Following voter approval to construct Westport Island’s sand and salt shed, selectmen George Richardson Jr. and Jerry Bodmer met with Jonathan DeWick, Pine Tree Engineering project manager, and Lucinda Tilas and E. Davies Allan of Chesterfield Associates, Inc. last week to discuss moving forward with the project. 

Many of the items on the agenda concerned updating former agreements and plans dating from the first discussions of a shed more than a decade ago. The Department of Environmental Protection granted approval for the project in 2002 and again in 2005. A contract with Pine Tree Engineering was signed in 2007.

According to DeWick, Pine Tree Engineering’s work for the shed began in 2006 at the request of the selectmen. After a hiatus of many years, the possibility of constructing a shed was re-examined by selectmen this spring.  

The measure was placed before the voters at the town meeting on June 25. A description of the project was given by DeWick and there was considerable discussion of the plan’s merits.

As a financial matter, it was explained, there would be an advantage for the town if the shed was constructed to house the approximately 2,000 cubic yards of sand and salt that it uses each year. The shed will also help to address environmental concerns by providing a closed facility where salt and sand can be mixed and stored without affecting ground water. The laminated wood arch facility will be 50’ by 102’.

Allan, who is a resident of the island and president of Chesterfield Associates, Inc., promised to donate the costs for all of the site work, which he initially estimated to be worth between $30,000 and $60,000 and has since revised to a range of $15,000 to $25,000. At the town meeting he stated that his donation would be withdrawn if the vote was postponed.  The town approved the construction and the project’s $150,000 expense. 

Moving forward, items on Pine Tree Engineering’s checklist include “finalizing the building’s design, putting specifications together and advertising the project,” according to DeWick. Allan described the steps involved in his contribution of site work as “Cleaning and leveling the site, excavation of the area for the foundation, back filling after the concrete work is completed and providing crane work to set the building’s arches.”

It is hoped that the foundation can be completed prior to a frost and it is estimated that construction will take several months. When asked why he offered to donate site preparation services, Allan explained, “I’ve been successful and it’s important to have other people share in your success.”

Chesterfield Associates, with offices in Westhampton Beach, New York and Westport Island. will bid on the project.