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Council members warn annex facility may need urgent repairs; tour scheduled to assess short‑term fixes
Summary
Councilors raised alarms about failing infrastructure at the municipal Annex, arguing the building may not be sustainable through the coming winter without short‑term repairs; the town manager scheduled a council tour for June 22 to show critical systems and present options and costs.
Several councilors warned that the town’s Annex facility has aging infrastructure that could fail and pushed for proactive planning and a council tour to evaluate short‑term repairs versus long‑term replacement.
Councilor Zanoni said the Annex’s HVAC and control systems are likely to fail and the repairs could be well beyond what the charter permits the town to spend without a referendum. "The infrastructure at the annex facility is going to fail. It's not a question of if it will fail, it's a question of when," Zanoni said, urging a methodical plan to relocate services if necessary.
Town manager and staff described the forthcoming Annex tour as focused on “small spaces that hold critical infrastructure,” not a general inventory of room uses. Staff said there are short‑term remedies that could cost in the low hundreds of thousands to get through a winter, while full HVAC and electrical replacement could reach ten‑million‑dollar scales and would likely require referendum approval. The manager said the council will be asked to decide whether to accept risk and pursue stop‑gap repairs or to fund larger projects.
Council members asked that the fire marshal and DPW staff attend the tour; the manager confirmed the tour will be a public meeting and that capacity constraints could limit attendance. Councilors said they do not want to surprise residents with an emergency closure and stressed the need for transparent contingency planning for programs housed at the Annex, including recreation and pool operations.
What happens next: A council tour of the Annex is scheduled for June 22; staff will prepare a short‑term repair scope and cost estimate for council consideration and discuss funding options and timelines.
