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TA Blog: Economic Stimulus List for the Lt. Governor

Lt. Governor Tim Murray is chairing a state task force to identify vital “shovel-ready” municipal infrastructure projects that could be funded by a federal economic stimulus package being developed in Washington, DC.  The Lt. Governor asked all cities and towns to submit a list of priority projects by 2 p.m. on Thursday, January 8, 2009. The list developed by Littleton Town officials is shown below.

Town of Littleton's Proposed List of Projects

A staff-level meeting to review potential economic stimulus projects was held on Monday, January 5, 2009 at 1:30 PM. In attendance were Selectmen Alex McCurdy and Janet Wilkinson; Bonnie Holston, Jim Clyde, John Kelly, Diane Bemis, Steve Mark, Allen McRae, Joe Collentro, and the TA. During the meeting, those in attendance reached a consensus on priorities for 6 projects.  The staff persons indicated prepared the forms for final submission by Thursday's deadline.

1. Sewer/Septic Upgrades - $250,000 +/- . [Savas Danos] This project involves the extension of limited sewer line which serves municipal purposes only, from existing infrastructure at the Littleton Municipal Office Building on Shattuck Street to the existing Fire Station at 20 Foster Street, the latter where the septic system is in failure. Extension of this line will provide subsurface disposal for the public safety facilities on Foster Street, and additional capacity to the sewer system that ties in Town Hall and three Littleton schools to a F.A.S.T treatment system at the Littleton High School.

2. Water Main Connection - $1,500,000 +/- . [Savas Danos] The Littleton Water Department has two projects.The first is to connect existing water main at Great Road and Russell Street with existing water main at Great Road and Route 495. This interconnect is across Route 495 via an in bridge installation. This interconnect will provide water and fire protection service to the “CISCO Site” a 98 acres, 650,000 sq.ft, expedited and fully permitted commercial/R&D/Office Park in Littleton and help tie-in the expedited and now occupied IBM facility at 550 King Street.The second interconnect is to support the additional water needs of the “CISCO site” through the connection of existing water main at Route 119/Lawrence Street with existing water main at Route 119/ Beaver Brook Road. This interconnect will allow a second, vital source of water to the “CISCO site” for additional fire protection and potable water use.

3. Russell Street School Repairs - $10,000,000 +/- . [Steve Mark] The Town is in the feasibility/design phase of this $10-million project to repair the Russell Street School, which would qualify for 50% funding from the Mass. School Building Authority. We are working with MSBA on this repair project and were hoping to be ready to seek voter approval for construction funding by this May. We should also confirm with MSBA whether the Russell Street repair project on their list of economic stimulus projects.

4. Roadway Improvements - $5,760,000. [Jim Clyde] With state funding for Goldsmith Street, some $5.7-million in projects remain in the roadway improvements plan adopted by the Board of Selectmen. We do have Town Meeting funding (Highway budget and borrowing authorization) which could be used to design these locally-funded road improvements projects so that they'd be ready to go in a matter of months.

5. School Energy - Shaker Lane School - $336,000. [Steve Mark] This project would replace the remaining 28 Univentilators at the Shaker Lane School with current and more efficient units. The existing units are old and in disrepair due to age, and part supply problems. Two units have been replaced using local funds with in the last 3 months as a trial basis for determining actual costs and potential problems with this project.

6. Town Energy - Town Offices, Fire Station - Energy Audit Improvements - $173,000 [Savas Danos] . This project involves the energy improvements and retrofits recommended in energy audits conducted by LELD’s auditing firm.(1) Town Offices, 37 Shattuck Street- $106,959; and (2) Fire Station, 20 Foster Street - $66,532. Retrofits/energy improvements recommended for the Littleton Town Office Building, 37 Shattuck Street include: lighting controls and installation of occupancy sensors, upgrade of T12 lamps and ballasts to High Performance T8 lamp/ballast systems; use of LEDs technology for exist signs, installation of Vendor Miser, replacement of All thermostats with set-back, programmable thermostats. Retrofits/energy improvements recommended for the Littleton Police Station, 20 Foster Street include: replacement of all florescent and incandescent lamps and ballasts with T8 lamp/ballast systems; installation of dual sensing occupancy sensors; replacement of all gas fired hot air blower with infrared heat tubes; installation of controls on all vending machines; installation of programmable setback thermostats; installation of attic insulation and air seal the thermal barrier between occupied space; replace hot water heater with tankless, on demand gas fired unit; and replacements of all windows.

* * *

The group discussed-- but reached the consensus not to include-- the following, for the reasons indicated:

  • New Police Station Construction - This $6.3-million project may not be eligible because the contract for construction of a new police station has already been awarded, and the project is now underway without a federal infusion. The project is being funded entirely by the Town through a Prop 2½ debt exclusion approved on 11/4/08. The Lt. Governor's office responded that it doubted that a project that is already funded and underway will be eligible.
  • Middle School Track. This $525,000 project doesn’t meet the threshold of creating jobs. $125,000 is being sought in CPA recreation funds requested; although a recreation reuse project is not currently eligible for CPA funding, until/unless the CPA is amended.
  • Houghton Memorial Building roof repairs. This $245,000 project doesn’t meet the threshold of creating jobs. $215,000 in CPA historic resources funding is being requested.
  • Parking Facility at Commuter Rail Station. No specific plans, so it would not be shovel-ready in 6 months as a Town project. We will pursue the idea with MBTA, which is looking to fully fund the Fitchburg Line improvements in the projects the State has on its own list.
  • Library Technology Equipment. Doesn’t meet the threshold of creating jobs.
  • Tiger’s Den Expansion into the Shaker Lane facility. Not a construction job. Does not address energy efficiency goal.  

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