional $1 million to finance a renovation of both the south and west docks in Old Harbor’s inner basin.

The Town Council made the decision at a joint meeting with the Harbors Committee, the town manager and marine engineer Rick St. Jean Thursday, September 24. A special Financial Town Meeting was set for November 4, and if the public gives a green light, the town will hire Narragansett Dock Works immediately so the project could be completed by June 15, 2010.

Voters approved $1.7 million for the renovations in May 2007, but when the project eventually went out to bid last year, estimates came in at twice that amount. The town and St. Jean redesigned the project and put it out to bid again. Five contractors submitted bids.

St. Jean said all were within the same range, but the lowest bid came in from Narragansett Dock Works at $1,927,000 ($1,237,000 for the south dock, and $690,000 for the west dock).

Added to that would be $300,000 for a harbormaster’s shack, $245,000 for a contingency fund, $100,000 for a clerk of the works, $60,000 for dredging and $38,000 for bond costs. Taken together the total cost is just under $2.7 million.

At Thursday’s meeting St. Jean explained some of the added costs.

He said it was initially thought that the south dock bulkhead could be repaired, but now it is clear a total bulkhead replacement is called for, which alone would cost $600,000.

In addition, he said the price of sheet steel has tripled recently.

“Outside forces determine the shape and scope of a project,” St. Jean said.

Anticipating a loss of parking near the west dock due to litigation with Ballard’s, the new dock will be strong enough for vehicles to drive on. Vehicle access to the west dock will be from the south dock. A driveway to the dock will be constructed just beyond the foundation of the planned new harbormaster’s office and showers.

The harbormaster’s building will go to bid separately to local builders. Town Manager Nancy Dodge said the town has a design for the building, but several members of the Harbors Committee complained that they have not seen it.

The extra $1 million dollar bond would add $75 a year to tax bills, Finance Director Amy Land said. Previously approved bonding for the project has already been budgeted.

Recalling the Block Island School renovation project — which came before voters several times due to recurrent cost overruns — councilor Dick Martin said he was “scared this number could turn into $3.6 million.”

Dodge tried to allay those fears, saying that the town had learned from the school project, and the harbor plans include every cost. The school project did not have completed plans when the contract was signed, she said.

St. Jean concurred with Dodge, saying the plans have even specified the sizes of the bolts, which timbers to use, and what to replace. The prices are based on the plans, he said.

Reluctant to ask the voters for the additional money, council members weighed their two choices: completing only the south dock and leaving the west dock to do another time, or the whole project.

First Warden Gaffett was concerned that in 2007 voters agreed to fund the entire project, and the town would have to check whether only doing part of it was legal.

Harbors Committee Chairman Pete Tweedy encouraged the council to take on the entire project. The voters’ approval in 2007 was for the entire project, he agreed, not for a portion.

“It will be difficult for harbors or the council to tell anyone they were getting a Cadillac, but a golf cart is good enough,” he said.

Acknowledging the poor condition of the docks, Martin said he was surprised there haven’t been lawsuits. “There’s even steel sticking out of the ground.”

Harbors Committee member Gary Hall told the council, “The big picture is the condition of the harbor. People who come here see it first. I’m embarrassed, not just by the [lack of] facilities, but the condition of the dock.”

Councilor Dr. Peter Baute offered a prescription: “Tell the taxpayers the story and ask, ‘do you want to do it?’” he said, then made the motion to bring the entire project to a Financial Town Meeting. Councilor Ken Lacoste seconded it, and the vote was unanimous.

Plans for the project, Dodge said, are available for viewing at Town Hall.