Municipal Complex Building Committee recommends $4,000 for consultant to produce two designs and cost estimates

The Municipal Complex Building Committee voted April 14 to recommend that the Town’s Select Board appropriate $4,000 to the design consultant so the consultant can furnish two conceptual designs and construction cost estimates, the committee said. The committee also agreed to use conceptual design No. 2 (the municipal-focused scheme shown at the meeting) as the basis for initial pricing.

The action followed a lengthy discussion in which members said they need written cost estimates to present clear options to voters. Mike Soul moved the recommendation to the Select Board “to approve 4K to continue to proceed with Rubenoff to provide concept designs and obtain construction cost estimates,” and the motion was seconded and adopted by the committee.

Why it matters: Committee members repeatedly stressed that the town needs clarity on scope and price before advancing a warrant article. Several members said the consultant’s earlier schematic work left gaps on public‑safety spaces (police processing, evidence storage and adequate fire bays) and that the town has to present both a mandatory safety core and optional administrative finishes so voters understand tradeoffs.

Cost and contract issues: Members reviewed recent invoices and contract history during the meeting. The committee reported it has paid $36,000 to date toward a schematic-design scope that was originally described as $30,000; members flagged an outstanding item of roughly $6,000–$7,000 on the consultant’s invoices that they will clarify. The additional $4,000 discussed at the meeting is intended to buy two conceptual designs and estimates; the committee will seek approval of that appropriation from the Select Board before releasing funds.

On scale and phasing: Several members repeated earlier cost estimates discussed in the meeting: prior consultant figures ranged near $8.9–$9 million for a fully built project, and some participants said a fully realized project could reach an estimated $12–13 million depending on the final program and site work. Committee members proposed presenting the town with two options—a higher‑cost plan with full administrative fit‑out and a lower‑cost plan that preserves mandatory safety spaces (fire bays and police processing) while trimming administrative finishes—and to phase work as required.

Consultant and next steps: The committee’s conversation named Rubenoff as the design consultant and referred to conversations with Derek (the consultant). The committee asked Carrie to place the $4,000 appropriation request on the next Select Board agenda; the Select Board will decide whether to approve the funds. Committee members said they will schedule their next meeting after they receive the consultant’s estimates and the Select Board’s response.

Procedure and timing: Committee members debated whether to pursue an annual town‑meeting warrant article in June or to wait for a later special town meeting; several members said the June timeline is high risk and preferred waiting until estimates are complete and the committee can present a clear, color‑coded comparison of mandatory versus discretionary elements.

What the vote did and did not do: The committee’s recommendation to the Select Board is not an appropriation—members must await the Select Board’s action. The committee also voted to adopt conceptual design No. 2 as the basis for cost estimating; it did not adopt a final design, approve construction, or transfer construction funds.

The committee asked staff to clarify the consultant’s outstanding invoices and any contract change orders before further payments are made.