FARMINGTON – An updated plan for the proposed Farmington Police Station was presented to the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday by Bunker and Savage Architects of Augusta.

After listening to the report, selectmen considered how best to implement a recommendation from the Police Space Needs Committee and authorized the town manager to garner information to present to voters and pursue development of a timeline for public presentations, a public hearing and town referendum on the project.

A majority of members of the committee met last week and voted to return to their original recommendation to build the station on the 1.5 acre town lot, after some members questioned the small size and location of the lot and cost of the project at a previous meeting.

A smaller 9,030-square-foot building was undertaken in an attempt to reduce the cost of the project, said Craig Boone from the architectural firm. The design of corridors, the main lobby and some offices was changed and 25 parking spaces were eliminated on the proposed site of the former town garage at the intersection of High Street and Route 2.

The project now carries an estimated cost of $2,590,000, Boone said. Part of that amount includes 10 percent for contingency to reflect any price increases or unexpected costs over the proposed 18-month timeline the architects projected for the project.

If the project is accepted by voters, architects foresee construction beginning in June of 2010 and the department occupying the building by November 2011.

Police Chief Richard Caton said he was comfortable with downsized building plan to house his 14-member department. It had a staff of one or two when the Municipal Building was constructed in 1976.