Temporary town hall for Millville nears completion

MILLVILLE – The town’s project to refurbish the American Legion Hall as a temporary town hall is on target to be completed by the end of March or early April at the latest.

The town had originally thought the project would be completed by the end of January with town hall staff moving into the facility the first week of February, but that timeline was pushed back.

Millville resident and town moderator Les Davis, project manager for the work to convert the American Legion Hall into a space that conforms to the standards of a public building, told the selectmen last week that the project is nearing completion.

“We are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. “All of the parts of construction are done, basically. Now that we are starting the finish work the pace should pick up.”

Davis said students and instructors from the Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School continue to assist the town by offering their drafting, plumbing, electrical and HVAC skills for free. The students are working on site anywhere from 3.5 to 4 hours a day.

“They have done a tremendous amount work,” Davis said.

Davis said all of the construction work is completed and that the new space should be up and running by early the end of the month, which would pave way for town hall employees to begin moving in shortly after that.

Right now, town hall employees and personnel are working in cramped quarters at the police station.

According to Davis, all of the drywall has been skim-coated and readied for paint; cabinets and countertops have been delivered; plumbing fixtures are on site and ready to be installed; all of the data lines are in; the town clerk’s state computer line is being hooked up; cubicles are being assembled; and cable is being installed.

“We are pushing very hard to get this finished and we’re looking forward to getting you guys in,” Davis told the selectmen. “I think once you’re moved in and settled you’re going find that it’s even better than what you had at the old town hall.”

Special Town Meeting voters last year authorized the selectmen to enter into a formal lease agreement with Millville-Memorial American Legion Post 411 and proceed with a plan to retrofit the American Legion Hall at 290 Main St. as a temporary town hall for the next three years. The existing Longfellow Municipal Center on Central Street was shuttered this past summer because of serious structural issues.

The American Legion Hall will house municipal offices and town operations for the next 36 months while town officials and develop a plan to eventually build a new town hall. During that time, the town will use the senior center, library, police station and Chestnut Hill Community Center for public meetings and gatherings.

The Municipal Center Building Relocation Committee identified two possible venues for a temporary town hall - the American Legion hall and the Chestnut Hill Community Center at 385 Chestnut Hill Road. The committee recommended the Legion hall as the preferred venue because it has more admin- istrative and storage space.

The selectmen signed a licensing agreement with the American Legion. According to the terms of the agreement, the town will pay a $150 per month fee as well as the cost of utilities.

Private individuals and organizations have stepped up to provide in-kind services and equipment, including Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School, which serves the member towns of Bellingham, Blackstone, Millville and Uxbridge.

Upton-based Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School serves the towns of Bellingham, Blackstone, Douglas, Grafton, Hopedale, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Northbridge, Sutton, Upton and Uxbridge. The school has a long history of providing in-kind services to member town in exchange for valuable hands-on experience for career vocational technical school students.