WOOLWICH

Frustrated Building Committee members would like to see an up-or-down vote at the May 8 town meeting on one of two plans they submitted for improvements to the Municipal Building.

Selectboard Chairman David King agreed in principle Wednesday night, stating he has “a lot of faith in the people of this town.”

Others on the Selectboard, however, don’t see any hurry in getting a proposal on the town meeting warrant.

So the two bodies will meet again at 5:15 p.m. Monday at Woolwich Central School in an effort to iron the matter out.

The committee, which has worked with an architect for many months on the Municipal Building issue, rejected two plans and has offered two for consideration: one at a cost of $850,000 and a second for $1 million.

Both would add a fire bay, the second a larger meeting space. Both would include expensive measures to bring the building up to code, such as access for people with handicaps and new sewerage.

Committee Chairman Dana Lindsey pointed out that the committee was tasked last summer with assessing the needs at the Municipal Building and suggesting to Selectboard how best to address those needs. The committee took written and oral polls, and settled on the two proposals.

“Given the board’s response to the committee, we are in a quandary,” Lindsey said. “The committee has put in a lot of time and effort, and has not received much support from the board.”

Other committee members added that residents should have the right to vote the plans up or down, and that the building needs to be brought up to code.

Selectman Jason Shaw, however, said the board needs itemized costs. Shaw asked if the committee has ever taken a vote for any plan.

“Where are those numbers?” Shaw asked. “That’s why I say, ‘What’s the hurry?’”

Lindsey responded that the committee voted to eliminate two options, and that codes issues represent a “major expense.”

“The building expansion is a small part of the whole picture,” Lindsey said.

Lindsey added that the committee recently put forth a third, cheaper option but the Selectboard refused to pay for a corresponding study.

“If you guys want to do a patchwork on the building,” he said, “you are certainly welcome to do it.”

King clairified a comment he was quoted as making regarding the condition of the Municipal Building, in Tuesday’s Times Record.

“It’s a big, uninsulated garage,” the quote read.

King pointed out that he was talking of the condition of the building when it was constructed a couple of decades ago. The building is now well-insulated and in good condition, he said.

From the audience, Phil Gosline argued strenuously against either of the Building Committee options.

Gosline said that the town is debt-free, and shouldn’t be contemplating big building projects.

“I vote no,” Gosline said. “I will continue to vote no.”

lgrard@timesrecord.com