Is Town Hall Unfit for Workers?

For years, there has been discussion among town officials regarding the need for a new town hall. Employees have long complained about a lack of space as well as poor air and water quality. The presence of asbestos floor tiles and mold on the ceilings has resulted in adverse health conditions. Infestations of rodents and snakes have been common.

The facility at 148 Peck Street was constructed in 1956 as a Nike missile site. In 1971, the property was acquired for use as a Town Hall from the Federal Government for $5,900. Another $12,000 was spent on renovations, furnishings, and equipment. A town building needs study committee was established in 1987. The committee reported in 1990 about the problems with town hall and the public safety building. “It’s a very stuffy building,” said selectman Gerry Schwall. “You have old windows. Half of them don’t even open. The air quality is not good because it doesn’t get changed out.”

Selectmen had considered modular buildings to house personnel from town hall and the public safety building. “It’s still on the table,” said Schwall. “It takes money to be able to do that.” Schwall said a debt exclusion, which is a temporary tax increase, would be needed to fund the project.

Several building proposals have been rejected by voters, including plans for a new $9.3 million municipal government complex in 2017. The facility, which was to include town offices, the police and fire departments, Rehoboth emergency management, and the ambulance service, was to be constructed on the site of the current public safety headquarters at 334 Anawan Street.

The cost of needed repairs to the two buildings is over $4.2 million, according to a report by engineering firm Russo Barr Associates. The company had been hired by the board of selectmen to conduct a physical conditions assessment on the two buildings. The contract for the firm’s services was $40,000. The 106 page report featured a comprehensive overview of the deficiencies found in the buildings, as well as reports on health and safety code violations.

Russo Barr also identified repairs needed to the Public Safety Building, which included improved access for the disabled, renovated and handicap accessible bathrooms, renovation and addition of office and interview spaces, repairs to the mechanical and electrical systems, and the installation of a fire suppression system. The total cost of possible exterior and interior work at the Public Safety Building, related to the building envelope and interior review would be approximately $1,450,000, according to the report.

The conditions assessment included a structural review, building code review, and hazardous materials review. The structural review did not identify any significant structural concerns at this time, except those that would be required with any possible addition or alteration project at either facility, the report said. There were a dozen health and safety violations found in the public safety building, according to the report. “The Hazardous Materials Review included a review of the two buildings for any asbestos containing materials (ACM), the current indoor air quality, measurements of radon in the air and drinking water, and testing of the drinking water for potability and volatile organic compounds.”

Schwall said actions have been taken in order to make sure town employees are in as safe and comfortable a working environment as possible. “All we can do now is make incremental improvements to the buildings,” Schwall added. “We haven’t thrown up our hands.”