OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Town of Arkwright Supervisor Brian McAvoy presented the sketch and floor plan of the new Town Hall proposal at a recent Town Board meeting.

ARKWRIGHT — Slowly but surely, the Town of Arkwright’s building projects are still moving forward.

At the most recent meeting of the Town Board, Supervisor Brian McAvoy presented the Board and residents in attendance with a sketch of the floor plan for a new Town Hall and Community Center.

The new Town Hall will be constructed at the same site of the existing Town Hall. The footprint will be slightly larger than the current structure – approximately 2,000-2,500 square feet – to allow for office spaces and storage for the Justice Court and other Town officials, including the Town Historian. Handicap-accessible restrooms will be included, as well as additional equipment and capabilities for the Town Hall to serve as an emergency shelter in light of recent severe weather events in the town.

Regarding any questions surrounding the need for a new Town Hall, McAvoy stated to those in attendance at the recent meeting that the number one complaint he receives is about the condition of the current Town Hall. He stated that as properties in Arkwright are selling for record amounts, there is an expectation that the Town should be more than just a sign at the four corners.

In addition, since the early days of the windmill project, the intent always was to build. McAvoy believes it would be a disservice to those efforts to not carry through with a facility that will benefit the Town residents. While the path has changed a bit, that same end goal remains.

In February, the Board approved a payment of $25,300 to LaBella Associates to proceed with the first phase of the project. LaBella will prepare the designs and documents leading up to the bid process for the building itself.

A month ago, McAvoy said, “From Day 1, what I’ve said here is the three things we’re going to focus on are roads, equipment, and buildings. We’re going to invest capital to do that, and we’re cash-healthy.”

His tone has not changed since then. With expected revenues, operating expenses and cash on hand, McAvoy expressed confidence that the remaining building projects can proceed.

Regarding other building projects, the Town Board approved McAvoy to advertise for bids to insulate, side and roof the old portions of the Town Barns, bringing the exterior appearance in line with the newly built addition. The work will also increase energy efficiency while replacing an aging roof.

The Board also approved McAvoy sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Job Corps, which is the first step in organizing their involvement in some of the Town’s projects. The collaboration will benefit the Town and also provide work experience for Job Corps students.

Also of note, the Board approved the Highway Department to purchase a surplus small roller from a neighboring town. The main use of the roller will be pothole repair, which will continue to be increasingly in demand as more miles of road are hard-topped. The Town also addressed mailbox damage by snowplows in stating that once a road is resurfaced, mailboxes may need to be raised.

Fairbanks Maple Products, located on Shaw Road, stopped by the recent Town Board meeting to highlight that March 22-23 and March 29-30 are Maple Weekends. Lisa Waldron, Highway Superintendent, shared that the crew is working on the impacted town roads to ensure they are in the best shape possible for the expected traffic.

The next meeting of the Arkwright Town Board is Monday, April 14 at 6:30 p.m.