The Wales selectmen are looking into using the former Town Hall or a pre-fabricated building for town offices or re-visiting the idea of buying the former Tedore’s restaurant property.
The former Wales Town Hall is one site being considered for the new location for town offices.WALES – The selectmen are working on cost estimates for where to put town offices, the library and Police Department, focusing on the former Town Hall, a pre-fabricated building and revisiting the proposal to buy and renovate the former Tedore’s restaurant property.
Selectman Michael J. Valanzola said that based on initial structural engineering reports, he considers moving back to the former Town Hall building at 3 Main St., which was built in 1802.
“It might be a less expensive option and there might be some grant funding available because of the building’s historic significance,” Valanzola said.
Selectman Richard J. Learned said he has been looking into the feasibility of acquiring a piece of land and having a pre-fabricated building put up.
Town officials will talk about the short-term and long-term issues related to space for town offices when the selectmen meet April 12.
The Board of Selectmen had supported the proposal to buy the former Tedore’s restaurant property at 2 Main St. for use as town offices, a library and police headquarters, but the proposal to spend $1.1 million to buy and renovate that property was rejected by a Town Meeting vote in February.
Selectman Jeffrey P. Vannais said he believes the Tedore’s option is still the town’s best solution for where to put the town offices, police and library.
Vannais said he would like to see a Tedore’s proposal brought back to Town Meeting voters with a lower total cost.
Town officials will talk about the short-term and long-term issues related to space for town offices when the selectmen meet April 12.
The current Town Hall was built in the 1870s as a town school.
Engineers have reported structural and other problems at that building and the second floor has been shut down because of problems.
The Police Department, which had been located on that second floor, has moved to the Senior Center temporarily.
Concerns were raised in town about whether having a town department located at the Senior Center would violate the terms of the federal grant that was used to build the center, but Valanzola said this temporary use has been approved by the state because of the town’s emergency situation.
Valanzola said that the town will have to spend between $10,000 and $20,000 on work that needs to be done at the current Town Hall, just to keep it open and in use.