Adams Board Endorses Funding for Middle School Engineering
 The Selectmen met with Town Administrator Jonathan Butler and Donna Cesan about estimated repairs to the Memorial Middle School. |
ADAMS, Mass. — A skeptical Board of Selectmen endorsed on Thursday a town meeting request for $50,000 to begin engineering work at the Memorial Middle School.
Board members queried Town Administrator Jonathan Butler and Community Development Director Donna Cesan for two hours at a workshop meeting on elements ranging from future mixed use of the building to heating and roof repairs to demolition costs.
The conversation convinced the four attending members of the board to decide, informally, they would support further study of the building — especially with the possibility of landing grants to pay for the much-needed upgrades.
"If you want us to continue along this journey ... We need money to answer some of these questions," said Butler. "Everything you do costs money. ... We need money to pursue these grant funds to answer your questions. ...
"I'm asking the board to support us on this one ... all of them."
The fate of the school has been a question for the town since the Adams-Cheshire Regional School District determined to close the structure and revamp the high school to accommodate the middle school classes.
The town took possession in January but had spent more than a year rustling up tenants (the Youth Center and sauce-maker Ooma Tesoro) for the short term as it pursued a long-term strategy along public/private lines.
However, the recent discovery that the roof, heating system and some structural issues would have to be dealt with had the Selectmen reconsidering.
Butler provided a report with preliminary cost estimates he said were "significantly lower" than expected with a cost of $12 to $14 per square foot for roofing, including demolition.
The town could decide to do the intended leasing section and part of the classroom wing for $372,000 to $432,000 or the entire 45,000 square-foot roof for $540,000 to $630,000, said Butler, adding that a grant has already been identified that could cover the entire amount.
The roof also is holding lease negotiations with the two interested tenants.
The repairs for the masonry wall on west side of the building, by the gym, were $50,000 for immediate stabilization and to prevent further deterioration, and another $150,000 for complete restoration (Cesan said it would likely be cheaper if done all at once).
The two old boilers in the one-zone building would be replaced with natural gas and multiple zones at about $225,000, with the possibility of the utility covering a good portion of the upgrade.
"We're really excited in getting this," said Butler of the report. "We thought we would be far north of what we received."
Interior work would be done by the tenants.
While the town would apply for grants for the repairs — and thus needs the money for engineering work to accompany the applications — it already has a feasibility study grant nearly in hand.
MassDevelopment was intrigued with the preliminary plans for the school and has offered a $47,000 review that will look at the building, potential uses, market trends and marketing. All that's needed is the board's signature.
"I think that what caught their eye to begin with was the jobs ... everything is job creation. ... We're taking a facility and trying to find new uses for it," said Cesan. "They like the concept and they understand we need to stabilize the building to go forward with the plan and to protect the assets that we hold."
Should the town eventually sell the building for a profit, the MassDevelopment would ask for $35,000 back.
MassDevelopment's interest was somewhat at odds with some of the selectmen and members of the audience, who were more interested in demolishing the building or selling the property.
"I'm very skeptical about this project," said Selectman Joseph Nowak. "I think this building has run its course. ... It's 60 years old. I don't think it's going to get any better."
Selectman Richard Blanchard was concerned about the town having to absorb repair costs and the tenants breaking their lease agreements.
"I like the study. I also like tearing it down," said Selectman Michael Ouellette. "I don't like having something that doesn't make sense for the town to own. I think we're still talking about a lot of money."
 |
Cesan and Butler noted the town had put a lot of money into the downtown and it was important to maintain the entrances as well.
Cesan asked what would go on the corner if the building was leveled, adding that they could end up with a suburban CVS that "will change the entire character of the town."
"The town will not have the money to build a gymnasium of that caliber again," she said, adding that the growing elderly population will require more space for the Senior Center and possibly housing. "In all due respect, I don't understand why we don't want to save and protect this building."
Should the town fail to acquire the needed state and federal grants, or the MassDevelopment study recommend all or partial demolition, then "that's when we'll have that conversation," said Butler.
He guessed the total cost for demolition at about a half-million but said the engineering study also could determine that.
"I hope we can move forward with this ... I don't see a lot of risk at this point," said Selectman Arthur "Skip" Harrington. "There are other unknowns that are going to surface and we're going to have to deal with them as they happen.
"I'm willing, as a selectman, to say the town needs to take the very limited risk to take the next step."
The three other selectmen agreed, if with reservations, as did George Haddad, a former selectman, and Jeffrey Lefebvre, a town meeting member, both of whom had come to the meeting in opposition.
"When I came in here, no way I was going to say yes to 50 grand," said Haddad. "I think the apporach at this point is OK, and as long I'm hearing it's revenue neutral."
The annual town meeting is Monday, June 17, at 7 p.m. in the Plunkett School auditorium.
Tags: Adams Memorial Middle School, school building, town meeting 2013,
