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Council tables accessibility lift after code issue raises town-hall renovation cost to about $262,000
Summary
Council learned the removable ramp in the town-hall renovation plans does not meet code; a fixed handicap lift is required, raising the project cost to about $262,000. Council voted to table final action pending cost comparisons and a building-inspector report, and approved a budget amendment on first reading to cover multiple capital items.
The council reviewed town-hall renovation plans and learned the previously planned removable ramp would not meet building-code requirements; the building inspector determined the project must include a fixed handicap lift. That change increases the renovation's estimate to roughly $262,000.
Council members questioned why the ramp issue was not identified earlier in the design process. The administrator said the plans originally specified a lift rather than a ramp and that the inspector's interpretation of travel-distance and platform requirements made a removable ramp infeasible. The administrator offered to obtain the building inspector's written explanation and cost comparisons between a switchback ramp and the lift.
A motion to table further action on the renovation and related accessibility decisions passed. Councilors also discussed a broader budget amendment that would allocate funds for several capital projects: a gateway monument sign (estimated $32,000–$35,000 from hospitality funds), a design grant for a half-acre property (town to receive $155,000 toward the design), and a stormwater project with an updated cost estimate of $66,420. The administrator moved to approve the fiscal year 2025 budget on first reading, and the motion carried.
Council asked staff to return the building-inspector's code references and cost options at a future meeting and to provide documentation supporting any budget adjustments.
