The head of the city's Building Department said last night that the city is on a "tight schedule" to install an elevator in the Waltham Museum on Lexington Street.
"The time frame is sensitive," Building Commissioner Ralph Gaudet told the City Council's Long Term Debt Committee.
Gaudet said the state's Architectural Access Board - which makes sure buildings can be accessed by those with disabilities - has granted the city a waiver of its regulations until 2010 so the city can gather the money and then install the elevator.
To install the elevator at 25 Lexington St. will cost about $530,000, Gaudet said.
The Building Department has applied for $275,000 in Community Preservation Act money to help fund the design and construction. The Community Preservation Committee has already been approved the request. The measure was before the Long Term Debt Committee last night.
Gaudet said the city also has $205,000 from the Capital Improvement Plan and $50,000 through a grant from the Handicap Services Commission to help pay the rest of the cost. The CPA money would have to be spent on the elevator by June 2009, Gaudet said.
Gaudet said if the council approves funding, his department is ready to send out bids immediately.
He said an elevator would need to go in the building no matter how the city had decided to use it.
"Whether the museum is there or not, we need an elevator," Gaudet said.
The committee tabled the request after City Councilor at large David Marcou asked that the Law Department offer an opinion as to whether CPA funds could be used for projects that were already under way.
Richard Conn can be contacted at 781-398-8004 or rconn@cnc.com.
