Municipal Building Project Cynthia Stuart | Stuart Consulting - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Municipal Building Project

Cynthia Stuart | Stuart Consulting

www.barnetmunicipalvt.org

Introductions

Cynthia Stuart, Stuart Consulting Andrea Brohcu, NCIC

Format

Presentation Regarding Two Options – Cynthia Stuart (questions as we go along) Information Andrea Brochu Follow-Up – See website for Q & A to submitted questions.

Time Frame

Time Frame

While conducting recent research, a 2005 report from the Barnet Building Committee was found. The report details the needs of the Barnet Town Clerk Office. The full report can be found at:

https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/735d1f7c/files/uploaded/2005%20Building%20Committee%20Evaluation.pdf

From the 2005 Barnet Building Committee Report.

Outreach Process

• High Level Review of Research
• Community Input and Information
• Make a Decision on Direction to Take Through Community

Survey Process NOT:

• Exact Details of Both Options

Current Town Offices

Lack of Adequate Space for Public Meetings

Current Town Offices

• Lack of Secure and Private Space for

Employees

• Inadequate Research Space
• No Counter for Public Access
• No Kitchen for Employees &

Community

• Inadequate Public Bathroom Facility

Current Town Offices

Lack of Work & Meeting Space for Listers (see photo) & Zoning Administrator (works from home and documentation is offsite)

Current Town Offices

Lack of Adequate and Appropriate Storage Space

Current Town Offices

Current Building is Not ADA Compliant

Example of entrance to meeting room that has a 2 inch difference in floor height and entrance is too narrow for a wheel chair.

Building Committee Identified New Town Office Needs

• Entrance / Waiting Room
• Town Clerk & Assistant Workstation with Counter for Public Access
• Lister / Zoning Administrator Offices & Work Space
• Small Conference Room
• Large Conference Room
• Storage Room / Janitor’s Closet
• Restrooms
• Handicap Accessibility
• Community Kitchen for Employees and Small Events

Option #1 – Renovate McIndoe Falls Academy

The McIndoe Falls Academy Association is the current owner of the building, and the association is offering to gift the building to the Town of Barnet for adaptive reuse to serve as a central and historic town

• facility. The Town of Barnet would renovate the building to provide

functioning space for:

• a library and a historical society space
• a small McIndoe Falls Academy museum
• a large meeting and community space on the

second floor for town and public use

• U.S. Post Office would remain as paying tenant
• the town clerk’s office
• a new vault and expanded storage area
• zoning and lister’s offices
• handicap accessible restrooms
• a small kitchen area

Option #1 – Renovate McIndoe Falls Academy

Option #1 – Message from McIndoe Falls Academy Trustees

“It is an honor and a pleasure to offer the gift of the much loved McIndoe Falls Academy building to the Town of Barnet. We have so many fond memories of our time in this historical building! We would love to see the building continue to be preserved for use by future generations as a vibrant community center where people congregate and enjoy.”

Option #1 – Renovate McIndoe Falls Academy

• The McIndoe Falls Academy Association will gift the remaining non-profit funds and investments to the Town of

Barnet to contribute to the renovation project. Currently the balance of the funds/investments is $100,066.

• Building tax assessment value is $296,800.
• The 2018 income from the U.S. Postal Service rental was $12,122.
• Furnaces were replaced in last three years.
• Other 2018 building expenses:
• Fuel Oil -

$1,081

• Electricity -

529

• Insurance -

2,535

• Water -

340

• Building Maintenance

2,022

• Property Taxes

876

Option #1 – Renovate McIndoe Falls Academy

Option #1 – Renovate McIndoe Falls Academy

In 2018, the Barnet Building Committee received detailed estimates for the McIndoe Falls Academy renovation project from two sources: Arnold & Scangas Architects and Stephen Pitkin, a Construction Consultant. Arnold& Scangas estimated $1,988,839 for the project and Stephen Pitkin estimated $1,456,250. The building committee will use the higher estimate as a basis for financial scenarios for grant funding research, financing and bond research, and property tax calculations. *The Barnet Building Committee and the Barnet Historical Society are in support of Option #1 – McIndoe Falls Academy Renovation.

Option #1 – Other Financial Considerations

NOT INCLUDED IN THE FINANCIAL CALCULATIONS

• Post Office Rent - $12,122
• Grants - ?
• McIndoe Academy Financial Contribution of Remaining

Non-Profit Funds - currently the balance of the funds/investments is $100,066. A local Barnet resident with a construction background who is not on the Building Committee or Selectboard calculated the cost per square foot of $199 using Steve Pitkin’s estimate of $1,456,250 and including rent and $100,066 contribution.

Option #2 – Build New

An example project and building is the Barnet Fire & Rescue building.

Option #2 – Build New

Building new allows for functionality of the municipal offices and meeting space to be determined based upon needs.

Why 5,400 Square Feet Needed for New Construction?

▪ Barnet Building Committee used 5,400

as a starting point based upon a rough sketch design. A link to the notes and sketch can be found at: https://irp-

cdn.multiscreensite.com/735d1f7c/files/uploade d/October%202016%20New%20Municipal%20O ffice%20Details_dnwEhoZQnmlz0fvjay0K.pdf

Why 5,400 Square Feet Needed for New Construction?

Why 5,400 Square Feet Needed for New Construction?

Town of Carroll, NH

Cost to Maintain a Historical Building – Town of Danville Example

Option #2 – Build New

Land for a new building has NOT been determined.

The Barnet Building Committee, made up of members with significant building experience, have discussed currently owned town property and the members agreed that there is nothing currently owned by the town that would be suitable for new municipal offices.

Building Committee Members: William Graves, Chair | Benjamin Heisholt, Clerk | William Biddle | Dylan Ford | Benjamin Gates Mark Jefferson | Stanley Robinson | Catherine Roy | David Warden | Dana Young

Option #2 – Build New

In 2018, Stephen Pitkin, a Construction Consultant, provided a cost estimate of $1,090,279 to build a new town office. This quote does not include permitting, architectural and legal work, and site expenses (additional 20% estimate) for a project cost estimation of $1,308,334 or $242 per square foot cost for a 5,400 square foot new town office. The building committee will use the $1,308,334 as a basis for financial scenarios for grant funding research, financing and bond research, and property tax calculations.

Compare Project Options

McIndoe Falls Academy Highlights:

• Honors the History of the Area
• Serves as a Complex for Multiple Organizations
• Significant Donation of a Historical Building by the McIndoe Falls Academy Trustees
• Historical Preservation Grant Opportunities
• The McIndoe Falls Academy Association Gift Includes Additional Funds to the Town
• 7,240 Square Feet

New Construction Highlights:

• Opportunity to Design Building as Desired within Financial Constraints
• Focus on Energy Efficiency & Lower Maintenance Costs
• Financially Less Expensive Than Renovation of a Larger Building
• One Story Construction an Option
• A Location for a New Building has yet to be Identified
• 5,400 Square Feet

Cost Analysis

The above figures do not include the financial gift from the McIndoe Falls Academy or any grant funds.

Tax Impact

The above figures do not include the financial gift from the McIndoe Falls Academy or any grant funds.

Grants

How much has the town spent to conduct the extensive research around moving the town offices?

▪ Surveying ▪ Legal Services ▪ Feasibility Studies ▪ Cost Estimates ▪ Concept Designs ▪ Community Outreach

The town has leveraged grant opportunities whenever possible. The total costs for this work is $63,390 and grants provide $41,375 (65%) reimbursement leaving a cost to taxpayers of $22,015.

$41,375 $22,015

Municipal Building Options Research Costs

Grants Cost of Taxpayers

Survey Process

▪Received approximately 177 surveys as of September 5th. ▪Paper surveys were personally dropped off at the town clerk office, library, or

mailed to Cynthia.

▪The online surveys track IP addresses and online surveys are monitored to

ensure that one individual is not entering numerous responses.

▪The last day to submit a survey (online or in paper format) is September 7th.

Next Steps

▪September 11th - Survey Report to Building Committee ▪Recommendation to Selectboard ▪November - Vote on One Option (McIndoe Falls Academy OR Build New) ▪Research Grants, Funding Opportunities, etc.

www.barnetmunicipalvt.org

Project Partner Input

▪NVDA ▪USDA ▪Passumpsic Bank ▪NCIC ▪Granting Entities

Cynthia L. Stuart

802.535.2571 cynthia@stuartconsult.com www.stuartconsult.com

www.barnetmunicipalvt.org