Home Town News & Announcements

Work to Start on Town Office Building

Posted: May 29, 2025

Shaftsbury converting former doctor's office starting Monday.

SHAFTSBURY - Renovations will begin next Monday to a former doctor's building that will be the new site of the town offices.

"Work officially begins on the building renovations next Monday, June 2, with removal of the carpeting and associated glue, in preparation for some demolition and rebuilding of walls, minor electrical work, and selecting and ordering flooring," wrote Select Board Chair Naomi Miller on Wednesday in response to an inquiry about the status of the project. "Bidding for the entire project has been slow, but we are moving forward by hiring smaller contractors for one piece at a time," she added. "This approach, if it turns out to be the long-term one, will likely save the town significant money, and will also allow for more easily making adjustments to our plans as the project unfolds."

"We still hope to be in the building by late Summer/early Fall," wrote.

One major aspect of the renovation is the offsite construction and eventual installation of a new vault to house the town clerk's official records.

"We are in the beginning of the queue for the vault's production, currently awaiting shop drawings from the company that is building it," Miller wrote. "The process is rather involved, including back-and-forth between the vault company and our architect, but it is moving along and the final order confirmation should occur very soon."

The town, including its Community Center Development Committee, is dealing with Firelock Fireproof Modular Vaults, of Kempton, Pa. The new vault will cost $114,000.

On Feb. 11, at a Special Town Meeting held at Shafts-bury Elementary School, a solid majority of the roughly 140 residents present voted to expend $375,000 on the purchase of the former Shaftsbury Medical Associates building at 677 Route 7A, Shaftsbury, and an additional $178,486.08 on the renovation and repair needed to make the building appropriate for Municipal Offices?

The total expenditure of $553,486 comprised the vast majority of a fund balance that originated with the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money.

The town offices are currently located on the second floor of historic Cole Hall on Buck Hill Road and in an adjacent trailer. The town clerk and other offices have been moved upstairs because of persistent water infiltration into the first floor and resulting mold.

During public comment at the May 19 Select Board meeting, a resident expressed interest in volunteering in the renovation such as helping to knock down walls.

"I think at the moment, the answer is we're not yet to the stage where we're doing anything that we can invite volunteers to do," Miller said.

"We're still soliciting bids," sad Town Manager Paula Iken. "And boy are contractors busy this time of year. So, lots of phone calls, lots of leads. Might be, this one does this, this one does that, and we have people coming to see (the building) in the coming weeks, very soon. We're anxious to get it done."

Volunteer involvement in some aspects of getting the building into shape have been discussed all along.

Rick Bennett, of the garden committee, spoke about doing some work on the grounds of the new building and asked for ideas and suggestions. This committee just refreshed the garden at Cole Hall and will be working on the Baptist Meeting House. The board encouraged these volunteers to scope out what could be planted on the grounds of the new site.

The former medical building to be converted into town offices is a 4,413-square-foot condominium built in 1978 that shares a two-acre lot with the attached dental office. The former medical center occupies 70 percent of the entire facility, and a still-active dental clinic occupies 30 percent. The utilities are separate, except for the septic system. It includes and 800-square-foot basement that will be used for storage and parking for 44 cars.

Compliments of: The Bennington Banner
Posted/Author: Mark Rondeau

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