China building committee continues review of information

by Mary Grow

China Municipal Building Committee members met Jan. 13 and continued review of information they have and information they need as they plan additional storage for town records.

Main tentative conclusions were:

• They should focus on planning a free-standing building, not a room attached to the present office building.
• The southeast or east side of the existing building might be a better site than the south side initially considered.
• Contractor and select board member Blane Casey, who built part of the existing building, is among local people likely to have useful information about the structure, location of underground connections and other essential considerations.

Committee members intend to invite Casey to their next meeting, and postponed scheduling it until they know when he is available.

The only new information available Jan. 13 was a cost estimate committee Chairman Sheldon Goodine presented. It is for a 21-by-48-foot building – committee members have not agreed on a size yet – with a corridor to connect it to the existing building. The figures are between $205,800 and $235,800.

The non-firm estimate will be additionally affected by multiple future decisions, like whether to hire an architect or have the contractor who wins the contract design and build; what materials to use; and whether the town public works crew could do some of the work.

Codes Officer and committee member Jaime Hanson said because the structure is a municipal building, review by the state fire marshal is required. He and Goodine agreed the review is a good idea.

Resident Ed Bailey attended the meeting and offered suggestions, and was immediately invited to ask select board members to appoint him to the committee.