Arundel has been in need of a new town hall for many years now, and we’re pleased to see the selectmen finally moving ahead with the process. Last week, the selectmen voted in favor of getting requests for proposals from architectural firms that could give a cost estimate and draw up plans for a new facility.
The current town hall, in a former schoolhouse at the intersection of Mountain and Limerick roads, is woefully inadequate, with a lengthy list of deficiencies. The windows are so drafty that they have to be buttoned up with plastic during the winter, and even so, town employees report that the upstairs break room is often too cold to use. Knowing this, it goes without saying that the taxpayers aren’t getting the most bang for their buck with heating efficiency.
The rickety stairs that lead up to the planning and assessing offices are dangerously worn, and there’s no access for those who can’t climb them. The general assistance office, right near the door, has no waiting area, and therefore little privacy, while the CEO and planner share a narrow office space.
In addition, storage space is minimal in the building, and there’s no meeting room for the town selectmen. The board used to meet in the adjacent fire station, but when the department took on more full-time personnel, complaints arose about the firefighters’ break room being occupied for so much of the evening. Now the selectmen and planning board meet in the Mildred L. Day School library, where noisy athletic activities in the nearby gymnasium often make it difficult to hear.
It’s been clear for a long time that Arundel needs a new town hall ”“ the employees and residents alike deserve it ”“ but the committee formed several years ago to address the issue has floundered without much support. Now, with new Town Manager Todd Shea at the reins, it looks like the town is finally moving ahead with this much-needed investment. Selectman Mark Paulin was wise to push for a full set of plans rather than just a needs assessment for a new building. The town has enough reserve funds to pay for the estimated $6,000 for the study and plans, and with the soft construction market, this could be the perfect time to get a good deal on construction of a new building.
Arundel already has a 10-acre parcel of land off Route 1 that has been eyed for the building, and it seems likely that any voter who’s ever been to town hall will throw their support behind the effort when it comes time to go to the polls.
Nearby towns have done well with municipal building upgrades. Lyman has a modern town hall on South Waterboro Road, having moved out of the old building at the intersection of Chapel, South and Hill roads years ago; and nearby Dayton recently came together as a community to construct a brand-new, energy-efficient municipal building behind the elementary school. While some of the bigger municipalities, such as Biddeford, Saco and Sanford, have been able to maintain their historic brick structures, the wooden town halls simply become too inefficient and incompatible with today’s needs to maintain.
Kudos to Shea and the selectmen for taking the initiative to get this long-overdue project moving. We look forward to seeing the town move ahead with the process and the eventual construction of a modern, energy-efficient and handicapped-accessible town hall for Arundel.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
