FARMINGTON — Selectmen listened to ideas Tuesday for lowering initial architectural cost estimates to renovate the Franklin Avenue medical building to accommodate the needs of the Farmington Police Department.

Craig Boone of Bunker and Savage Architects reworked initial plans modifying the proposal to bring a total estimated cost down to $542,500 from an initial total estimate of $804,000 presented last week with the renovation plans.

The new estimate includes savings from using a town generator, now used at the town office, holding off on paving the parking lot, modifications to the electrical system, reductions in general contractor, architectural fees and advertising/legal fees.

The budget estimates were on the high side so that it wouldn’t have to go back to town voters after all the bids and costs were in, he said. He expected the project to come in less than estimated.

Selectman Andrew Hufnagel then proposed the town take on the project doing some of work of seeking bids and looking to local contractors and suppliers to bring costs down.  He suggested taking time, even up to a year, to get what the department needs at the best cost.

Some selectmen expressed concerns about the need to have one person overseeing the project but agreed it doesn’t necessarily mean an architect.

The architect/engineer’s role is to coordinate everything including bonding and bids, Boone said.

Taking the architect’s plan, citizen Dennis Deschenes spent time researching the need and costs with experts this week, he said. He included everything the department wanted except lot paving and a new roof, estimating a grand total project of $328,300, an amount with a little wiggle room, he said. 

With figures modified to about half of the estimated $804,000, Town Manager Richard Davis thought an estimated tax increase of $15.50 per $100,000 property would also be cut in half.

Foster Techonology Center students will build the garage and change the vinyl siding, Police Chief Jack Peck said. Glen Kapiloff, center director, has agreed to have the students start working on it in September if voters accept the building and plans. The students would do the roofing portion later, Peck said.

Another component needs to be added to the plans, the department’s records management system is in a crisis situation, Peck told the board. It may not survive a move so he asked the board to consider updating the system installed in 1992 while the changes are being made.

The present system is only one of two in the state still being used, Farmington and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department. It’s very expensive with a $5,500 annual software maintenance fee plus hardware coverage by a entity in Sanford that charges $100 an hour for travel and repair time.

A new system would be digital and allow officers to easily access information that currently takes time to research. There are 17 other local departments and about 100 departments statewide using the new system, he said.

The new computer software system including training, first year support, new server and installation at this time would cost approximately $79,000. An annual maintenance fee would cost $10,000 but include time and travel.

“Times are tough and it’s not a good time to ask,” he said, but the system is in a crisis situation.

Before deciding an amount to put on the town warrant, an amount including the record management system upgrade, selectmen intend to hold an executive session Tuesday to discuss options for acquiring the property.

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