Committee backs limited design funds for DPW schematic, urges stronger ROI data for town‑hall HVAC warrant

The finance committee discussed two capital warrant items: a refiled town‑hall HVAC warrant and a revised Department of Public Works (DPW) proposal.

On the HVAC warrant, the presenter said the revised estimate is about $2.75 million after a roughly $1 million grant, down from a prior $3+ million estimate. Committee members emphasized that last year’s HVAC warrant failed in part because the ROI was not adequately presented and asked that a clear payback calculation and energy‑savings analysis be included in materials for town meeting.

Regarding the DPW building, the presenter described a compromise: proceed first with a staffing solution (a new building for staff) and defer the full equipment storage solution. The committee reported it had approved schematic/design funds (approximately $900,000 gross, net near $700,000) to develop a plan; several members stressed that committing design funds is not the same as approving the final project and urged the building team to aggressively seek ways to reduce the currently proposed ~$23 million figure.

Committee members asked follow‑up questions about hazardous materials, temporary relocation of staff during construction, and whether the design work is time‑sensitive; the presenter said the design can be developed and held as a plan of record and is not immediately time‑sensitive. The committee requested more detailed ROI/payback figures for the HVAC warrant and clearer minimum viable product definitions for the DPW project before final endorsements.

The session closed with the committee asking staff to post the materials and source data so town meeting voters can review the ROI and schematic work before the final votes.