DPW Campus Update
277 Morrison Road Site Acquisition
The City of Barre has negotiated a purchase and sale agreement to acquire 277 Morrison Road to serve as the new public works garage. The acquisition is on the February 25, 2025 Council agenda for approval.
Please review the Manager's presentation to the City Council to learn about the details of this acquisition.
Here are the basics:
- Purchase Price: $3 million paid as follows:
- $2 million loan from the water enterprise fund
- $500,000 from the Cozzi Trust or Special Projects Fund
- $500,000 from the Capital Improvement Fund
- The City will spend $2 million to transform the site from a warehouse to a garage, for an all-in cost of $5 million.
- Is the purchase price fair?
- Yes, the City Assessor has appraised the site for $3.9 million. Similar garages in Vermont are costing much more: East Montpelier is borrowing $5 million to build a much smaller garage. Milton, VT is paying $216 per square foot to build its new garage. At that price point, a 40,000 to 50,000 square foot building in Barre would cost $8 million - $10 million. By all measures, the price is not just fair, it is a bargain.
- Is there a conflict of interest due to the current property owner being an elected official?
- No, the City has gone above and beyond to make sure that this transaction is above reproach and avoided even the slightest appearance of a conflict of interest.
- For example, the Mayor has not been involved in any of the executive sessions where the Council discussed the acquisition. The Mayor dealt directly with the Manager, and the Manager dealt directly with the Council.
- The City has done exhaustive work to make sure the price we are paying is fair. As noted above, the $3 million purchase price is not just fair, it is a bargain by every independent measure.
- No, the City has gone above and beyond to make sure that this transaction is above reproach and avoided even the slightest appearance of a conflict of interest.
- Why do we need a new public works garage?
- The current garage has been in service since at least 1950 and it is in deteriorating condition. Among the many problems with the site are: lack of storage, lack of space to park plows, not ADA accessible, no fire/smoke alarms, inadequate vehicle exhaust system, and use of 500 gallons of heating oil per week due to gaps in the structure and windows.
- The City stores approximately $5 million worth of equipment in the garage. If there were to be a catastrophic fire or building structural failure most of that equipment would have to be replaced.
