NEW TOWN OFFICE
INFORMATIONAL MEETING
MONDAY, AUGUST 6, 7:00 p.m.
at Town Hall
The Calais Selectboard has scheduled two public meetings in order to present the ideas of the Town Office Committee and to receive input from the public. The first meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 6, at the Town Hall and the second meeting for Monday, September 17, at the Calais Elementary School. All town residents are encouraged to attend to offer ideas and give input into the options the Town Office Committee and the Selectboard are considering.
History
The Calais town office is currently located in the home of town clerk Eva Morse. In 1992 the federal government passed the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), which mandated that buildings for public use be made handicapped accessible. Municipalities were given until 1995 to comply with the new law. Since it was not feasible to make the current town office accessible, the Calais Selectboard appointed a committee to investigate and make recommendations regarding a new town office, to include location, size and type of building, whether it should contain other municipal functions (the Calais Historical Society, for example), and whether the town should buy, build or renovate. The committee issued its report in 1996 outlining some of the requirements and costs of a town office, but no action was taken as to a final location.
In February of 2001, the Calais Selectboard appointed a new committee. Members include Donna Fitch, Chair, Peter Backman, Barry Bernstein, Olivia Gay, David Healy, John McCullough, and Selectboard members Cy Lamberton and Randy Fitch. State representative Elaine Alfano was unable to attend our meetings, but we copied her on meeting minutes. (Elaine and David served on the previous committee which gave some continuity to the process.)
Goals of the Town Office Committee
The following goals guided our investigation for a town office. We hoped that a new office would:
- meet the long-term needs of the town
- be in a village center
- be on a paved road
- be centrally located
In addition, the following criteria were considered as we explored a variety of options:
- accessibility and ADA compliance
- retrofitting issues
- cost and space factors
- flood plain
- availability and cost of land for new construction
- town-owned land
- existing public meeting space that already exists at the Town Hall and the school
Four options
The Town Office Committee ultimately decided on four options to explore in more depth and to present to the public for further discussion, with the “pros and cons” of each site listed below:
- the site of the old town garage in Gospel Hollow
- an addition to the school (possibly off the library)
- use of an existing classroom in the school
- an addition to the Maple Corner Community Center
GOSPEL HOLLOW - OLD TOWN GARAGE SITE
During the next few months, the East Montpelier Fire Dept. will be using the old town garage for training and, by fall, the building will no longer exist. This site provides adequate space for a building and for parking.
Pros: - office can be built specifically to town’s current and long-term needs
- town owns the land
- site is in geographic center of town
- site is close to meeting space (Town Hall)
- site is in a (small) village
Cons: - cost of new construction and site development
- on dirt road
ADDITION TO SCHOOL
The Committee envisions an addition to the school, possibly off the library with access to the library, which is currently used as a meeting space for town committees. The Committee met with school board members who were supportive of the Committee investigating this option.
Pros: - office can be built specifically to town’s current and long-term needs
- town owns the land
- site already has parking, water, sewer, electricity which reduces initial costs
- has potential of bringing town residents into the school community
- site is close to meeting spaces (library, gym)
- near paved road
Cons: - site is not in geographic center
- site is not in a village center
- public space adjacent to space used by children
SCHOOL CLASSROOM
With a school designed for 250 pupils and a declining school population (120 in 2000-01 school year), there may be space available within the school. Though the space that has become available is currently being used for other activities (technology, Spanish, etc.), the school board would consider this option if directed so by town residents.
Pros: - town owns the land
- site already has parking, water, sewer, electricity which reduces initial costs
- has potential of bringing town residents into the school community
- site is close to meeting spaces (library, gym)
- least expensive option on a short-term basis
- near paved road
Cons: - site is not in geographic center
- site is not in a village center
- public space adjacent to space used by children
- may not be a long-term solution
- challenge of making a town office entrance/walkway
- challenge of determining which classroom to use
and working to meet both
town and school needs
MAPLE CORNER COMMUNITY CENTER
The idea of adding a town clerk’s office onto the Maple Corner Community Center offers an opportunity for combining community and civic spaces and community and civic resources. It reinforces an already strong center and provides the opportunity to possibly share some common amenities, i.e., handicapped accessible bathroom.
Pros: - no cost to town for land
- office can be built specifically to town’s current needs
- in a village center
- near paved road
- sharing of people and money resources
- site already has water & electricity
- Community Center provides adjacent meeting space and kitchen
Cons: - not in geographic center
- relationship between Community Club and Town, and
who would be responsible for
what, would have to be figured out
- might have to make entire Community Center meet ADA and fire code regulations
- no room for growth
- cost of septic system
Options explored and rejected:
The Committee explored several other options, many of which had positive aspects — for example being in a village on blacktop — but which we ultimately rejected based on the reasons listed.
- old post office in East Calais, now apartments - renovation too expensive, limited parking
- Brigg’s home in E. Calais - unknown/unanticipated renovation costs
- log cabin home next to Maple Corner Store - initial cost too high ($138,900) considering additional expenses of making it accessible; limited parking
- building sites in villages - land not for sale; cost of buying land and new construction increases price
- Kent Museum building - all space anticipated to be used by museum; State has not allocated enough money to fix up the building in one stage
- Beatty-Owens home in Maple Corner - cost of renovations too much on top of initial sale price
- moving the Town Hall out of the flood plain - town doesn’t own land necessary to move Town Hall out of the flood plain; if preservation money was available preservation issues might clash with office needs
- Rec Association building in E. Calais - not for sale
7/28/01