Bolton voters approve plan with relocated town office building

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

May 19—BOLTON — Voters at Tuesday's town meeting overwhelmingly approved the town's revised five-year capital improvement plan after rejecting it two weeks ago because of a controversial proposal for a temporary town office building.

PLAN APPROVED

WHAT: A revised five-year capital improvement plan.

CHANGE: Selectmen proposed a new location for a temporary office building after the initial proposal drew strong opposition.

NEXT: A budget referendum from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at St. Maurice Church, 32 Hebron Road.

Many residents had objected to a proposed item in the plan that would have inserted a 36-foot by 60-foot temporary office building between Bolton Town Hall and the Bolton Congregational Church, arguing it would disturb the colonial charm of the area.

The Board of Selectmen recently voted to relocate the building to open space in front of the Notch Road Municipal Center. Selectmen who voted in favor of the site change said the new location would be a suitable alternative, providing both access to utilities and sufficient parking.

The need for temporary office space resulted from the deterioration of the municipal center, which houses some town employees. About two-thirds of the municipal center — the central section and north wing — will soon be condemned, First Selectwoman Pamela Sawyer said.

Town officials have determined renovating those portions of the building would be too costly. The center section of the municipal center was built in 1949 with additions added to the south and north in 1953 and 1956, respectively, a 2017 engineering study says.

According to the selectmen's proposal presented at Tuesday's meeting, the temporary building will contain six offices to be used for displaced town employees. It will also be compliant with the American with Disabilities Act.

The cost of the modular office will be about $165,000 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.

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

"I see a new Town Hall in Bolton's future, and I look forward to doing the careful planning with community members," Sawyer said.

The project is included in the town's five-year capital improvement plan as part of the Board of Selectmen's proposed budget for fiscal year 2022-23. The town will hold a budget referendum from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at St. Maurice Church, 32 Hebron Road.