Warrant article for public safety building design

Dec 18 · VideoFirst mention

The committee reviewed a draft warrant article asking voters for $50,000 for design, engineering, planning and other services for a public safety building in 2026. Members agreed to add the word "preliminary" so voters do not expect the money to cover all design work. They said the wording should stay broad enough to cover surveying, wetland delineation, test pits and similar work. The committee said the money would come from undesignated funds, so it would not affect the tax rate. Members said the cost of studying the town lots is likely well under $50,000. They also discussed design-build contracts, in which a builder and architect design the project and set a price, with no separate design fee up front. Members said federal grants need a site and a design, and they hope to finish that work in 2026 and bring a construction article in 2027. The select board's final reading is on January 7. Members also said the article should include cents under the dollar amount and asked the trustees about trust funds that might help. A member suggested moving the article up to about fourth or fifth on the ballot. A member also raised softening the word "critical" in the article.

Voted to approve the warrant article as amended with the word "preliminary" and cents added. Voice vote, none opposed.

Dec 18 · VideoDecided

A member of the public said voters may not know what "public safety building" means. The committee agreed to add wording naming the combined police, fire and emergency operations center (EOC) in the article. Members said the article needs clear explanations for voters, and one member said a public information effort is needed before the vote. They also noted that the moderator can read the article but cannot speak for or against it.

Voted to approve the warrant article as re-amended to include the combined police, fire and emergency operations center. Voice vote, none opposed.

Jan 22 · VideoDecided

The committee discussed a warrant article asking voters to create a public safety building expendable trust fund (a savings fund set aside for a set purpose) and put $50,000 in it. The money would come from the December 31, 2025 unassigned fund balance, with no money raised by taxes. The select board would be named as the agent to spend it. The money would pay for design, engineering, planning and other professional services. A member said that at the budget hearing a resident thought $50,000 was a lot. The member said the money is not for a building design but for early site work on town-owned land, such as surveys, wetland studies and test pits. Estimates from engineers and surveyors were $25,000 to $30,000, and the committee wanted extra room so it would not run short. Unspent money would go back to the town. Members said the town owns four lots with no conservation protection. The posted wording does not mention police, fire or emergency management, which the committee had wanted added. The town clerk could not change it after the budget hearing. Members planned to ask for a change at the deliberative session (the meeting where voters discuss and may amend articles before the ballot vote). They also planned to send both Primex building assessments (reports on the police and fire buildings) to the public the next week with a note on the wording. A member would prepare a one-page list of talking points. Members also expected questions on how to staff a fire department as volunteers decline and on what to do with the old building.

No vote. The group agreed to prepare talking points, release the building assessments, and be ready to propose the wording change at the deliberative session.