Brookline Selectboard declares Town Hall unsafe, approves emergency shoring and procurement waiver

The Brookline Selectboard on Feb. 5 declared Town Hall temporarily closed for safety after engineers found failing roof trusses and voted unanimously to waive the town’s purchasing policy so emergency shoring work can begin immediately.

Selectboard Chair Eddie Arnold said Team Engineering confirmed worsening structural issues identified in a 2022 assessment and that employees had reported increasing cracks over the previous 48 hours. Team Engineering determined that “the roof trusses, which support the building, are in failure,” prompting the emergency actions.

The board noted a $1 million bond for Town Meeting has already been set to address repairs, but officials said the immediate costs for temporary shoring and for permanent repairs are not yet known. The board plans to consult DRA about potentially amending the bond amount if necessary. Town staff reported that $200,000 was spent in 2024 on water-intrusion work at Town Hall.

A contractor is scheduled to evaluate needed shoring work on Tuesday; temporary shoring may be completed by the end of next week, with the possibility of returning to Town Hall within one to two weeks pending engineer confirmation. While repairs are assessed, some services have moved: the Town Clerk, Welfare, and Supervisors of the Checklist are operating from the Safety Complex, other staff are working from the Fire Station, committee meetings are being rescheduled to Brusch Hall, and the town’s food pantry is closed (residents were directed to contact Lynn Giblin for assistance).

At the emergency meeting the board agreed to bypass normal procurement rules for rapid response. Selectboard Member Jerry Roche moved to bypass the purchasing policy and proceed with Morin Construction for temporary shoring; Selectboard Member Stephen Dolfini seconded the motion, and a roll-call vote was recorded as 5 yes (including Ed Perry via phone). Roche then moved a second motion to waive the purchasing policy and allow the Town Administrator to approve the work immediately and proceed with snow removal from the Town Hall roof; Dolfini seconded, and the motion passed 5-0.

Town Hall will remain closed to the public while engineers and contractors access the building for assessment and work; the town will post public notices online and on the building as updates become available. Arnold and Roche were designated as media contacts. The board adjourned at 6:31 p.m. and said it will reconvene once cost estimates are available.