Tuesday’s 4-1 vote by the selectmen to move forward with the repair of Town Hall without clearly identifying revisions to specific project goals and objectives is a huge step backwards. It is unclear how their “new” plan reflects the program priorities and building efficiency objectives identified by numerous town boards and committees over the past four years.
Since November, the selectmen have systematically ignored advice and guidance from the public and the committee of professionals it appointed to advise them. Significant funds that were approved by Town Meeting to restore and renovate the Town Hall to meet the future needs of its citizens and employees are at risk of being wasted for a shoddy repair job that does little more than bring in new furniture and put paint on the walls.
Rather than collaborate with the Town Hall Building Committee (THBC) and the architect to reduce the cost of the project and bring it in line with available funds by developing a series of alternatives to choose from, they spent the bulk of the past six months in isolation and moving furniture around to create a modified floor plan that even the Town Administrator doesn’t agree with. I am unaware of any efforts by the selectmen or the architect to clearly identify the reductions, trade-offs and compromises of what their “approved plan” offers compared to the one approved by the Town Meeting two years ago. Instead, they have decided to go it alone. I can tell you from following this project very closely and as a member of the THBC that if folks really care about how their money is being spent, you had better speak up now and let the selectmen know what you think.
Tim Clark
Member, Town Hall Building Committee
