JAY – Some members of the town’s Building Committee toured the former Jay Family Restaurant on Tuesday. Voters authorized selectmen in January to buy the building for $270,000 for use as a new town office/police station.

Water leaked through ceiling in five areas. A trash barrel caught the drips in one place.

Sheetrock had been removed from the walls and the ceiling leaving the frame exposed. Insulation remained in the walls and much of it will have to be removed.

Committee Chairwoman Pearl Cook said she and others who toured the building will bring their findings on needed renovations back to other members Tuesday night.

“We know how much money we have. The thing is can we come come out with a quality product for the amount of money we have?” asked Town Manager Ruth Marden.

The town initially had $729,000 in a reserve account but some of that was spent on surveys and legal expenses, Marden said.

The papers on the building purchase have not been signed yet, she said. If the deal goes through, the remainder would need to go to renovations.

Town officials and committee members don’t know if they’ll have enough.

Renovations were estimated to cost about $500,000 but Marden said that estimate did not include replacing the roof.

As Cook looked around, she said the building needs a new roof, windows, heating, electrical and plumbing work.

“You name it, it needs it,” she said.

Cook said the committee recommended to selectmen to buy the building to make it a new town office/police station.

“We just know from what we’ve been told by selectmen that we’re never going to have a new building,” Cook said.

The committee needs to discuss the state of the building Tuesday night, Marden said.

Highway foreman John Johnson and Sewer Superintendent John Johnson, who toured the building with the partial committee Tuesday morning, were asked to attend Tuesday evening’s meeting to discuss what needs to be done.

Marden said she is investigating some potential concerns and will bring the committee’s input to selectmen at their next meeting Monday, March 12.