Newton taxpayers could be on the hook for a multimillion-dollar bond to replace all the windows in City Hall, a project manager told the Public Facilities Committee on July 22 as the panel voted unanimously to hold a $232,000 funding request rather than advance it.

CPA Program Manager Mollie Hutchings told the committee that the $232,000 in Community Preservation Act money would cover only architecture and engineering for the first phase: documenting the condition of 53 front-façade windows and two cupolas on the historic building. Hutchings said she believes the full construction project will be funded by bonds, as the Capital Improvement Plan suggests it will be a multimillion-dollar effort to replace all the windows, according to a committee report published by Fig City News.

The vote was 7-0 to hold.

Several Public Facilities Committee members said they lacked a clear understanding of the project's scope and questioned the phased, façade-by-façade approach. Councilor Kalis, who chairs the committee, presided, with councilors Getz, Albright, Dahmubed, Grossman, Leary and Kelley also present.

The Finance Committee separately approved the same $232,000 appropriation 4-0 on Aug. 3, with Councilor Malakie abstaining, according to the Finance Committee's official report. At that meeting, Hutchings and Commissioner of Public Buildings Alex Valcarce explained that Phase One would assess all 53 windows to understand their conditions and inform future work, with the goal of managing costs while aligning with historic preservation requirements for the building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Valcarce told the Finance Committee the city plans to focus on one façade first, then apply lessons learned to other façades and areas of the building. He said financial constraints drove the phased approach. The architect selected is RDA Architects, a firm Valcarce said his department has worked with frequently and is comfortable with based on its track record.

Several Finance Committee councilors pushed back. Some raised concerns that the windows project is taking precedence over replacing City Hall's roof, which holds a higher ranking in the city's Capital Improvement Program. At least one councilor noted that he and seven colleagues have docketed an item calling for a comprehensive conservation plan for the entire building, citing frustration with what they called a slow and piecemeal approach to maintaining a structure on the National Register.

Multiple Finance Committee councilors also asked RDA Architects to produce cost estimates for doing all the work at once rather than in phases. Valcarce agreed to request the information but said RDA would likely only be able to provide a rough estimate given the tight timeline before the Aug. 10 Public Facilities Committee meeting.

The Community Preservation Committee chose to fund windows rather than the roof in part because the windows project can be phased. The CPC worked with former Buildings Commissioner Josh Morse last fall to identify a project appropriate to the funding levels it was prepared to recommend. Multiple Finance Committee councilors agreed to reach out to the mayor's office to start a conversation about roof repairs.

The Public Facilities Committee is scheduled to take up the $232,000 proposal again at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 10.