No.   1   PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: 

Town Council Member Calvin Ellis led Council and the Public in the Pledge of Allegiance.

No.   2   CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL:

The Special Meeting of the Exeter Town Council was called to order at 6:38 p.m., on Monday, March 13, 2023, in Council Chambers, Exeter Clerk’s Office, 675 Ten Rod Road, Exeter, Rhode Island.

No.   3   USE OF AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDS:

A.     TOWN HALL ADDITION v. NEW TOWN HALL v.  POSSIBLE PURCHASE OF 742 TEN ROD ROAD:   Council took a tour of the current Town Hall basement and found it to be in dire need of sealing and climate control to protect the Town’s permanent records stored there.  The Clerk noted that the windows, roof, and heating and air conditioning need replacing.  The windows do not function properly.  The roof leaks. The heating and air conditioning are not energy efficient nor do they maintain temperatures.

Council discussed at length the three options being considered:  1)  A local architect has proposed an addition to the current building.  The cost is estimated to be $2,600,000.00 and would include converting the current Council Chambers into two offices.  It is unclear whether the estimate includes a new roof on the current building, although it was discussed with him and was supposed to be part of the proposal; 2) A new Town Hall could be built on a field adjacent to the Library owned by the Town.  The cost would be in the millions and greatly burden the taxpayers.  It would, however, make a Town center, which is something surveys for the Comprehensive Plan indicate the Town’s residents want.  Mr. Ellis suggested that the Old Town Hall be moved and incorporated into a new building, much like the Town of Charlestown did; 3) The owner of the building at 742 Ten Rod Road has indicated that he would be willing to sell the building to the Town for approximately $699,000.00.  The inside would need to be renovated.  A considerable addition would have to be added.  It is unknown whether a basement is there and could be built under the addition.  If not, a very large vault would have to be built, which would be very costly.

After reviewing these options, the pros and cons of each, and many ideas and questions, Council decided that a feasibility study is needed.  Mr. Findlay will draft a Request for Proposals for feasibility studies on each of the three options for Council’s consideration at its next Regular Meeting, April 3, 2023.

No.   4   OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES: 

Mr. Findlay will send calendars for April, May, and June to determine Council’s availability for upcoming budget meetings.

No.   5   ADJOURNMENT:

MOTION made by Mr. Patterson to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Mr. Lefebvre; and voted unanimously in the affirmative.

The Special Meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m.

                                                                                    Respectfully submitted,

                                                                                    Lynn M. Hawkins, CMC

                                                                                    Exeter Town Clerk                                      

Approved:  May 1, 2023