Bathroom/concession project at NRHS to begin Sept. 18

Published in the September 7, 2017 edition

By DAN TOMASELLO

NORTH READING — The Arthur Kenney Field bathroom and concession stand project is scheduled to begin later this fall, Athletic Facilities Committee (AFC) Chairman Mel Webster said at last week’s School Committee meeting.

Townspeople approved the bathroom project at June Town Meeting. Town Administrator Michael Gilleberto informed the Transcript the town signed a $650,000 contract with Construction Dynamics, Inc. of Clinton recently.

“The project will construct restrooms and a concession stand in a modular building at the site of the existing concession stand,” said Gilleberto. “The designer is CBI Consulting.”

In an email sent to the Transcript, Webster said the company that will be constructing the building is United Concrete Products, Inc. of Wallington, Connecticut.

“They will be providing a pre-manufactured building that will be delivered to the site in four pieces and will be placed on the foundation with a crane,” said Webster.

Gilleberto said construction of the facility will begin on Wednesday, Sept. 18, when site work is completed and the old concession stand is razed. He said site work and the installation of utilities is slated to be completed by December 1.

According to Gilleberto, the modular building will be installed in January.

“Everything will be completed inside,” added Webster. “All of the fixtures and everything. They will just drop it in and then it has to just be connected.”

Gilleberto said the project will be mostly completed by March 15, just prior to the spring sports season, with the exception of paving.

Webster said local officials “were told by the contractor that they will not be able to complete final paving of the area until after April 15, which is usually when pavement plants open in this area.”

“The building and everything else, however, should be completed and should be usable for the spring 2018 season,” said Webster.

During the project’s kickoff meeting in early August, Webster said representatives of Construction Dynamics commented that “they hoped to get the first shovel in the ground in mid to late September and hoped to have all the infrastructure work done by late October, early November.”

“It was a very good meeting,” said Webster. “We have another meeting scheduled for September 12.”

Exterior painting options were presented by company representatives during the meeting as well, according to School Committee Vice Chairman Jerry Venezia.

“They have the regular pressed concrete, which is painted,” said Venezia. “We could paint it green or whatever color. And then they had a pressed concrete with a design on (it). They then showed us a pretty good example of a brick veneer that would come close to matching the team building that is already down there. It’s really nice.”

Webster added, “most of the contingency funds we have are going to be related to site work” and electrical work.

“If we don’t spend a lot of that contingency money on either site work and electricity issues, we should have enough funds for the brick facing,” Webster explained. “The brick facing would look great. But if we can’t do that with the money we have for the project, we are not going to ask for more money.”

Options for concession sales during construction

Webster noted that both Parks Director Marty Tilton and Parks and Recreation Committee member Rita Mullin have been working with Health Agent Robert Bracey to develop a plan for selling food after the old concession stand gets razed. A number of booster and support groups have used the field’s old concession stand for fundraising activities.

“Parks and Recreation is working with the affected groups in order for them to have temporary facilities during the coming fall season,” said Webster in a Facebook message.

Gilleberto noted “portable toilets are at the field and will be in use during the fall season.”

Webster said the bathroom and concession stand facility is “a pretty simple project.”

“I am just really happy we were able to get it for what I think is a very affordable number that we didn’t think we would be able to do,” said Webster.