Pembroke Select Board reorganizes, elects Marino chair as public safety budget gap narrows

PEMBROKE — May 22, 2024 — Pembroke Select Board reorganizes and hears public safety building cost gap has narrowed to $1.6 million. Tracy Marino was elected chair and Steve Cicciotti vice chair at the May 22 meeting, with John Stankiewicz returning as clerk. Christy Murphy of Vertex Companies, the owner's project manager, reported the $62 million public safety complex had been brought from $7.5 million over budget to roughly $1.586 million over budget through building-footprint reductions totaling about 5,000 square feet across both structures and $1 million in furniture and equipment savings — a combined improvement of approximately $5.9 million in weeks. Percolation tests on the Washington Street site have still not been completed due to wet conditions, leaving site-work costs — which ballooned from a $2 million estimate to roughly $7 million — subject to further revision. A resident challenged the board during public comment, asking why the testing was not completed before voters approved the appropriation; Town Manager Bill Chenard acknowledged he would have done pre-purchase due diligence differently and confirmed a design development cost estimate is expected by late September. The board also unanimously accepted a memorial bench and kindness rocks garden donation honoring longtime Recreation Director Susan Roche, who died nearly two years ago after 22 years in the role.