Groton — A preliminary report from an architectural firm on Tuesday offered two options for consolidating town and school department offices into the former Fitch Middle School.

The options, which would renovate the school into offices but not do extensive work such as moving walls, would cost $15 million to $18 million.

The firm, TLB Architecture of Chester, reported that the building is structurally sound, but one wing is in tough shape and would require a $1 million investment before it could be renovated.

The council is exploring consolidation of offices at Fitch Middle School because it's centrally located next to town hall, and using it would allow other town-owned buildings to be put on the market, sold and contribute to the tax rolls.

Town and school offices currently are spread across the community. The recreation department is in Spicer House; recreation programs are at William Seely School; human services offices and the registrar of voters are at the Human Services Building on Fort Hill Road; the school administration office is in a former school on Flanders Road. The departments of planning and public works are in the Town Hall annex.

By consolidating departments, the idea is that staff would work more closely with one another, more efficiently, and residents would have greater ease in accessing services.

"I love the idea of getting them together," Councilor Joe de la Cruz said.

The firm outlined two options to the council: First, consolidate the school administration and town offices — except for police, the senior center and Groton Public Library — into a centrally located campus that includes Fitch Middle School.

This would allow for the potential sale of the Board of Education building, the Fort Hill building that houses human services and William Seely School. Spicer House is deed restricted but potentially could be used by a private entity while the property remains in town hands. 

The preliminary cost of renovating Fitch Middle School to office space was estimated at about $18 million. The firm would add another 20 percent for non-construction related costs and an escalation in price of about 4 percent a year. So if the project were done next year, it would cost about $22 million.

The second option would move the school district offices and most of the other town offices into Fitch Middle, but tear down the wing that needs the most work. Under that option, the planning and public works departments would remain at the Town Hall annex.

The firm estimated this would cost about $15 million, plus the 20 percent in non-construction related expenses and an escalation of 4 percent per year in price. Several councilors said they prefer this choice.

The project would require more study along with approval of the council, Representative Town Meeting and the voters.

Councilors also discussed which groups might use Fitch Middle School in the meantime. Human services has asked that the cafeteria and kitchen be offered as space for a soup kitchen to offer meals.

The robotics team at Robert E. Fitch High School has asked for space to test and work on their robots, and the town police have asked to use a space for community policing and classrooms.

Town Manager Mark Oefinger said his concern would be that groups like the soup kitchen understand their use would be temporary, and at some point they would be asked to leave.

Councilor Harry Watson said it makes sense to him to use the kitchen and meet a community need, for example.

"There is merit to putting people in there, using it and keeping it clean," he said.

d.straszheim@theday.com

Twitter: @DStraszheim