February 2024
Possible Town Hall Renovations
Video & Recording of Town Hall Tour & Presentation, February 13, 2024
See a 15-minute tour of Town Hall and the deficiencies a renovation would fix:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhK028tfjxM
Watch the Town Hall Renovation Presentation from February 13 and learn more about what’s in store:
Town Hall Renovation Presentation (Presentation starts at 20 minutes from the beginning)
Input this passcode: T%Mmnr4%
Background Information
WHAT
Over a year ago, Middlesex began evaluating whether:
A) the existing Town Hall can continue to serve as a building for our Town Office and other smaller public meeting and voting functions, or
B) if Middlesex would be better served by either replacing the building at its present location or building a new Town Office at another location.
The Town Hall building has offices downstairs and a meeting room upstairs that is also used for voting and office space.
With the help of a committee reporting to the Middlesex Selectboard, the Town secured grant funding, hired a professional architect, and undertook the initial evaluation to determine what spaces are needed and how to best address numerous deficiencies with the existing Town Hall building.
WHY
The current Town Hall has severe deficiencies:
Moreover,
EVALUATE OPTIONS
The Select Board wants to provide an affordable, inviting, accessible, safe, and efficient facility that meets current and future needs for the Middlesex community.
The Select Board evaluated three options: 1) Renovating the existing Town Hall; 2) Renovating the existing Town Hall with an addition; and 3) Building a new Town Office at another location.
PROFESSIONAL REVIEW
The Town dedicated some of the Federal ARPA (America Recovery Act) funds to hire Vermont Integrated Architecture (VIA). Additionally, the town was awarded a Municipal Planning Grant for this initial evaluation.
This architectural firm presented the Town with its evaluation and preliminary cost estimates in October 2023. This information is helping determine the best path forward.
Click here to see the presentation Vermont Integrated Architects delivered to the public on October 3rd
WHAT’S NEXT?
Based on the initial evaluation of cost and feasibility, renovating the existing space seems to be the best option. The current Town Hall building is structurally sound and renovating the existing space can accommodate all the uses.
Before moving forward to develop final plans, the Select Board wanted Town voters to decide whether to approve the allocation of up to $65,000 to complete the Design Phase of a potential Middlesex Town Hall renovation. This will be discussed and voted on at Town Meeting on Tuesday, March 5, 2024.
See Town Meeting Warning here.
COST CONTROL
In planning and going forward, the Town has and will continue to take steps to keep the project affordable to taxpayers through a combination of a) limiting the project to the town’s top priorities for the building, and b) seeking additional non-tax dollars (grants, private donations) to meet the project goals.
TIMELINE SUMMARY
The preliminary evaluation was completed in the fall of 2023. If voters approve allocating funds for final design work, that will move forward through the summer in anticipation of a bond vote in November 2024 to allow for construction in 2025.
Town Hall Renovations - Frequently Asked Questions
Possible Town Hall Renovations
Video & Recording of Town Hall Tour & Presentation, February 13, 2024
See a 15-minute tour of Town Hall and the deficiencies a renovation would fix:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhK028tfjxM
Watch the Town Hall Renovation Presentation from February 13 and learn more about what’s in store:
Town Hall Renovation Presentation (Presentation starts at 20 minutes from the beginning)
Input this passcode: T%Mmnr4%
Background Information
WHAT
Over a year ago, Middlesex began evaluating whether:
A) the existing Town Hall can continue to serve as a building for our Town Office and other smaller public meeting and voting functions, or
B) if Middlesex would be better served by either replacing the building at its present location or building a new Town Office at another location.
The Town Hall building has offices downstairs and a meeting room upstairs that is also used for voting and office space.
With the help of a committee reporting to the Middlesex Selectboard, the Town secured grant funding, hired a professional architect, and undertook the initial evaluation to determine what spaces are needed and how to best address numerous deficiencies with the existing Town Hall building.
WHY
The current Town Hall has severe deficiencies:
- Limited septic capacity;
- Poor quality drinking water;
- Poor air quality, including elevated levels of radon;
- Lack of accessibility for people with physical disabilities;
- Old furnace for which repair parts are no longer made;
- No insulation;
- Vault space is near capacity.
Moreover,
- Storage, meeting, and public spaces interfere with work areas and with each other.
- Building design never accounted for now-commonplace computer presentations, Zoom meetings and audio/visual needs.
- Due to flooding, fire, etc. Middlesex has very limited indoor common spaces where community members can gather.
EVALUATE OPTIONS
The Select Board wants to provide an affordable, inviting, accessible, safe, and efficient facility that meets current and future needs for the Middlesex community.
The Select Board evaluated three options: 1) Renovating the existing Town Hall; 2) Renovating the existing Town Hall with an addition; and 3) Building a new Town Office at another location.
PROFESSIONAL REVIEW
The Town dedicated some of the Federal ARPA (America Recovery Act) funds to hire Vermont Integrated Architecture (VIA). Additionally, the town was awarded a Municipal Planning Grant for this initial evaluation.
This architectural firm presented the Town with its evaluation and preliminary cost estimates in October 2023. This information is helping determine the best path forward.
Click here to see the presentation Vermont Integrated Architects delivered to the public on October 3rd
WHAT’S NEXT?
Based on the initial evaluation of cost and feasibility, renovating the existing space seems to be the best option. The current Town Hall building is structurally sound and renovating the existing space can accommodate all the uses.
Before moving forward to develop final plans, the Select Board wanted Town voters to decide whether to approve the allocation of up to $65,000 to complete the Design Phase of a potential Middlesex Town Hall renovation. This will be discussed and voted on at Town Meeting on Tuesday, March 5, 2024.
See Town Meeting Warning here.
COST CONTROL
In planning and going forward, the Town has and will continue to take steps to keep the project affordable to taxpayers through a combination of a) limiting the project to the town’s top priorities for the building, and b) seeking additional non-tax dollars (grants, private donations) to meet the project goals.
TIMELINE SUMMARY
The preliminary evaluation was completed in the fall of 2023. If voters approve allocating funds for final design work, that will move forward through the summer in anticipation of a bond vote in November 2024 to allow for construction in 2025.
Town Hall Renovations - Frequently Asked Questions
| town_hall_initial_wnm_post.pdf |