Select Board amends municipal building committee charge, adds oversight for architect payouts

Select Board members voted on March 16 to amend the Municipal Building Complex Committee charge after a project update revealed schedule slippage and unclear oversight for the municipal complex schematic design.

Carrie, who presented the municipal complex update, told the board the design team had lost some momentum and that the committee needed clearer schedule and fee oversight. The architect contract had been budgeted for about $216,000; the report said roughly $35,000 has been spent so far and that the committee should avoid getting tied to two full construction designs before choosing one concept. Project managers recommended clearer written direction to the architect, better tracking of critical milestones and more frequent committee engagement on scope, schedule and fees.

Board members discussed options to reduce project risk, including asking the building committee to approve pay applications before the town administrator signs them and involving the building commissioner to provide construction and code expertise. The board motioned to amend the committee charge to allow the committee to approve architect payouts prior to town administrator approval, to add the building commissioner as an ex‑officio representative (non‑voting) and to appoint Jeff Williams as the Select Board's member on the committee through June 30, 2026. The motion was seconded, one member voiced opposition, and the motion carried.

Board members said the changes aim to increase transparency and protect the town from cost or schedule overruns by ensuring the committee reviews and signs off on pay applications and by adding technical building expertise to the committee.

The Select Board also instructed staff to keep outreach and public feedback steps in the project timeline and to present two schematic concepts to the public before selecting a final design to bring to a ballot vote.