Plans for a new town hall took a step forward as Pasquale Marchese, senior project manager at LaBella Associates, presented early design concepts to the Town Board on Thursday, Oct. 16, outlining a vision that balances current municipal needs with room for growth.
“We are not looking for just the present,” Marchese told the board. “We are also looking for the future growth of the town.”
Marchese said he has met with department heads to assess how each office operates and what space it will require in a new facility.
The preliminary design for the 8-12 North Main Street site centers on a single-story, 80-by-78-foot building with a basement and a large multipurpose meeting room that could accommodate up to 145 people. The room, which would also serve as a courtroom, features a raised dais and a continuous bench large enough to seat nine officials. Surrounding it are proposed offices for town officials, judges’ chambers, and the police department.
The plan also calls for a new septic system to be installed just east of the building.
Board members discussed the project’s long-term utility and appearance, including possible exterior materials such as stone and particle board.
LaBella Associates is expected to return in the coming weeks with a more detailed draft plan for the new facility. Board members have said there will be ample opportunity for residents to offer feedback and take part in shaping the final design.
In December 2024, LaBella Associates estimated that a 6,000-square-foot facility would cost $4.5 million, or approximately $700 to $750 per square foot. Once a design is approved, the firm estimated that construction could take up to 15 months.
In other business, the board voted unanimously to adopt the tentative 2026 budget as the preliminary budget. A public hearing on the spending plan was scheduled for Nov. 6 at 6 p.m. at Town Hall. The preliminary budget, officials said, will be posted to the town’s website.
Also on Nov. 6, the board will hold a separate public hearing on a proposed local law allowing the town to exceed the state’s 2% property tax levy cap if necessary. An identical law was passed last year. Board members stated that the tax levy is below 2% in the preliminary budget, a figure they do not expect to surpass.