No new municipal building in Belmont until 2007

On Monday, the Board of Selectmen presented a preliminary plan to construct a new Town Hall-Police Station to a group of about 20 residents.

But everyone kicked in their ideas, the board found it could be considering a Town Hall-Police Station-Library-School Superintendent Office.

Selectman Ron Cormier, who presented the Town Hall-Police Station idea to those in attendance, said that it was unlikely any building proposal would be ready to present to voters at Town Meeting in March and it would probably be March 2007 before any plan was seriously considered, he said.

Cormier began by reviewing the selectboard’s reasoning for proposing the new Town Hall-Police Station.

He described the Town Hall space as inadequately small for the growing town services, with a poor heating and ventilation system and no significant meeting space. Repairing the top floor of the building to make it usable could cost as much as $500,000 and would only buy the town a few more years of use, he said.

The current police department station began as the old Fire Department stationhouse about 10 years ago, Cormier noted. It is now too small for both the growing town population and the needs of modern police work.

“Basically the two are just not appropriate for town functions at this time,” the selectman said. “Do we need it (a new building)? As the Board of Selectmen, we decided that we do.”

If a new facility was built on town-owned land adjacent to the Belmont Mill, the current police facility and the Corner Meeting House could be used for other functions, such as a summer day program for kids, and a meeting space for other community groups, Cormier added.

For a cost of somewhere between three and four million dollars, the town could build the new combined facility, Cormier said. Loan interest rates are relatively low right now, but expected to rise, he said.

With added revenue of the dog track reopening and possible income of develoment impact fees (which town leaders are now considering for residential developments), the tax impact might be only $51 per year, Cormier said. “Is it worth $2 a month to get this? I think it would be. You’re talking about $2 a month and you don’t need to touch it for 30 years.”

For right now, the selectmen have proposed putting $125,000 in a capital reserve fund for the building project.

But other people had other ideas.

Resident Linda Frawley suggested that the Selectboard consider other funding options, including U.S. Rural Development Department funds. “It’s how most town facilities are built in this state,” she said.

One resident pointed out that the Shaker Regional School Board had recently discussed the need for more office space for Superintendent Michael Cozort. If Cozort and his staff moved out of their space in the Memorial Building, students at the adjacent Belmont Middle School could use the area for recreational activities. The school district’s needs should also be considered, he said.

Planning Board member Jeff Marden noted that the Belmont Library trustees were working on a plan to put an addition on to the original structure.

Donna Cilley suggested the selectmen seriously consider how the library’s plans could be incorporated into the current building discussions.

If there were any doubts about the basic idea of replacing the current Town Hall facility, Budget Committee Chairman Ron Mitchell — who served as selectman in the past — seem to put them to rest. “The roof is falling down, the trusses are failing, there’s no parking, and there’s poor air circulation… We keep putting $50,000 to $60,000 a year in a building that doesn’t meet our requirements. We’ve always band-aided. I say let’s fix it right and be done with it.”

Still, resident George Condodemetraky raised other concerns. The longtime residents said the possible tax impact of any new building should include its maintenance.

“That’s true,” said Selectboard Chairman Brian Watterson.

Mitchell then suggested that the selectman form a building committee to look at the issues raised at the meeting. He said a committee with a broad range of people from the community could come up with a good plan that would be well received by voters.

Mitchell even suggested that Condodemetraky become part of the committee, noting that his experience was well suited to the role.

“And he’s smart,” someone behind Mitchell added.

“Yes, he is,” Mitchell said, jokingly referring to Condodemetraky. “Just ask him.”

The Selectboard made no final decision about the building plan but appeared to favor Mitchell’s idea about a committee. At least two previous building study committees have been formed in recent years but their results were not well received by some residents and community leaders.

At the conclusion of the discussion, Selectboard Chairman Watterson said his group would consider all kinds of options in the coming months.