Public works director previews town hall parking expansion ahead of SAU move

Dave Wallally, director of public works, led an on-site briefing about the town hall parking lot expansion, saying crews have cleared the site, set pole bases for lighting and that "we are way ahead of schedule" as the school administrative unit prepares to move back to the campus.

The project will provide a laydown area for construction materials, trailers and equipment associated with the SAU relocation, which voters approved in March. Wallally said the SAU is moving from Kittyhawk Drive and will be attached to the side of the town hall building where it once sat.

Wallally described recent site work: trees and stumps have been removed, organic material cleared and the area excavated to subgrade to prepare for paving. He said crews have installed pole bases for parking-lot lights and are considering installing cameras.

The project also includes an expansion of the police department's impound area to relieve crowding, and will increase available parking. Wallally said the plan adds a secondary emergency-access route for fire vehicles that will connect through to Lapa; he described that connection as "long desired."

Continental Paving is the contractor on the project, and Wallally said mobilization is already underway. He noted the SAU construction is scheduled to begin on July 1 and that additional security fencing and other site preparations will appear before then. Wallally said the town will visit multiple sites to explain construction practices, who is on site and "how much this stuff is costing," but he did not provide specific cost figures during the briefing.

The briefing ended with a note that crews will continue preparatory work ahead of the SAU move and that officials plan further on-site updates; no formal votes or funding decisions were announced during the visit.