Selectmen updated on Town Hall renovation progress
"I would like to see what the other costs were." - BILL JOHNSON ADVISORY BOARD By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

The Ashburnham Board of Selectmen and Advisory Board members have asked for a detailed cost breakdown of the Town Hall renovation project, including the costs that were picked up by other town departments.

The request came after Town Hall Building Committee Chairman David Sargent asked Selectmen to consider using the approximately $10,000 expected to be left in the project's budget to either install exterior lighting or a passkey system.

"We're hoping to have $10,000 left," he said. "It's been a good project."

Sargent said the town's accountant would like to use the money to lower the debt.

He said the committee would like to see the town's Department of Public Works pave the parking lot and driveway area. DPW Director Don Ouellette said he would want to know if the Selectmen would like curbing put in place before he started the project or estimated a cost.

Advisory Board Chairman Bill Johnson said he did not have a problem with some of the work being done in-house, but that he would like to see breakdown of the expenses incurred by the town's departments. He cited work like the installation of cabling into the building and the connection of the building to the town's water line.

"I would like to see what the other costs were," he said.

Interim Town Administrator Paul Boushell said when the project was closed out the list would be available.

Sargent said that the town should be able to take over the building in the next three weeks, and the only thing that will not be completed is the doors that will sit over the countertops to close off office spaces.

"They are going to have to come back and deal with that in June," Sargent said.

Boushell said there were a couple of pending issues with the town's inspectors as they reviewed the project, but that those will be taken care and are not unusual in a project at this stage.

In other business: • Board Chairman Christopher Gagnon expressed concerns about the town's 1912 water trough that is being used by Victorian House Restaurant under a year-to-year agreement between the two parties. He said he would like to see the trough placed on the lawn in front of the Town Hall when renovations are completed to the building.

He said this is particularly true because the restaurant is not open for regular business and it is unclear if it will open again. • The Selectmen tried to determine how to get the best deal on oil for the upcoming year. The town typically bids with the Ashburnham-Westminster Regional School District, but some town officials expressed concern because of the delay in granting the bid last year caused them to lock in a high rate.

Gagnon said he would like to talk about the issue with the school officials, but Selectman Jonathan Dennehy said they should simply instruct the town officials to do what they have to do to get the best price for the upcoming year.

"I don't know why there is such drama over this," Dennehy said.

Gagnon deferred to Dennehy's suggestion, so town officials will decide whether it will be better to seek oil prices with or with out the school district.