The targeted move-in time for town hall to relocate to the former memorial middle school is the spring of 2027.

By Carol Britton Meyer

Voters at the May 4 annual town meeting will be asked to authorize an additional $4 million – on top of the up to $3.6 million approved at the 2024 town meeting for repairs and improvements – to complete the relocation of town hall to the Memorial Middle School. The targeted move-in date is spring 2027.

The town is expected to use the space for municipal purposes for 30 years under the current memorandum of understanding with the school committee, Town Manager Jennifer Constable told the select board Wednesday night to justify the added expense.

“We met with the OPM (owner’s project manager) a week and a half ago and learned that the cost estimate is higher than originally [thought],” she said. “The project is $4 million over budget.”

The project scope includes mechanical (HVAC), electrical, plumbing, and life safety systems, necessary reconfiguration of offices, technology, furniture, fixtures, and equipment.

Two million of the additional cost is related to HVAC and air conditioning units for the building, and the remainder is due to escalating construction costs, Constable said.

“While this is a good project, there are relatively no frills,” she said. “There’s not much extra.”

Chair Irwin Nesoff noted that “we’re seeing costs increase for almost everything, and it doesn’t look like it will stop.”

The owner’s project manager offered three scenarios moving forward that would require a smaller additional funding request – including eliminating carpeting and using some window air conditioners, among other changes to the initial plan – but Constable said she prefers the project to be done “completely and correctly” for both the staff and the community.

“I can see this building becoming a community hub in different ways,” she said.

Select board member Greg Grey called the additional allocation “a no-brainer.”

It’s important “to do this right,” Nesoff said, noting the 30-year timeframe.

“The staff deserves air conditioning and carpeting,” as does the public, Constable noted.

The request for additional funds – Article 26 on the May 4 warrant – will be discussed at the next select board meeting on April 22.

Constable said the OPM may make a presentation at town meeting to explain the cost increase, or to the select board prior to town meeting.

“This is not an unrealistic number, but it’s larger than we hoped for initially,” she said.

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