No one has argued against the Woolwich town office needing an upgrade, but Building Committee members and selectmen tussled about which solution is best during a special meeting March 18.

Board of Selectmen Chairman David King said the board has not collectively agreed on a renovation plan, but have reached consensus on the need to renovate the current town office so that it meets Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.

Following a recent meeting with state fire marshal officials, selectmen learned that even if the town voted to construct a new municipal building, the current town office would still need to be renovated.

The change in direction to renovate the current town office inflamed Building Committee members who were ready to move forward with plans to purchase a parcel of land on the opposite side of Nequasset Road and construct a new, stand-alone municipal building.

Selectmen switched gears after a meeting with state fire marshal officials and after plans to purchase the land fell through.

“We don't have to do everything all at once,” King said, relaying what fire marshal officials told selectmen. “I don't want you people to think all your work has been wasted, because you've gathered a lot of information that we wouldn't have had otherwise. I think we can take some of those plans and we can modify 'em,” King said.

In order to bring the building into compliance, modifications would include building a two-room addition, installing an elevator so people can access the basement and second floor, and constructing an ADA-compliant bathroom, according to King. He estimated this work could cost between $250,000 to $300,000.

Building Committee members questioned why records currently stored in the town office basement could not be moved to a new building, eliminating the need to upgrade the current town office. Selectmen countered this suggestion and said the basement would have to be completely shut off to the public. People would still need access to the second floor and the building still needs to be brought up to current building code requirements, even if the town voted to construct a new town office, they said.

“We are required to do one of three things: bring the building into compliance, have an active plan to bring it into compliance or close it down,” King said. “If we close it down, where we gonna go? I don't think those fire trucks would look real good in the gymnasium.”

Building Committee Chairman Dana Lindsey countered the $250,000 estimated cost for renovation. Taking an EMS wing out of the equation reduces the  cost by $150,000 and eliminating a meeting room to accommodate 75 people might also save an additional $100,000, according to Lindsey. This leaves about $600,000 in construction costs for the ADA-compliant bathroom, the elevator and office space, he said, adding that the work will not cost $250,000 as had been reported.

“I've gotten the impression … that basically the selectboard has made up their minds as to what they want to do,” Lindsey said, his face slightly flushed. “That being the case, that's fine. In my opinion … you don't need a building committee for that.”

He and other committee members said they had been stonewalled by selectmen. Lindsey summarized his frustration with the process. First, selectmen did not want to approve putting the two plans they had worked on with Bath architect David Matero.

Then the proposal for acquiring a parcel of land fell through. King said the property owner did not want to sell his land at the price selectmen had offered, so board members focused on renovating the current town office instead of building a new one.

A few different ideas were presented in the ensuing discussion: renovate the current town office at a minimum to bring the building up to ADA standards; build a new, stand-alone structure on a parcel of land; carry out both projects over an undetermined period of time; or present the two plans the Building Committee had worked on to voters at the annual town meeting in May.

“I don't think we have anything ready for town meeting,” Selectman Jason Shaw said, recommending that perhaps the town could both renovate the town office and possibly build a new structure in the future. He disagreed with Lindsey and said the cost of bringing the town office up to code would not cost $600,000.

King suggested selectmen and Building Committee members continue to work on plans for the town office upgrade and possible solutions. He said they could then present a plan to voters during a special town meeting, possibly sometime this summer.

Building Committee members pushed to have something residents could vote on during the annual town meeting.

Lindsey recommended the smaller of the two plans (Plan A) that included a meeting room to accommodate up to 75 people. “That way you do it all, you get it done,” he said. “And you're not going to be coming back to the town in another five years, another ten years and saying, 'we need another $700,000.'”

Board members indicated the idea of renovating the current town office at minimum expense to taxpayers is not a long-range plan, but that the work is a priority.

Building Committee member Arthur Brawn said selectmen should give residents the opportunity to vote on the two plans already proposed. His wife, Gloria, nearly sued the town of Wiscasset for non-compliant entryways and parking spaces, he said, and the town of Woolwich needs to consider the challenges facing disabled residents.

Committee members hope selectmen will once again consider their recommendations for a new town office, and selectmen want the committee to continue to work with the board on developing a plan to bring to voters.

To save taxpayer money, to meet ADA requirements and to have some of the elements of a plan the committee put together with Matero, some modification of Plan A came the closest to what could be a compromise between the two groups.

King gave the committee the charge of deciding whether they want to continue to be involved in the process. Later in the evening, Lindsey said he would contact the other committee members to see if a meeting would be possible on Monday.