Finance Committee told tavern project has doubled to $11 million

WESTON — March 15, 2018 — Weston Finance Committee learns Josiah Smith Tavern project has roughly doubled to $11 million. Town Administrator Donna told the committee on March 15 that architect Baker/Wohl's full building evaluation produced an $8.6 million construction estimate, against the roughly $4 million figure presented at a prior town meeting, with total project cost projected between $10 million and $11 million. Staff have halted spending against the previously approved $630,000 design appropriation at the $100,000 mark and will seek an additional $200,000 in Community Preservation Act funds at the May town meeting. "This is why it needs to come to town meeting before any more money is spent," Donna said. Separately, the town's benefits administrator reported that Group Insurance Commission rates voted Feb. 22 came in $683,000 below the budgeted 8 percent increase, while a workers' comp audit driven by two school-department concussion claims pushed the town's modification rating from 0.97 to 1.03.