Rochester Town Hall Annex Committee updates Selectmen
The Town Hall Annex Building Committee is in the early stages of developing a plan for revamping where the town does business.
On Monday night, committee members met with Selectmen to explain where they are in the process.
With limited space in Town Hall and the town paying rent to house several municipal offices in a separate building, Selectmen have tasked with the committee with researching a solution.
Chair Richard Cutler said the committee identified the following options: make no changes, purchase the building that is currently leased, build a new annex, build a new Town Hall and use the former building as a community center or demolish Town Hall and rebuild on the same site.
“This is the list of options of we’re looking at,” Cutler said. “We’re not ready to make a presentation yet on what our recommendation will be. We’re looking at every option available.”
Committee member Arnie Johnson said his group planned to follow a similar course of action taken by Marion officials. Over the past few years, designs were created with resident input for a new Town House in Marion.
Those designs were whittled down to two. At a series of public forums residents then gave their opinions on the plans.
“That’s probably the proper way to do it,” Johnson said.
Selectman Naida Parker said the last time Town Hall renovations were brought up, which included plans for a $6 million addition, voters shot down the proposal.
Johnson said at the time the elementary school expansion was approved and a new library was being mulled.
“We had three big things going on at the same time,” Johnson said. “We need to consider the context, back then three major things were being discussed.”
Cutler said the committee wanted to have designs, complete with construction estimates, ready for discussion at Annual Town Meeting.
“Hopefully there will be an option there that meets with the voters’ approval,” said Parker.
“If not we go back to the drawing board,” Cutler said.