The Town of Hubbardston Open Space Committee received project updates on multiple MassTrails grant-funded efforts and confirmed a contractor is under contract for trail work.

Bob (Open Space Committee member and project manager) reported that the Williamsville Road beacons grant is closed out and that Malone Road’s revised budget — which removed a deck in favor of a ground-level pad — was approved, reducing the town’s match requirements. He said the revised scope lowered the match by cutting a DT15 component and that state administrators did not object to the change.

“I will continue as the project manager . . . through the end summer to get the trail construction complete and the furniture complete,” Bob said, adding that once construction and furnishings are in place, the remaining funds should leave “like, 4 or $5 left in the budget for interpretive sign signage.”

Contract and schedule: the committee was told it is under contract with TerraMar for Malone Road work. The contractor’s proposal listed a May 1 start and an August 1 completion; committee members said field conditions and scheduling mean work will likely start later in May and finish by August. The committee planned a pre-construction walk and a work day for final clearing before crews arrive.

Funding risk and administration: committee members discussed that the grant funds are federal and held at the state until reimbursements are processed. Amanda (MassTrails program manager) was quoted in the meeting as expressing confidence the funding would be processed, but committee members noted that timing matters once work begins because termination or federal funding volatility could create obligations for the town depending on contract timing.

Next steps: a pre-construction meeting with TerraMar was planned; the committee will schedule volunteer work days for final clearing and will track remaining funds for interpretive signage and other small post-construction work.