Oakfield to repair existing town office

OAKFIELD – Compromise was the order of the day Thursday as residents at a special town meeting decided to retain their existing town office building but put it on a foundation and build a vault there.

The office is 20 years old and lacks a vault for vital records, including duplicates, which had been kept at the home of the town’s former clerk.

If the building were to catch fire, those would be destroyed.

The office also is cramped for space and lacks water for drinking.

Residents had a number of options to choose from, ranging from $50,000 to repair the existing office and add a vault, to building a new office and vault next to the town’s community center on Smyrna Street for $132,000.

About 40 residents attended Thursday’s meeting and voted to spend $75,000 to repair the existing town office, put it on a foundation at the same site on School Street and put a vault in the basement.

The project will include new siding, roofing, handicapped accessibility, a vault and drilling a well.

“We can do a good job for $75,000,” said Town Manager Candy Roy.

Funding for the project will come from State Revenue Sharing Reserve and land sales that have been invested.