Select Board approves $46,000 structural analysis after inspections flag unsafe Town Hall fire escape

The Brookline Select Board voted unanimously to hire Team Engineering for a $46,000 structural analysis of Town Hall after inspectors identified severe safety deficiencies in the building’s auditorium fire escape.

At a meeting called to order by the chair, staff read inspection findings that described missing attachment bolts, corroded piping, improper rise/run of steps, and horizontal railing spacing that does not meet code. The town’s fire inspector, through a written report read aloud by the staff member, warned that the current fire escape “cannot be considered a safe means of egress” for gatherings and recommended an immediate structural engineering assessment and limiting access to the upper floors until corrective measures are identified.

Board members debated whether to pursue a limited repair approach or a full replacement. One inspector’s estimate for minimum repairs was listed at about $12,000 but was explicitly described in meeting materials as insufficient to bring the structure up to code; another vendor estimated a complete replacement upward of $45,000. Several members urged moving promptly because the auditorium had already been restricted and the condition included a widening crack in an upper wall.

The approved Team Engineering contract will fund a full structural analysis and design documents that the town can use to solicit construction bids. According to the motion carried by a unanimous voice vote, the $46,000 authorization will be funded from town resources with the funds’ specific source to be determined in coordination with the town administrator and finance staff.

Select Board members said they asked engineers whether the building analysis and the fire escape design could proceed in parallel; if that is not feasible the board directed that the engineering study come first so that any fire escape attachment design is compatible with recommended building repairs. The board also discussed immediate operational steps: closing the auditorium to public gatherings and placing physical barriers to restrict access to affected areas.

The board recorded the vote to proceed with the Team Engineering proposal during the same meeting; staff said the firm estimates a multi‑month schedule that could yield deliverables in early 2026 depending on the agreed scope and start date.

The Select Board’s next procedural step is to confirm the funding source with the town administrator and to direct Team Engineering to begin the analysis and produce the documents needed for competitive bids to repair or replace the Town Hall fire escape and address any related structural issues.