Contractors are halfway through the $7.4 million Town Hall renovations and should be done by the start of the new year, according to the consultant hired to represent the town in the project.
Andrew Jackson of Dovetail Consulting provided the Town Council at its June 23 with an update of the Town Hall renovation project.
As the owner’s representative firm for the project, Dovetail manages the work being done by Charters Brothers Construction of Danville, N.H., and Oak Point Associates, the Portsmouth, N.H., architects.
While the project was delayed by 37 change orders, including removal of asbestos and other hazardous materials, it is now halfway done, according to Jackson.
Of those change orders, 31 did not require additional funding from the Town and instead were absorbed by Charters Brothers through their own contingency funding. The other six change orders were for documentation of Charters Brothers work.
The net cost to the town of changes, including removing solar panels and landscaping plans, was $2,830, Jackson said.
Another $511,000 remains in the town’s contingency fund and $410,00 in Charters Brothers’ fund, he said.
“I don’t want to say that we won’t have further bumps in the road,” said Jackson, but noted financial resources through the contingency funds exist to deal with any concerns.
Because billing by Charters Brothers has been slow – accounting for 26% percent of the work completed – interest on bonds dedicated to funding the renovation has grown to $130,000, adding to available funds, according to Jackson.
Charters Brothers is now working with the state fire marshal’s office on fire protection as well as heating, air conditioning and insulation issues.
Town offices will be able to begin moving back to Town Hall by Aug 14, Jackson said. Town offices were transferred to the Community Center and mobile units outside the Town Hall while contractors continued work on the project.
Despite delays, the project should be finished by Jan. 7, 2027, only a week behind schedule, Jackson said, adding that Charters Brothers has been focused on meeting the project deadline.
