Gaetano Construction has proposed that it will assess existing plans for improving the McCauley Mountain chalet and provide detailed requirements and estimates for the work.
Gaetano’s cost is expected to be between $2,000 and $2,500, and the Town of Webb Board agreed to allocate the funds at its meeting on Tuesday, June 12th.
Councilwoman Kate Russell said the detailed estimates will serve as documentation needed in submitting grant applications.
She added that the funds for Gaetano’s services can be drawn from an applicable allocation in the current budget.The McCauley project stems from the efforts of the McCauley Mountain Improvement Committee, of which Councilwoman Russell is a member.
“We’ve been working on it for a year,” she said. “We started off with a public information session, where we gathered ideas on what people might like to see happen up there.”
So far, the improvements have been collected into three large phases, each with a number of smaller objectives.
The Gaetano assessment is key to getting phase one off the ground, Russell said.
“We [must] know how much money we need and where we can go for grant applications,” she said.
Other funding is expected from a future fundraising campaign and the budget, she said.
“We were very fortunate to have Jeannie White, a local architect out of Inlet, who donated all of her time to work on conceptual design,” Russell said.
The chalet project does not include any additions to the existing chalet, other than a couple entrance enhancements, according to Russell.
“For the most part, all walls remain intact. We simply would be reconfiguring space within the chalet,” she said.
The first phase will deal with energy efficiency and involve the addition of spray foam insulation and new windows where needed.
The heating system could be upgraded and made more efficient, along with other small improvements, Russell said.
The committee will be presenting the plan and concept in detail to the Town Board at a future meeting, she added.
Supervisor Ted Riehle spoke in support of the McCauley committee and the involvement of Gaetano Construction with estimates.
“It’s an excellent long-term planning tool. And it’s a logical place to start whenever we want to look at any building upgrades,” he said.
