NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The city hopes to release a request for proposals for the airport terminal restaurant in the fall.

 

The Airport Commission agreed Tuesday to form a subcommittee to flesh out what restrictions and preferences it wants to place in the RFP.

 

"Ideally what I would like to see happen, from a timeline standpoint, let's form a subcommittee, finalize what we want, and get this before the commission," Chairman Jeffrey Naughton said. "Then we can move forward and issue it."

 

Last month, Administrative Officer Michael Canales asked the commission to review an RFP used by Westfield to solicit interest in its airport restaurant. He noted the commission has the power to place restrictions and requirements in the RFP.

 

"We took theirs as a template to do ours so if there is anything else you would like to add or take out ... that falls to you as the awarding authority," Canales said. "Anything you place as a requirement they have to meet that as a minimum anything that's a preference we are just saying you will score extra points in the RFP."

 

The vacant medical building donated to the city by Berkshire Health Systems was moved farther back onto the airport campus and is currently being renovated to serve as Harriman & West Airport's administrative building. 

 

Along with housing airport offices, the space will also accommodate a restaurant.

 

Naughton and Canales agreed to serve on the subcommittee as well as Commissioners Shaun Dougherty and Marc Morandi.

 

Right off the bat, Naughton said he wanted the RFP to clearly state that the restauranter needed insurance and Dougherty wanted it to be clear that potential eateries had to purchase their own equipment and utilities.

 

Canales said the commission could vote on the RFP next month and have it released in the fall. 

 

"It would be nice to get it out in the fall to give the person the winter to build out the space and by the next summer have someone in there operating," he said.  

 

In other business, Stantec engineer Peter Enzien gave an update on the terminal building and said the project is still behind schedule but should be completed by the fall.

 

"Probably about two to three weeks behind schedule so I would say they are looking at completion at the beginning of September," he said. "Originally it was going to be the second week in August."

 

Originally the project was ahead of schedule but after opening the walls the contractor found the insulation was not installed to code and had to be redone.

 

Enzien said work is still progressing. The interior walls are completed and the contractor has begun priming the walls. The casework and drop ceilings should begin next week.

 

He said 40 percent of the siding has been fastened and he added that windows and doors have been installed.

 

"So if you are airside looking back at the building you will see the restaurant windows," he said. "Big picture windows that give a panoramic view of the airfield and the mountains in the background."

 

The building now has permanent electrical service, the curbs are in, and the lights that will light the sidewalks have been installed.

 

He said the are starting to form for the exterior sidewalks and paving may begin as early as next week. 

 

"The contractor doesn't want to run on the final course when they still have equipment coming in and going out," he said. "With the heat and the weather you will end up marking it all up so it may get pushed a little bit."