JAY – The Building Committee voted Tuesday to have a general contractor give an estimate on the cost to renovate the vacant Jay Family Restaurant, including removing mold, to convert it into a new municipal office and police station.

They also want resident and committee member Craig Boone, an architect, to draw a rough floor plan.

The committee is considering recommending to selectmen that they put the property purchase before voters.

Owner Janet Diaz is willing to sell the 7,184-square-foot building on 1.27 acres on Route 4, across from the Jay Plaza, to the town for $250,000 firm, Town Manager Ruth Marden said.

Diaz had come down in her price of $300,000, Marden told the committee.

Diaz’s late husband, Joe Diaz, previously offered the property to the town for $750,000.

Concerns raised Monday were mold removal caused by a leaking roof, which has been repaired, and moving to less space than the existing 7,400-square-foot town office.

Employees only use half the space now to work in with the other half used for record and police evidence storage due to air quality issues downstairs, several members said.

Both Boone and committee member Al Landry said the building was a good value at $250,000.

Committee member Sylvia Ridley said information she reviewed indicated mold removal was expensive.

The town has about $733,000 in accounts that could be used to buy the property and make renovations.

Voters have saved for years for a new town office/police station.

An initial estimate several years ago of $1.5 million was rejected by voters. The figures ranged lower with modifications to plans with the most recent figure about $850,000.

Selectman Rick Simoneau, a member of the committee, said he wasn’t in favor of raising more money for the building.

Committee member and selectmen’s Chairman Bill Harlow said he would go with the recent poll results and continue to ask voters to raise money for the project.

Marden said she’s received calls from people saying they’re not in favor of buying the restaurant, instead they want to build new.

Ridley said people have said the building is great but “Why are we taking a building that should be giving us tax dollars?”

Every year you wait, the expense is rising, Pearl Cook, committee chairwoman, said.

She called the existing building an accident waiting to happen and if the committee didn’t do something, a new building wouldn’t be a reality.

“I fully believe there is a big need for more space because it’s just like working in a closet,” Cook said. “I think there are ways to cut the original plan but we’re still talking $800,000 to $900,000.”

“At $250,000 are we buying an asset or a liability?” committee member Kermit Greenleaf asked.

He suggested they get a general contractor to give an estimate to renovate the building and have Boone draw up a floor plan to decide if the building is worth moving forward on. If the project goes through, work would be put out to bid.

Marden questioned whether the Diaz’ building would be an improvement since space is about equal.

“I don’t want to sound argumentative,” Marden said, “but if we go up there, are we going to be better off than we are now?”

Storage could be added in the future and the building could be expanded, Boone said.

“The 7,000 square feet is not going to give you the space you need but you work with what you have and add on later,” Boone said. “I think it can be done but you have to sharpen your pencils. …You can make anything work.”