New town hall nears completion
By Caitlyn Kelleher
Crews are working to install the drywall for

A member of the construction crew installs the supports for the drywall near one of the first floor windows on Tuesday, Oct. 10, in the new town hall on South Street.

the walls on the first floor and to finish installing the heating system this week on the new town hall.

Clerk of the Works Duffy Lanciani said the construction is nearly 75 percent done. Selectman Lorraine Emerson said she is very pleased with the work completed to this point.

"This is the last town hall we want to have in the next 50 to 100 years," she said.

Emerson is also a member of the building committee.

"We'll be in - in December," she said walking the site.

The second floor walls are nearly all installed but there is still work on the first floor and the third floor to finish blocking off the mechanical areas.

The two major financial line items left in the project are the site work, which includes all of the drainage, sewer piping and water lines that will feed the building as well as the landscaping and the paving.

"The paving will be done by December," Lanciani said. "The painting is still another big dollar value [of the work left to complete]."

The frame for the first floor hallway marks where offices will be located in the new town hall.

Voters approved $5.2 million for the project.

Lanciani said the roof has been sealed tight for more than a week, so the residual moisture from the construction period is almost gone. He added that crews hope to have the heating system working by Oct. 15, because it will prevent concerns about cooler temperatures slowing down any of the work. He said that taping cannot be done if the temperature is too low.

Emerson is pleased with the opportunities the new town hall will allow both the employees and the public.

The front of the building has a greeter's station to help residents find their way around the building. Emerson said the goal will be to add this position to the senior-tax-work-off job list.

"It will be a great help for a senior," she said. "Crocker Pond was a real hit."

The town added the volunteer positions at the recreation area to the jobs offered to seniors, who want to receive abatements on the property taxes in exchange for volunteering in the town.

The exterior of the building at 11 South Street is completed but work on the drainage, water and sewer lines continues.

The new town hall also offers a variety of meeting rooms, private offices for town employees and work area for those employees to meet with the public.