CHICOPEE – The Finance Committee of the Chicopee City Council has voted to recommend postponing any further action about approving $100,000 for the design of a garage to house eight city garbage trucks.

City Council President John Vieau was joined by Councilors Shane Brooks, Gary LaBrie, Frank Laflamme and Fred Krampits on Sept. 24.

Former Department of Public Works (DPW) Superintedent Stan Kulig – who is now a consultant to the city – and James M. Hanifan of Caolo & Bieniek Associates told the councilors the garage has an estimate of nearly $1 million.

Vieau said there were two major questions facing the council: Does the city really need the garage and what would be the actual cost for a “bare bones” building?

Hanifan explained that if the council approved the $100,000 design fee for the final design, it would go to local contractors for bid. The cost of a steel building from one of the major manufacturers does not include the building’s concrete foundation, electrical, plumbing and heating, he added.

The 5,000 square foot steel structure building would have eight bays for most of the city’s fleet of the sanitation trucks. The idea that has been put forward since May has been the vehicles would have an extended life if they are protected especially during the winter. The building would have a heating system to keep the air temperature in the 55-degree range that would benefit the truck’s hydraulics.

Councilor Frank Laflamme questioned this premise by noting that Holyoke keeps its garbage trucks in an unheated building.

“I’m not in favor – there are too many unknowns,” Laflamme said. “I think it’s too costly.”

He added, “I think we need to look at bringing the price down.”

Laflamme added he thought any building should be out at the DPW’s site off Baskin Road rather than the proposed site of Meadow Street.

Elizabette Botelho, the acting DPW superintendent, said there is no room at Baskin Road for such an additional building.

Vieau asked what if the city builds a garage big enough to hold 12 trucks and would that make greater sense. Hanifan said there could be an economy of scale to make the building larger.

Councilor James Tillotson asked, “What’s the rush?” He advocated for the city to look renting hanger space at Westover Air Reserve Base.

The committee agreed it needed greater clarification from Mayor Richard Kos about the size, site and use of the building.