Jay Ryder, Chair of the Marion Town House Advisory Committee, asked the Board of Selectmen on March 6 to increase the committee’s involvement in Town House renovations, but Ryder was told by the Selectmen that to do so without a project manager would be against state law.

At issue was whether the committee could do the work they were assigned without having information on the current Town House employee needs.

Ryder outlined steps identified by the committee, including developing a functional program for Town House staff, evaluating all of the town’s facilities, and establishing a moratorium on infrastructure projects for other town facilities until an action plan is completed.

Ryder said that the committee could then develop several alternative scenarios for the future of the Town House. They also sought funding for a consultant to develop a cost estimate for the project.

“You’ve got the best committee here,” Ryder said, pointing out that the entire seven-member committee was present for the Selectmen’s meeting.

The committee was formed in January to recommend whether the town should renovate the current Town House structure, build a new structure at the same site, or move town functions into a different town-owned building.

Before moving forward with the project, Selectmen Chair John Henry said that the town must adhere to the regulations of the Massachusetts Designer Selection Law. The law requires that the town have master plans written and all related studies completed before selecting a contractor as Ryder had suggested.

Henry said the town has been advised by Town Counsel Jon Witten not to act without meeting with him to discuss the legalities of the project.

Instead Henry suggested that the committee meet jointly with him, as well as Town Administrator Paul Dawson and Witten to discuss the scope of the project.

“I don’t want to stifle your enthusiasm,” Henry said.

Though, Henry said that there had been a previous town project that had to stop and secure a project manager to do the work the committee wanted to do.

Dawson said that the scope included much of what the committee wanted to do, but the emphasis was on their reaching general, not specific recommendations. The spatial analysis for employees’ needs had to be done by a designer, and the rules for selecting a project designer were established by state law.

“I read the law,” said Selectman Stephen Cushing. “It really ties our hands.”