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Select Board proposes up-to-$1M warrant article for Town Hall repairs; number is preliminary
Summary
The board discussed a proposed warrant article asking voters to authorize up to $1 million for structural, fire-safety and accessibility repairs to the 1914 Town Hall (Daniels Academy building), but members said that number is an early estimate pending a structural audit.
Town staff presented a draft warrant article asking voters to raise and appropriate up to $1,000,000 to make safety-related repairs and improvements to the 1914 Town Hall (referred to as Daniels Academy in some materials). The article, as drafted, would also authorize the Select Board to issue bonds or notes under the Municipal Finance Act (RSA 33) and to apply for grants and donations to offset costs.
The Chair described several known problems: an unusable fire escape, a growing horizontal crack in the third-floor auditorium wall and rafter deficiencies identified in an earlier report. He said the $1,000,000 figure is a preliminary estimate to ensure the issue appears on the warrant so voters can consider it; the number will be refined after a structural audit and more complete cost estimates.
Board members discussed whether the annex should be included in the same warrant or handled separately. One member suggested a single warrant that might encompass both buildings for a single funding mechanism; another recommended keeping Town Hall and annex costs separately tracked for transparency. The Chair said the structural audit should provide clearer direction and that the board will finalize language and figures before town meeting.
The board asked staff to continue collecting audit results and cost estimates to present a refined warrant article for voter consideration.
