NEWINGTON - If all goes well, the Town Hall footprint will be reduced while the actual amount of usable space will increase.

       That’s the result members of the Town Hall Project Building Committee will be shooting for when they submit a Request for Proposal (RFP) to prospective architects in a few weeks. The Committee discussed its options at length at its September 7 meeting, before coming to a consensus on the RFP parameters when it reconvened on September 21.

       Administrative Services Director Jeff Baron still has to draft the RFP itself, which the Committee will review at its next meeting.

       â€�"We’ve been saying from Day One that we want something that we can see having a positive outcome [at referendum],” said Committee Chair Chris Miner. â€�"And I think this could be it.”

       The proposal calls for a 42,000 square foot community center-complete with a double gymnasium and multipurpose venue that would replace the Town Hall auditorium-and a 28,000 square foot building for town administrative offices.

       The 96,000 square foot building is believed to have around 46,000 square feet of unusable space, according to Miner.

       â€�"If we can bring this into a smaller footprint and gain usable area, it’s a win-win,” he said.

       They’re also looking to stay within a $25,000 budget. That was the projection for a renovate-in-place scheme outlined by DTC.

       Consultants with the Hamden-based firm said that such an approach would allow the town to rid itself of the building’s heating and electrical issues-along with other problems associated with the Town Hall’s aging infrastructure-but with a little bit less than full efficiency.

       Miner has said that his goal is to get as much out of the $25 million as possible, and that he wasn’t sure if a renovate-in-place scheme accomplishes that.

       They’ll list it on the RFP-as an alternative option-anyway, but last Wednesday the Committee consensus was to lean toward a resizing for the purpose of maximizing usable space.

       As for the fate of the Town Hall auditorium, Committee members think that the envisioned multipurpose area in the Community Center will eliminate the need.

       â€�"That one, as it sits, is way out of ADA compliance, and to build one the way you have to, is gonna be really costly,” said Committee member and Town Councilor Jim Marocchini.