Review of Town Building Needs

Ad-Hoc Building Study Group

Ad-Hoc Study Group Created as a Think Tank to Address Police Department Facility

Needs

• Town Employees• Industry Experts• Informal Discussion of

Possibilities

Clear Need for Improved Police Department Quarters

• Space is Inadequate• Space is not Specialized• Police Station does not Need to

Remain in its Present Location• Then, Other Building Needs

Became Apparent…

Library Has Needs But is Likely to Remain

• In a Convenient, Downtown Location

• Future Grant Funding may Allow for Renovation and Expansion

• However…

Town Hall/Library Requires Major Exterior

Overhaul• Exterior in Failure Right Now• “Band-aid” Approach Being Used• Not Suitable for Modern Operations• Not Necessary for Town Offices to

Remain in Current Location• Initial Planning Cannot Wait• $1.5M Price Tag Even if Town

Offices are Moved (Preserve for the Library)

Fire Station Requires Renovation

• Fire Trucks Barely Fit into the Station

• Fire Station Location is Critical to Maintain Response Times

In Realization of the Broader Need, the Study

Group Widened its Scope to all Downtown Building

Issues

Other Town Land Considered

• An Unused Portion of the Spring Street Cemetery abuts John Wise Avenue

• Relatively Close to Downtown• Possible to Divide a Portion off

for General Use

Combined Police/Fire Renovation Ruled Out

• Available Footprint will not Satisfy Needs of both Departments (on either site)

• Existing Parking Lot Would Require Reconfiguration and Infringement

• Police can Safely Operate from John Wise Avenue but Fire Cannot – Fire Must Take Priority for the Limited Downtown Site

• Fire Station Construction Differs Considerably from Police Station Const.

Existing Commercial Building

and Space at School Ruled Out

• Basic Structure of Building not Well-Suited for Police Station Design

• Building Not Large Enough for Both Town Offices and a Police Station

• Only One School Classroom Will Potentially be Available

John Wise Site the Logical Choice

• A New Police Station on Another Site is Needed Anyway

• Town Offices Could be Designed into that New Facility

• Police and Town Offices are Not Constrained by the Downtown Location

Cost-Effective Approach

• Could the Non-Library Portion of Town Hall be Redeveloped to Take Care of the Exterior Renovation Costs?

• Could a Private Contractor Construct a New Facility on John Wise Avenue and Lease it Back to the Town Under a Structured Lease/Purchase Agreement?

Redevelopment of Town Hall Not Likely to be

Successful

• Only About Half of the Building Would be Available for Redevelopment

• The Developer Would Have to Offset the High Exterior Renovation Cost with a Relatively Low Quantity of Square Footage to Convert to Profit

Private Construction on Town Land Not Allowed

• Public Contracting Rules Prohibit this Arrangement

Selectmen’s Present Position

• Library to Take Entire 1st Floor, Town Hall

• Process to Restore 2nd Floor Should Begin

• Exterior Renovations via Capital Campaign

• New Town Offices/Police Building on John Wise Avenue

• Borrowing for Fire Station Renovation

Tonight’s Warrant Article

• Town Meeting Being Asked to Consider $20K for Conceptual Plans

• Plans to Include New Building on John Wise Avenue and Renovated Fire Sta.

• Present Economic Conditions Uncertain But Inaction Could be More Costly in the Long Run

Future Town Meetings

• Divide Off a Portion of Cemetery Land?

• Lease New Lot to Developer?• Borrow to Renovate Fire Station?• Use Ryder Trust Money to

Restore 2nd Floor of Town Hall?• Rely on Capital Campaign for

Exterior Repairs to Town Hall or Borrow Additional Funds?