During budget-warrant review, the Select Board and the advisory committee debated three related warrant articles concerning the former school property known as Thornton Burgess.

Article 13 would authorize a change of use for the property (acquired originally for educational purposes) to allow town use for municipal functions. Article 14 requests up to $80,000 for moving costs to relocate offices from the Townhouse to Thornton Burgess. Article 15 requests $100,000 for repairs and renovations at Thornton Burgess, including access-control systems, cameras, and remediation work.

Board members and advisory members highlighted several practical points for voters and for planning: moving now while rooms are empty is more efficient, and certain repairs — notably asbestos-containing floor tiles in multiple rooms — will be easier and less expensive if completed before furniture and equipment are moved in. The board cited prior appropriations (roughly $97,000 remaining from an earlier article and $15,000 in school-building funds that will expire on June 30) as potential sources to offset the moving cost request.

Members emphasized the need for controlled access and security camera installation before broader public use; the town has received layouts for access-control and camera placement. The board also discussed scope choices (controlled access and electronic locks as higher priority than cosmetic work), and asked staff to gather contractor quotes and more precise cost estimates for remediation and renovations to present at Town Meeting.

Board members and advisory recommended clarifying in the warrant and the town’s materials what elements will be covered by the moving-article funds versus the renovation article, and confirmed that remediation of asbestos tiles will be addressed early in the work plan.

Ending: The three related articles remain on the warrant for the May 12 Town Meeting; the board signaled it will provide clearer cost breakdowns and contractor estimates to voters before Town Meeting.