Bolton selectmen change site for temporary office building

Austin Mirmina, Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn.
·3 min read

May 12—BOLTON — The Board of Selectmen voted Wednesday to change the site of a proposed temporary office building to open space in front of the Notch Road Municipal Center.

AT A GLANCE

WHAT: The Board of Selectmen on Wednesday voted to change the site of a proposed temporary office building to open space in front of the Notch Road Municipal Center.

WHY: Residents at last week's annual town meeting overwhelmingly rejected locating the building in the Bolton Green Historic District.

First Selectwoman Pamela Sawyer and Republican Selectmen Michael Eremita and Robert Morra voted in favor. Democratic Selectmen Adam Teller and Robert DePietro abstained.

The board had sought to place the 36-by-60-foot building on the lawn between Bolton Town Hall and the Bolton Congregational Church. But voters at last week's annual town meeting rejected that proposal, saying the building would taint the colonial charm of the Bolton Green Historic District.

Selectmen who voted in favor said the new location would be a suitable alternative, providing access to utilities and sufficient parking. But Teller and DePietro said the board did not make the case for moving forward with a temporary building.

Morra said he likes the temporary building because it would be more easily accessible than some other town buildings, such as Town Hall. He called it a "vast improvement" compared to the deteriorating municipal center, which is on the verge of being condemned.

Town officials have said that the poor condition of the municipal center at 104 Notch Road necessitate using a temporary office building.

A 2017 engineering study reported that the building's roof on the north end has numerous leaks. The study recommended the building be demolished within four years.

The board had discussed many options for the temporary building's location, including Herrick Park and the open space behind the resident state trooper's house. It also considered a proposal from the church to lease office space.

The board eventually decided to put the building in between the church and Town Hall, where it would have easy access to utilities and septic. But after pushback from residents, the board reconvened Tuesday and chose a site away from the historic district.

"I think this is the best site, short of the (original) one," Eremita said. "I don't see any other solution that will work for the town for the foreseeable future."

Town officials have said they would like to see the temporary building last several years, or until voters approve a new town office building. Rupert said he believes the town is still five to seven years away from a permanent solution.

On Tuesday, the board discussed the feasibility of repurposing available classrooms in the municipal center, which holds the senior center, registrars of voters, and Finance Department. A majority of the board said the classrooms would not provide sufficient space for all of its needs: office space, meeting rooms, and storage.

Teller and DePietro pushed back against the assertion that the classrooms could not accommodate the town's required uses.

"I have questions about that configuration and whether those classrooms are sufficient to provide the same amount of space as these (temporary) buildings," Teller said.

Town officials said the cost of the temporary building would be around $170,000 for a three-year lease, the maximum amount of time the board can enter into without getting approval from voters, per the town charter. After those three years, the town would own the building and have the option to sell it.

The installation of the temporary building would have been included in the town's five-year capital improvement plan as part of the budget for fiscal year 2022-23.

"This (temporary building) is a major improvement that can serve the community for a number of years for an affordable price," Morra said.