ROXBURY – Residents will have a chance Monday night to decide whether to buy a building for a new town office when they meet at the site of the possible office. The special town meeting begins at 6 p.m.
Voters will be asked to approve a 20-year bond for borrowing $100,000. If approved, Selectman Tim Gallant said $75,000 would be used to buy the former Northwest Precision Co. building and the 1.5 acres of the property. It is located at 1045 Roxbury Road, also known as Route 17.
The remaining $25,000 would be used to renovate the former manufacturing building into municipal offices and a fire station complex.
Although Gallant said the bond may cover all renovation expenses, additional funds are available in a renovation account set aside to repair the current Town Office complex. The town has saved approximately $41,000 for such renovations.
Voters also will decide whether to use the renovation account funds for the new town office in a second article to be acted on.
The proposed site is about three miles south of the existing Town Office and more centrally located in the town, Gallant said.
Northwest Precision Inc., a small, specialty precision metal company, has moved to the River Valley Technology Center in Rumford.
Roxbury’s current Town Office/Fire Station complex is too small and in serious need of at least $35,000 in repairs, Gallant said. He said the roof, septic system and heating system must be replaced. Also, he said the space for fire apparatus limits the size of firetrucks that can be parked there.
Although the building is owned by the town, the land is not. Gallant said the Touchette family has allowed the town to use the land. If voters approve the new site, the building would be turned back to the landowners.
Voters will also decide whether to adopt a nomination-paper process for elected officials. Right now, all elected officials are nominated from the floor at the annual town meeting.
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