Brentwood committee advances RFQ process for police station and municipal options; field trip to Northampton set

The Brentwood Town building committee discussed next steps for a request for qualifications aimed at hiring a firm to produce planning-level designs and cost estimates for a new police facility and related municipal options. Committee members said the RFQ was posted April 1 on the town website and through the New Hampshire Municipal Association; submissions are due April 30 and may be sent by email or mail.

Committee members said the RFQ calls for (a) a standalone police station, (b) a police station built with room for future expansion, and (c) a combined police/town office complex, plus planning-level costs for renovating the town’s existing building as a fourth deliverable. The committee reiterated that the RFQ is qualifications-based (resumes and scope capabilities) rather than a request for price quotes, and that the committee will review applicants for competence and availability before asking for more detailed proposals.

Why it matters: the RFQ and the firm selected will determine whether Brentwood moves forward with a single-purpose police building, a shared municipal complex, or a renovation of existing town offices — choices that carry different short- and long-term cost, maintenance, and accessibility implications for taxpayers, public safety staff and town services.

Key schedule and outreach details

- RFQ posted April 1 on the town website and to the New Hampshire Municipal Association; deadline: April 30. - A non-mandatory information meeting for interested firms is scheduled for a Friday at noon (committee members said attendance is optional). - The committee plans to review submissions during the first week of May and to issue a notice to proceed in June, with a kickoff workshop targeted for July (July 20 was discussed as a target workshop date). - The selected firm is expected to provide draft reports and materials suitable for public information sessions so voters can compare options and costs before any ballot question.

Committee members reported limited early interest: one Concord-based firm, the H. L. Turner Group, requested more information; no RFQ submissions had been received by the meeting. The committee said it continued direct outreach to firms that have completed similar projects in the region and will extend the deadline if the pool of qualified respondents is insufficient.

Options under analysis and budget context

Committee discussion focused on three principal planning options: a stand-alone police station, a police facility sized for future growth, and a combined police/town hall complex. In addition, the RFQ asks firms to produce planning costs for renovating the town’s current building to meet program needs and accessibility requirements.

Committee members emphasized the need to avoid presenting voters with multiple competing proposals that fragment support. Members said the committee can recommend one preferred option from the RFQ deliverables but acknowledged the ultimate decision rests with voters and, for some approvals, the select board and budget committee.

Budget figures from previous materials drew frequent comment. A $28,000,000 figure that circulated earlier was repeatedly described by committee members as misleading and excessive; as a regional comparator, Northampton’s recent safety complex was cited at about $10.8 million for roughly 26,000 square feet. Committee members stressed that the RFQ should produce planning-level cost estimates that replace the earlier figures with clearer, itemized options for voters.

Program and design questions

Members asked that RFQ respondents demonstrate experience with public-safety standards, with building security and longevity (committee members referenced the need for a 50-year standard), and with creating ADA-compliant circulation when renovating or combining functions across floors (e.g., elevator needs if town offices are spread over multiple levels). The committee discussed the trade-offs between building “up” versus building “out,” shared meeting rooms and kitchens in combined facilities, and lifecycle maintenance costs for multiple buildings versus a consolidated complex.

Site and next steps

The committee said the preferred development site remains the parcel adjacent to the recreation center and pavilion — town-owned land where previous test pits indicated manageable ledge and water-table conditions. Because the site is town property, members noted it avoids acquisition costs though septic, water, and site work requirements remain to be assessed.

The committee scheduled a field trip to view a recently completed public safety complex in Northampton on Thursday at 10:00 a.m.; members discussed inviting select firms to join the visit if schedules permit. The committee also reiterated that, if RFQ responses are weak or insufficient by the April 30 deadline, it will extend outreach and the deadline.

Votes and formal actions

At the start of the session the committee voted to approve the minutes from the previous meeting; participants recorded the voice vote as in favor and no opposition was raised. The meeting ended on a motion to adjourn, which was seconded and approved by voice vote.

What’s next: committee members said they will continue direct outreach to regional firms, post an RFQ update and project documents to the town’s project page, review incoming qualifications in early May, and prepare materials for public information sessions once a vendor produces draft options and cost estimates.