Press release
As part of its efforts to inform the public about the planned renovations of Town Hall, the Town Hall Renovation Committee will hold a “Cookie Social” on Wednesday, May 1st at 6:30 PM at Town Hall. Residents are invited to come and take tours of the building and learn about the renovations ahead of a vote on the project at the Annual Town Meeting on May 9th (Article #9 of the Warrant).
The renovations to the building which was opened in 1884 include complete accessibility to handicapped persons, energy efficiency, address code deficiencies and life safety issues, preserve historic features, consolidate town functions, increase parking, and improve environmental conditions. The project is being brought to the voters after an article at last year’s Town Meeting approved $398,000 to finish the engineering and design and obtain bids for construction. Having completed that work the Committee is seeking $6,524,111 for the renovation this year. Of that amount it is anticipated that 94% of the costs will be paid with Community Preservation Funds, a portion of which is immediately available, and the balance to be paid for over a 20 year period. The portion to be borne by the Town outside of these funds is $370,000 or 6%.
Once approved, Town Offices will be relocated to the ground level of Holy Angels Church for approximately one year while the renovation takes place, and would move back into the building during the summer, 2014. At that time the Board of Health and Code Enforcement departments would relocate to Town Hall, freeing up space in the Risteen building for the Library or other purposes.
Following the Cookie Social the Community Preservation Committee will hold a public hearing on the project at 7:30 PM. As part of the approval process the Committee will make a recommendation to the Town Meeting.
UPTON DAILY 