OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen
At a recent Arkwright Town Board meeting, Supervisor Brian McAvoy was directed to engage contractors in discussions about a Town Hall addition.
ARKWRIGHT — As one building project in the Town of Arkwright proceeds, the Town Board is now turning its attention to another.
The Town Board has directed Supervisor Brian McAvoy to engage in discussions with contractors regarding a building addition to the existing Town Hall. The Highway Department building project is already underway.
The Town originally planned for a new Town Hall, including the Highway Department garage, office space, and other amenities. Through years of discussions and multiple bid processes, the Town learned its plans were well beyond what it could afford. The lowest bid the Town received was $1.2 million over what was budgeted.
“It’s crazy, crazy money,” McAvoy said.
After that, the Town pivoted to splitting up the needs of the Town into two separate projects. First, the Town sought to build a Highway Department addition to provide extra space in the garage and office space for Town employees to utilize. The project amounts to just over $850,000 and began construction earlier this year.
McAvoy stated that the Highway Department building project has not progressed as quickly as he had hoped just yet, but remains optimistic the construction will be wrapped up by the winter.
“It’s going slow, but it’s going to be nice when it’s done,” McAvoy said.
McAvoy also noted lumber used for the project is locally sourced, and multiple construction workers on the project are local, as well. Highway Superintendent Lisa Waldron stated she was “very impressed” with the project oversight from the architects at CPL.
Next, the Town plans to address its remaining needs through an addition and renovation of the existing Town Hall.
The improvements would allow for more office space for Town employees and more of an opportunity for the Town Court to operate ethically and efficiently. Renovations to the bathrooms and roofing updates will also be targeted, along with siding on the exterior of the structure.
McAvoy acknowledged regret for not having an open line of communication with local contractors prior to putting the Town’s previous proposals out to bid. He asked the Board for its blessing to reach out to several local contractors to gauge their interest in smaller renovation work in the Town, rather than a major project like the Highway Department building.
Board member Polly Gambino posed the question to McAvoy on whether the existing building is worth saving or if it would be more fiscally responsible to build an entirely new building. McAvoy acknowledged it was worth researching more thoroughly. An update on the discussions McAvoy engages in regarding the Town Hall will likely come at the next monthly meeting of the Town Board.