2024 is almost over! Join us all month long as we look back at 2024, a year of success. Each week we’ll look back on all the work we’ve done, the projects, the milestones, and the people we’ve connected with along the way.
This year our team tackled dozens of projects, spanning every kind of service, scope, and community. We are so proud of our team and the work they accomplished. Here is just a short look at some of the projects our team worked on in 2024.
Town of Upton Procurement Assistance
In 2024 our team supported the Town of Upton MA in two different procurements. The first was for the new Community Center which houses the Library and Department of Elder and Social Services (Council on Aging). CSS was able to procure custodial services for this building and Town Hall. The second was bids to replace the HVAC controls at the Town’s Fire Station using a state grant. We know how much time and labor procurement processes can take. That’s why we support communities every step of the way.
Town of Acushnet Secures One Stop Grant for Community Planning, Initiates Projects
Capital Strategic Solutions supported the Town of Acushnet MA with the administration of the One Stop Grant for Community Planning, assisting the town with project initiation. This grant opportunity was used to update the Town’s Master Plan and provide a comprehensive analysis of existing conditions, and an implementation plan to achieve the Town’s vision, to enable economic growth and housing developments. CSS also assisted with securing funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) for a Water Main Infrastructure project. This included the total replacement of sidewalks, hydrants, and handicapped ramps, and the total replacement of a major water main at multiple connections. Our team’s versatility was able to assist with the many moving parts of these projects. From financing, to administration, planning, and reporting, our team was there.
Lunenburg Water District PFAS Mitigation
Our team was very active in Lunenburg this year. Our Public Relations and Community Engagement team was hard at work with the Lunenburg Water District and Tighe & Bond educating the community on the District’s PFAS and Master Plan Update. 2024 has been a big year for PFAS regulations. Our team was in multiple communities this year sharing PFAS informational materials so communities members could make informed decisions about their water supply. Our team used a proactive and vigorous stakeholder engagement strategy for the Lunenburg Water District that included website updates, social media content, public meetings, and a water quality email to field questions. This kind of outreach builds long term buy-in from the community.
Recruitment of a Public Health Administrator for the Town of Sherborn
This year CSS expanded our services to include recruitment and hiring for municipal employees. In the years since the pandemic, when many professionals are retiring, and retaining staff is more difficult than ever, our team stepped up to help communities fill the gaps. Our team assisted the Town of Sherborn MA with the recruitment of their new Public Health Administrator. Our team used a customized and aggressive advertising outreach and recruitment strategy to garner the attention of as many qualified applicants as possible. Coupled with our wage and compensation study, we were able to find qualified candidates to support the Town and the Board of Health.
Town of Weston Route 30 Reconstruction Project Outreach
This year CSS assisted the Town of Weston MA with educational outreach and communications for MassDOT’s proposed 3.7-mile Route 30 Reconstruction Project through the town. The project included design and construction of safety and mobility improvements, including a shared-use path for pedestrians and cyclists. The project qualified for construction funding from the state, if the town paid $600,000 for the design.
With no local town paper, and a two-year period since the last project update, CSS supported the Town of Weston to inform voters about the project so they could base their decision on the most current and factual information available.
Town of Holbrook Interim Department of Public Works Superintendent
The Town of Holbrook MA has been without a DPW Director/Superintendent for many months. While CSS advertised the position and searched for qualified candidates, Senior Project Manager John DeLuca acted as Interim DPW Director/Superintendent to ensure continuity of services. John’s knowledge of Public Works, state procurement laws, and project management has kept the department and major projects on schedule while the town works to fill vacancies.
Norfolk County Procurement Assistance
Staff vacancies in the public sector have persisted in 2024, and our staff at CSS has answered the call to find candidates, fill vacancies, and assist communities in day-to-day operations. In Norfolk County, CSS is providing the county offices with multiple services to support their procurement activities. Our team provides Bid and Document Preparation, Policy Streamlining and Improvement, and Staff Mentoring and Support.
This is only a look at a few of the dozens of projects our team tackled this year. From every line of service to every kind of community, our staff was proactive and responsive to the needs of our clients. A huge thanks goes out to our client communities; we can’t wait to continue our collaboration in 2025.