Program Description

The Building & Grounds Department is responsible for all Town owned buildings, surrounding grounds, athletic fields and cemetery properties. The department also assists various departments and committees that provide programs and services to the town.

The building maintenance plan continues to be effective in reducing operating expenses in many facilities by increasing building efficiencies and proper maintenance procedures. To continue this trend we have increased the building maintenance plan line by 3%. This will allow the continuation of maintaining town buildings and systems as well as continue with planned upgrades which will in turn reduce operating costs.

Budget Statement

The overall 192 budget for FY22 is increasing 11.4%. This is due to an increase of 9.9% in personnel expenses and an increase of 13.3% in operating expenses that also reflects the increase in betterment payments for all town buildings. The operations portion of the budget saw an increase due to updating the building maintenance program to fix and repair our failing buildings and to reflect normal post COVID-19 operations.

Major Accomplishments for 2021

The Building & Grounds Department is responsible for performing most of the repairs, upgrades, and maintenance of the Town’s facilities and arranging contracted services for items that cannot be done in house. This year they made repairs and painted both comfort stations making them look like new. They repaired and repainted a large majority of the Town owned benches as well as helped the Recreation Department get the Hall Park up and running. This work is done in addition to mowing the lawns and assisting the Public Landscape Committee keep Provincetown looking great! The department also provides assistance to contracted projects such as the plumbing and roofing improvements at the MPL restrooms, painting of the Town Hall, and the roof coating project at the VMCC.

FY 2022 Objectives

Continue to focus skilled staff on the maintenance and repair of Town buildings with a focus on exterior building envelope maintenance and the repair, maintenance and upgrading of our HVAC systems. The Department is also in the process of developing a facilities management plan that will allow for better maintenance procedures that should contribute to lowering the overall costs of operating our facilities. Grounds maintenance will also play an integral role as we are preparing for the additional work required by the improved facilities at the Bas Relief and Pilgrims First Landing Park. The department also acts in a supporting role to numerous committees such as the Public Landscape Committee. Safety has become a focus of this department as well as the others. A B&G skilled staff employee is on the DPW Safety Committee. All B&G staff are being included in trainings in road and equipment safety.

FY 2022 Additional Amount Requested

Additional Amount Requested: $36,141

Budget Line: Comfort Station Attendant (511080)

One Time Only or Ongoing Expense? On going

Description of Additional Program, Product or Service:

This increase is to allow for a return to pre COVID-19 staffing levels.

Cost/Benefit Analysis:

The Comfort Station hours and staffing were cut in FY 21 due to the pandemic. Funding is being requested to return this service back to pre-pandemic levels. The Comfort Stations are an integral part of our tourist based economy.

Additional Amount Requested: $31,268

Budget Line: Part/Time Seasonal (512500)

One Time Only or Ongoing Expense? On going

Description of Additional Program, Product or Service:

This increase is to return the staffing level for this service to pre-COVID-19 levels.

Cost/Benefit Analysis:

The funding for this line item was reduced in FY 21 due to the pandemic which created a reduced need for trash and beautification services. This increase in funding will allow the staffing for these services to return to pre-pandemic levels and allow for a normalization of the trash barrel and beautification services.

Additional Amount Requested: $8,000

Budget Line: Contracted Services (533500)

One Time Only or Ongoing Expense? On going

Description of Additional Program, Product or Service:

The requested funds will be used to provide services that are not able to be performed in house.

Cost/Benefit Analysis:

The Town has made a considerable investment improving two park areas. The Bas Relief Park and Pilgrim First Landing Park. There are maintenance activities associated with these improvements that cannot be performed by town staff. Cleaning the bronze relief at Bas Relief Park, lighting maintenance at Pilgrim First Landing Park, and the irrigation systems at both locations are examples. The additional funding for contractor services will provide the maintenance needed to protect our investment.

Additional Amount Requested: $4,200

Budget Line: Grounds Material (546650)

One Time Only or Ongoing Expense? On going

Description of Additional Program, Product or Service:

The requested funds will be used to purchase additional materials needed to provide landscaping services.

Cost/Benefit Analysis:

The improvements to the park areas at the Bas Relief and Pilgrim First Landing Park will require additional materials to maintain the landscaping. These funds will allow for the purchase of additional landscaping materials to keep these high visibility areas properly maintained.

Additional Amount Requested: $3,163

Budget Line: Building Maintenance Plan (524330)

One Time Only or Ongoing Expense? On going

Description of Additional Program, Product or Service:

The additional expenditure will allow for continuing the positive trend in maintaining our building systems.

Cost/Benefit Analysis:

The use of the Building Maintenance Plan has brought many of our buildings and building systems into compliance with current codes and has provided a higher level of systems reliability. The maintenance of the Town buildings has been on a positive trend over the last few years and this funding level will help us maintain the improvements that have been made and continue to advance the program. Protecting the investment we have in our buildings is a high priority for the department.

Additional Amount Requested: $8,808

Budget Line: Building Maintenance Plan (523010)

One Time Only or Ongoing Expense? On going

Description of Additional Program, Product or Service:

The requested funds are to meet our required sewer betterment payments.

Cost/Benefit Analysis:

The sewer betterment payments are required. Most of the Town owned buildings have benefitted from the sewer expansion.