|
ATTLEBORO - Mayor Kevin Dumas and Barry Amaral, new register of deeds for northern Bristol County, are hammering out new plans for a branch registry of deeds in the city after spiraling costs put the long-sought project in jeopardy this week.
The plans appear to be headed for a scaled-back version of the branch that still would provide essential registry services, but would cut down on improvements to physical amenities that initially were envisioned.
Amaral, who replaced former register David Simas last week, contacted Dumas Monday after he got his first detailed look at bid prices and became concerned about the financial viability of the county-funded project that's been in the works for more than a year.
Simas, now a deputy chief of staff for Gov. Deval Patrick, came up with the plan to lessen the volume of work for the Taunton registry and better serve residents of the Attleboro area, which accounts for about half the business at the Taunton registry.
But two rounds of bidding aimed at lowering costs actually drove up the price tag from an original estimate of about $100,000 to $240,000, then to more than $500,000, even after cuts in physical improvements were made, Amaral said.
Combined with bills totaling more than $40,000 for a structural problem in the Taunton building, the burgeoning price tag put the project in jeopardy, he said.
"We were at half a million - and climbing," Amaral said. "And that was not the turnkey, open for business number."
But on Tuesday, Amaral and assistant Fran McGuirk met with Dumas at city hall and started an effort aimed at cutting costs, but still providing a nearly full service registry to be located in the former post office on Park Street.
The trio aims to eliminate everything not essential to registry services.
Minimal construction, electric work, furnishings and plumbing work will be purchased to preserve essential services, such as computer research, the recording of deeds and closing real estate deals.
"We're changing the scope of it," Dumas said. "In the coming weeks, we'll be working closely with Barry Amaral to come up with a bare-bones proposal. We are going to have a very minimal buildout, and seek help from places like the sheriff's department (for labor)."
Amaral gave Dumas credit for getting the project back on track.
"You have a good mayor over there," he said. "He works with you and he makes things happen."
Dumas said he now feels "extremely positive" about the prospects for the branch registry.
"This is very important for the staff of the registry, as well as the city of Attleboro," he said. "I think we'll have a positive outcome and be able to open a branch here."
GEORGE W. RHODES can be reached at 508-236-0432 or at grhodes@thesunchronicle.com.
|