WOOLWICH
Mike Ware recalls conferring with a member of the Selectboard a few months ago, when town officials were going back and forth with competing plans for an addition to — or replacement of — the municipal building.
One plan, for an estimated $1 million, would have made grand changes to the building. Another, for significantly less, would have confined the expansion mostly to the Town Office portion of the structure. Still another proposal called for the purchase of land to build a new town office. That plan fell through when town officials learned they would have to upgrade the old building to code, new building or no.
As he and the Selectboard member talked, Ware kept in mind the impact an expensive project would have on taxpayers.
“We were faced with a big potential impact in our taxes,” Ware recalled. “I told him I think we can do this for a lot less money, and he asked me to put my money were my mouth was.”
Ware lives in Woolwich and happens to be a designer and project manager for Frohmiller Construction Co. of nearby West Bath. So he knows a little bit about designing additions to buildings.
Since the conversation with the Selectboard member, he has turned in dozens of volunteer hours, sketched plans, met with the Selectboard and conferred with the state fire marshal.
On Monday at 6 p.m., at the Old Town Meeting House, the Selectboard will review a plan that would cost $300,000 — or less — for an addition and renovation to the municipal building. Chairman David King said the board might be able to pinpoint a public hearing on the project during Monday night’s meeting.
“It’s proceeding,” King said. “He has run it by the fire marshal and an architect, and both have made minor tweaks.”
King said that town officials appreciate Ware’s efforts.
“It’s gratis,” King said. “He just wants to help out. He’s done a lot. He’s really quite enthused about doing it.”
Ware pointed out that he lives in a town that processed permits for just seven new homes last year.
“I don’t want to step on anybody’s toes,” he said, “but that’s not enough to justify a $1 million project.”
lgrard@timesrecord.com
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