DALTON, Mass.—The renovation off Town Hall is running on time and on budget, Building Grounds Superintendent Patrick Pettit told the Select Board on Monday night. 

 

The construction team did have to shut down for a day because of last week's storm. 

 

The building was expected to be completely sealed by this past Tuesday and workers will also be setting up the staging in the opera house, or attic area, to commence work there. 

 

The remainder of the week will consist of removing all of the ceiling tiles, installation, and lights.

 

Next week, crews will start removing the plaster in the opera house. The drywall contractor was in Town Hall on Monday to assess the work. 

 

"Everybody's showing up like they're supposed to and as far as I can see everything is in place. There's just the prints with Cape Cod Builders, they just had to submit some drawings and their scope and now their permit. So, we've met all the permits, everything is in place and everything's moving on as scheduled," Pettit said. 

 

The project has not yet had any major surprises so is currently on time with the budget. 

 

If everything continues to go smoothly, the hope is that the clerk's office can be moved back in by July. The office gave the state the date July 22. 

 

All the offices should be moved back in by mid-July or early September.

 

Project Background: 

 

Two years, ago the town approved a $500,000 renovation that would improve the 1893 building's structure, electricity, and asbestos abatement, as well as other aspects of the building. 

 

Over the years the scope of the renovation had increased to include structural restoration that would create more office space in the attic for storage or additional offices.

 

The project underwent multiple visionings to determine what should be done during the renovation, including the consideration of an elevator to make the building handicap accessible. 

 

It was then discovered that if the town were to go through with creating more office space, it would also be required to make the entire building accessible.

 

As the project grew so did the costs. With the additional costs and the uncertainty of what would arise during the renovation the Select Board decided to "tap the brakes' on the project. 

 

The board decided it would be more cost-effective to carry on with the original renovation plan that would solely focus on abating the asbestos to make the building safe for employees and visitors.