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Committee reviews community‑center Phase 1 plan; Phase 1 estimated at $12.25 million, asks flagged for town meeting
Summary
The committee reviewed detailed Phase 1 plans for a community center (senior center and support spaces) with a projected Phase 1 cost of $12.25 million (net just under $12M after an estimated $500,000 rebate) and discussed funding from the Del Webb Chauncey Lake Stabilization Fund.
The Municipal Building Committee spent a substantial portion of its Oct. 17 meeting reviewing schematic plans and cost estimates for Phase 1 of the proposed community center, which would prioritize the lower‑level senior center, a new kitchen, program rooms, office space and accessibility upgrades.
Staff presenter (Speaker 5) walked members through schematic slides previously shown to the select board and available on the town website. “That Phase 1 includes the first‑floor senior center …” Speaker 5 said, describing multipurpose rooms, a proposed new kitchen, storage, and offices for the senior center and other town functions. The presentation also identified optional items—an additional elevator and stair, rooftop HVAC units, and an emergency generator—that could increase cost but respond to public engagement requests.
Speaker 5 presented a Phase 1 projection of $12,250,000 with an estimated rebate of about $500,000, which she said would place the net projected cost just under $12 million. She said the recommended funding source for the article would be the Del Webb Chauncey Lake Stabilization Fund, which receives payments from developer Pulte under a ZBA condition; staff reported $3.4 million currently in that account and anticipated an article that would request roughly $1.1 million at town meeting.
Committee members raised design tradeoffs. Speaker 4 urged keeping the budget tight and suggested a $10 million target if feasible, and other members questioned whether the elevator/stair (million‑dollar range) should be carried forward immediately given the disruption to second‑floor uses. Speaker 2 asked which body would make decisions on big scope items; Speaker 5 said the committee would carry alternatives forward in design and that final choices would be priced and presented when real bid numbers were available.
The proposal also intersected with short‑term library needs. Speaker 5 said the library’s bid process for temporary leased space had produced weak responses and bids were being deferred; using town‑owned community‑center space as a temporary relocation could save substantial lease costs but would require fit‑up and life‑safety evaluation by the library building committee and the OPM.
Speaker 4 reported that the Advisory Finance Committee (AFC) had voted 8–1 in favor of supporting the article at town meeting and urged the building committee to limit costs where possible.
What’s next: The committee is expected to carry Phase 1 schematic design work forward, consider alternatives (elevator/stair and other options) and coordinate with the library building committee on temporary relocation costs and fit‑up estimates prior to the March town meeting.
