Board hires architect to design Town Hall and Hildreth House renovations
Squeaking just under the November deadline, Selectmen acted on the recommendation of the Municipal Building Committee to hire LLB Architects of Rhode Island to prepare schematic designs for the renovation of Town Hall and Hildreth House.
Building committee co-chair Pete Jackson said that 54 firms had expressed interest in the project, 12 firms sent a proposal, and the committee narrowed the choices to three finalists before settling on LLB. The negotiated fee for the work that LLB will perform for the town is $75,000.
But approval to sign the contract came with conditions. Selectman Peter Warren asked for an amendment to require that the architects “be made aware” of the statement of intent passed by Selectmen that was read by Warren at Town Meeting last spring.
Selectman Bill Johnson said he found the amendment vague and asked for more explicit wording: “read and understand.”
Selectmen Chair Marie Sobalvarro said that if the contract were to be amended, it had to include mention of Town Meeting warrant article 17, which is the legally binding language approved by the town. Selectman Tim Clark argued that the amendment was not needed since all of the relevant documents had been given to the 12 firms that applied for the job.
But Peter Warren insisted on an amendment. He said the Capital Planning and Investment Committee was concerned that the project to renovate the two buildings not get out of hand. The amendment to the contract passed by a vote of 3-2, with Warren, Johnson, and Ron Ricci in the majority. The amended contract was approved by a vote of 4-0-1, with Clark abstaining.
