The Town Council authorized the withdrawal of up to $67,000 from the Town Hall contingency fund to pay for site improvements and for services from the owner’s representative in the Town Hall renovation project.
Of that amount, $35,000 will pay to patch pavement, restore turf, rig the generator, prepare the site for an electronic message center and construct a sewer line. The costs are expected to be offset by shifting the landscaping work from the contractor, Charters Brothers, to the town’s Department of Public Works.
The council on Sept. 22 also approved $32,000 to extend the contract with Dovetail Consulting, the Town’s project representative. The initial $100,000 allocation for Dovetail’s services will most likely be exhausted by Nov. 30, according to Andy Jackson of Dovetail.
The renovation is now projected to be finished by February 2027.
According to Interim Town Manager Jennifer Janelle, town attorney Drummond Woodsum of Portland reached a settlement with Oak Point Associates, the Town Hall architect, related to the cost overrun for the HVAC system that required a withdrawal of $60,000 from the Town’s contingency fund in April.
At that time, former town manager Tim Pellerin notified Oak Point that HVAC cost overrun may have been a result of errors on the part of the architect. Under the settlement, the Town will receive $50,000 in credit against its contract with Oak Point.
The council postponed a decision on spending $30,000 to buy and install an electronic message center while it awaits a Planning Board recommendation on changing a local zoning ordinance to exempt Town Hall from restrictions related to signage. The message center would provide information about council and committee meetings, as well as special events, said Janelle.
Dovetail Consulting solicited bids from sign suppliers and selected Sundance Sign and Design of Dover, N.H.
The Planning Board will discuss the ordinance change on Oct 7, according to Jeffrey Brubaker, planning and community development director.
The Town Hall will be closed to the public Oct. 7 and Oct. 8 while the town clerk, code enforcement, planning, and assessing offices move into their new spaces. When Town Hall reopens, residents will be able to visit these offices on the newly updated first floor.
