NEWINGTON - The Town Hall Renovation Project Building Committee won’t complete the drafting of a Request for Proposal (RFP) for an architect before its next meeting, but members had a 90-minute long, spirited discussion that touched on everything from reducing the building’s footprint to focusing solely on mechanical fixes, when they convened on September 7.

       Those are all just ideas, but they were exchanged at a point in which the Committee is working to create goals and guidelines for prospective architects, who will then present options by which the town can execute them.

       Town Manager Tanya Lane urged the Committee to at least consider going beyond just a renovate-in-place scheme-as taking the estimated $24 million DTC-recommended approach would not even require the enlistment of an architect at this stage of the process, because they have already received a report from the Hamden-based firm detailing the scope of such work.

       That was the sentiment expressed by other Committee members, with Chair Chris Miner having already expressed a desire to at least examine a renovate/reconstruct hybrid approach. The idea, they say, is to ensure that the value of DTC’s $24 million price tag is maximized.

       By DTC’s estimates, around $24 million would address the building’s multitude of age-induced issues, while providing some additional parking, but less than maximum efficiency.

       â€�"If you’re going to spend 24, 25 million dollars to fix what’s broken, I’m gonna have trouble selling that,” said Committee member and Town Councilor Jim Marocchini. â€�"If you pull up in front of the building after spending that kind of money and nothing’s changed, I don’t know how the public’s gonna see that.”

       Marocchini actually recommends reducing the footprint of the building, which, according to Facilities Director Dave Langdon, is running with 50 percent of its space underused.

       If anywhere between 45,000 to 50,000 square feet would be enough for Town department operations, the Committee could focus on expanding the community center-to around 30,000 square feet-while reducing space use inefficiencies and creating more on-site room for parking, Marocchini said.

       If the Committee opts for a double gymnasium, the area could function as a multi-purpose space that would alleviate the need for one within Town Hall, he said.

       â€�"I don’t see any need for an auditorium in the Town Hall,” Marocchini said. â€�"That’s where your double-sized gym would come in handy.”

       Committee member Joe Harpie wondered whether the group should consider pursuing just the mechanical fixes. The building has long been wrought with electrical and heating issues due to outdated systems.

       If the town gets those issues resolved now, it can worry about the more ambitious items further down the road, he said.

       â€�"[Money’s] going out the window and a big part of that is the mechanics,” Harpie said.

       But Langdon said that addressing the full scope of the building’s issues-on a long-term basis-will take a more holistic approach.

       â€�"You’re not fixing the problems,” Marocchini said.

       â€�"If the referendum were to fail again, we can’t keep going this way either,” Harpie responded.

       The Committee meets again on September 21 at 7 p.m. in Town Hall.