Committee narrows Old Town Hall options, urges selectmen to investigate public‑private partnerships and fire‑department coordination

The Old Townhouse Committee on May 19 recommended that the board of selectmen investigate several reuse options for the old town hall and requested follow‑up work from town staff before a town‑wide vote. The committee’s recommendations include investigating public‑private partnerships (including sale/leaseback arrangements), exploring a development relationship with the fire department project, retaining town title and pursuing a civic or mixed‑use future, and assessing demolition to create a park. The committee also agreed to remove a “do nothing” option from the public landing page that summarizes these alternatives.

The committee’s discussion, led by the Chair (S1), spanned resident preferences captured in surveys, budget estimates and site tradeoffs. Committee members cited an estimated $9 million price tag to renovate the building and contrasted that with an approximately $8.3 million figure repeatedly referenced in the discussion for the fire department project. “If you rip down three quarters of the old town hall and you put that 8.3 fire department there, then it's over,” the Chair said, urging the group to consider whether relocating the fire station could be the most straightforward path forward. Committee member (S5) urged the committee to include a public‑private partnership option in the material sent to the selectmen, framing it as an investigative step rather than a commitment: “The motion is that this committee present to the town selectmen—investigate public‑private partnerships.”

Members debated how specific recommendations should be when presented to the selectmen and the public. Several speakers warned that a vague public‑private partnership recommendation with no identified partner or financial numbers risks being dismissed at town meeting; others argued a general request to investigate would allow experts or potential partners to come forward. The committee discussed survey results but did not record exact percentage breakdowns in the meeting transcript; one speaker noted earlier survey responses suggested a minority favored moving the fire department and that public support shifted once citizens learned cost estimates.

On motions, the committee moved and seconded proposals to: - Recommend that the selectmen investigate public‑private partnerships, including sale/leaseback possibilities (motion moved by Committee member S5; seconded by Committee member S2). The committee moved to vote on this but the transcript does not provide an unambiguous numerical tally in the record. - Recommend that the selectmen investigate a development relationship between the fire department project and the old town hall (motion moved by Committee member S5; seconded). The Chair called the question and members voted in favor; the transcript records the motion carried but a precise numeric tally is not specified in the record. - Recommend the town retain title and pursue a civic, mixed‑use, institutional or municipal future for the site (motion moved by Committee member S5; seconded). The committee voted to forward that recommendation to the selectmen for further study; again, the transcript records approval without a clear numerical tally. - Add demolition to create a park (John Flynn Memorial Park was suggested) as an investigatory option for the selectmen to study (motion seconded and carried as an option to investigate). - Remove the “do nothing” option from the public landing page and rerun the reporting with the five agreed options so the public materials reflect the committee’s narrowed set.

Committee members emphasized these recommendations are requests to the selectmen to investigate options, not final decisions to build, sell or demolish. The Chair said the committee will present the package of options to the selectmen and ask them to report back, with members suggesting the selectmen could provide further guidance on feasibility and likely costs. The group agreed to invite the fire department and other stakeholders to the next meeting with the selectmen; June 15 was proposed as a possible date for that follow‑up.

The committee’s next steps include finalizing the five options on the landing page, asking the selectmen to investigate the recommended avenues, and scheduling a follow‑up meeting with the fire department and selectmen to review financial and site‑planning details. The meeting adjourned following the scheduling discussion.