MARION — Marion is reaching out to residents to join a building committee being formed for the Department of Public Works facility.

This committee will be composed of residents of Marion, staff from the DPW and the Town Administrator.

Members of the committee will help steer the project, which was approved by voters in May.

The project will cost $4.456 million, with free cash covering $1.5 million of the cost and the remaining $3 million to be borrowed. 

Voters supported the project at Town Meeting May 9 and then approved a debt exclusion question at the May 13 town election to allow the funding to be done outside the taxation limits of Proposition 2 ½. 

The new facility will allow the department’s equipment to be stored safely out of the elements. The salt supply, now in an exposed pile, will also be sheltered through the new construction. 

Town Manager Jay McGrail has said the committee will have a number of decisions to make. 

One decision the committee will face is what type of construction process to go with, McGrail said.

Using the traditional option, known as design/bid/build, the town would seek out an architect to do a full-scale design, then put out a call for bids for a contractor to do the work.

The state also allows the town to use modular construction procurement, which does not require the selection of a designer.

Instead, design and construction of prefabricated modular units are combined in the manufacturing process.

Anyone interested in serving on this committee should send a letter of interest to dhemphill@marionma.gov . Include your name, address, contact information (email and phone number), experience and qualifications. 

Letters of interest must be received by noon Tuesday, June 7.