The Fairfax Town Council on April 2 authorized the town manager to execute a professional services agreement with Bureau Veritas for a facilities condition and needs assessment, not to exceed $36,312, a project staff said will produce a roughly 20‑year plan and cost estimates for town buildings.

Planning Director Jeff Beisswanger summarized the proposal: the consultant will review town‑owned buildings (town hall and police department, the community center, the women’s club and pavilion, the corporation yard, and ball‑field structures), assess immediate and longer‑term maintenance and capital needs, and produce cost estimates and a plan useful for capital budgeting and grant applications. Beisswanger said the consultant’s work is expected to take about three to six months.

Why it matters: council members and staff said an up‑to‑date, systematized facilities assessment helps the town plan capital needs, prioritize repairs and make stronger grant applications, including FEMA or other funding streams that favor ‘shovel‑ready’ projects. Opponents urged caution because the town is carrying an operating deficit; some public commenters and a councilmember argued the work could be done in‑house using town staff and local contractors.

Public comment and debate: members of the public and several council members questioned hiring an outside firm rather than relying on public‑works staff, and flagged the town’s fiscal position and recent consultant spending. Supporters — including Councilmember Kohler and Town Manager Heather Abrams — said staff lacks the bandwidth and specialized software to perform a timely, credible assessment and noted the fee was modest compared with potential future capital‑planning costs. The firm was selected through an RFQ process; staff said four firms responded and two were interviewed.

Council action: the council adopted a resolution authorizing the town manager to execute the professional services agreement with Bureau Veritas for an amount not to exceed $36,312. The motion passed; Councilmember Guirangalli recorded a dissenting vote citing concerns over consultant spending and local capacity.

Scope and timetable: staff described the scope as a comprehensive condition assessment, with prioritized short‑ and long‑term needs and cost estimates intended to feed future capital budgeting and grant applications. Staff said the assessment will lean on existing knowledge from in‑house staff and recently completed design work where applicable (for example, the fire station remodel designs), and that the contractor will provide software access for tracking needs.

Ending: the contract aims to give the town a prioritized, costed plan to reduce surprise emergency repairs and to support grant and budget planning; the council approved the expenditure despite public concern about consultant costs and the town’s broader fiscal position.