Committee Actions and Events

Inside Rehoboth Town Hall 2018
Inside Rehoboth Town Hall 2018

Chronology of Actions and Events

Important Note: In February 2020 the Board of Selectmen has been able to purchase a large and fully functional furnished modular police building from the town of Dartmouth. The MBSC Committee has unanimously endorsed this action, which represents a major step in the project to obtain improved municipal facilities. The Committee will adjust its previous planning work, framing a new schedule with new (lower) assumptions about costs and funding. Now, the new Police facility and a remodeled Fire facility will be identified as Phase 1, for completion during 2020. Phase 1 will entirely use existing town resources, with no impact on taxes or cuts in any services. Then, constructing new Town Hall and Shelter buildings will be pursued as Phase 2. 

The Municipal Building Study Committee was formed by the BOS and charged on August 20, 2018. The Town has retained CGA Project Management, LLC, Fall River, Massachusetts, as a resource for the Committee. Architect Edward Rowse, East Providence, Rhode Island, is volunteering his services to the Committee.

BOS discussion, BOS meeting of November 5, 2018 – The BOS supported the MBSC’s recommendation to develop a full architectural design including actual bids, so all details and costs are known to the voters. This is different from the previous approach that presented only conceptual plans and estimated costs.

During later fall 2018 and early spring 2019 the Committee systematically consulted department heads, other town officials, and the workers using town facilities. The result was a detailed itemization of space needs by function, meeting requirements for service, codes, and standards. The consulting architect then drew up conceptual floor plans that meet these needs. The new plan features separate buildings, including remodeling the current Public Safety building and continuing to use it as Fire Headquarters/Station I.

BOS discussion, BOS meeting of January 7, 2019 – BOS will work with the MBSC to prepare a $1.1M warrant item for the spring 2019 annual town meeting.

BOS discussion, BOS meeting of March 11, 2019 – BOS discussion with the MBSC, preference to move the $1.1M warrant item to the fall 2019 special town meeting.

A first public Information Session was held on April 18, 2019, at 4:00 pm in the Town Hall Meeting Room, for town employees and any others interested. The Committee reviewed progress in planning that may lead to approval of new Rehoboth municipal facilities. Participants made good suggestions about the process. Participation by town workers was on a voluntary basis, on their own time.

During Spring 2019 the Committee considered new requirements for OSHA and other building standards and requirements. The Committee also reviewed previous needs assessments, such as the Russo-Barr 2018 study, to project current costs to renovate existing facilities as opposed to building new. The Committee has reviewed energy efficiency options, and will do a more thorough study as engineering and architectural details are decided. 

In the September 2019 meeting it was clear that the $1.1M warrant item cannot be ready for the fall 2019 special town meeting, which is already a full meeting without the additional consideration. The warrant item will be delayed to the spring 2020 annual town meeting.

The Rehoboth Reporter included in its November 2019 edition a two-page article, “Is the Rehoboth Town Hall Unfit for Workers,” bylined Joe Siegel.

A public Information Session was held on November 19, 2019 at 7:00 pm in the Senior Center. After a slide show presentation led by member David Foss, a robust discussion from town residents in attendance covered many aspects and made many suggestions. The committee thanks the members of the public who participated and acknowleges how valuable the input was that we received. Another public information occurred on Tuesday, February 18, 2020 at 5:30 pm in the Senior Center, also with valuable discussion. 

In February 2020 the Board of Selectmen has been able to purchase a large and fully functional furnished modular police building from the town of Dartmouth. The MBSC Committee has unanimously endorsed this action, which represents a major step in the project to obtain improved municipal facilities. The Committee will adjust its previous planning work, framing a new schedule with new (lower) assumptions about costs and funding. Now, the new Police facility and a remodeled Fire facility will be identified as Phase 1, for completion during 2020. Phase 1 will entirely use existing town resources, with no impact on taxes or cuts in any services. Then, constructing new Town Hall and Shelter buildings will be pursued as Phase 2. 

[Revised February 29, 2020]