Selectmen: Numbers For Renting Space at Town Hall Not Favorable

After looking at cost estimates from Town Hall staff at its most recent meeting, the Board of Selectmen did not move forward with the idea of renting space at Town Hall.

At a previous meeting, selectmen had an animated discussion on the idea of renting space either on the third floor that had previously been used for the town’s probate court – or basement areas currently used for storage.

The cost of preparing the former probate office for rental would be $40,565, according to estimates prepared by town staff. Adding some surrounding meeting space to the mix would be about $7,000 more.

About $18,000 of the costs would come from modifications to the Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning system, according to Chief Administrative Officer Robert Skinner. That would be necessary to secure the finance offices on the third floor – which currently do not have full walls due to the proximity of the HVAC system.

With projected revenues of $4,165 to $7,308 a year, it would take 6.5 to 9.7 years to break even, he said. And that does not include utility costs and security concerns, Skinner added.

The “build out" of the basement would be much less expensive – about $8,179, according to staff estimates – and income potential would nearly $8,000 annually. Storage, however, has some issues and expense Skinner said.

Off-site storage would cost about $3,000 per year and the one-time costs associated with moving it could be more than $5,000. Accessing the files would add costs as well. 

In addition, there would be the same issues of utilities and security. The basement area is also less attractive to potential renters, Skinner said. 

At the meeting were selectmen Steve Roberto, David Gilchrist Jr. and First Selectman Richard Barlow. Bruce Lockwood and Marc Cerniglia were unable to attend. Those present seemed to agree the was not worth pursuing.

Gilchrist said there are other more attractive spaces for rent in town and the numbers are prohibitive.

“Given the competition and the financial numbers, I would see no point in pursuing this,” he said.

Selectmen also briefly discussed the idea of bringing the public works director to town hall. With the town’s challenges in finding a new location for a highway garage, the idea to split the department has surfaced.

Skinner said that while crews are on the road for a good part of the day, they are also in and out of the department a fair amount as they switch tasks, pick up equipment, fuel vehicles and take lunch breaks.

“You (would) lose some of that ability to supervise on a regular basis,” Skinner said.

Selectmen took no action on the issue.