Adams Selectmen Approve Middle School Roof Repairs
 Director of Community Development Donna Cesan addressing the Board of Selectmen at Wednesday's public hearing. |
ADAMS, Mass. — The Board of Selectmen unanimously approved Wednesday applying for $600,000 in grant funding to replace a section of the Adams Memorial Middle School roof.
The town has been working toward an application for the federal Community Development Block Grant Reserve program, accessing leftover 2012 funds, to replace 34,000 square feet of the roof.
That would mean new roofing above the gymnasium, auditorium and administrative office area but not the classroom wing.
"This will stabilize the building," said Director of Community Development Donna Cesan on Wednesday during a public hearing.
The town has already worked with architectural firm edm to get preliminary estimates that were used for the application, including a 10 to 15 percent contingency. The town was invited to apply after state officials said the project was a good match for the program because of its economic development potential.
The town's plan is to reuse those portions of the school with short-term leases to private companies - one being saucemaker Ooma Tesoro and another the Youth Center - while working with state grant programs to develop a formal reuse plan. That formal plan will analyze the options of selling it, redeveloping it or demolishing it.
There are other renovation needs before the entities can move into the building but the roof is the most immediate. Cesan said the project could be bid this year since the results of the grant could be known within weeks of its Aug. 9 deadline.
Cesan is proposing using about $20,000 from the Community Development's budget to hire an architect to move the process quickly. That $20,000 was specially left out of the grant because it is quicker if an architect works with the town instead of the state, she said.
"It is a match but it is a very modest match," Cesan said, adding that securing the building before the winter can save on future repairs. "I think it is an appropriate use of this money."
However, that $20,000 would be the first amount of town funds put toward reuse of the property. The town has taken over the bills to keep and maintained the building since the school district vacated it last fall but the town has yet to make any significant capital improvements there.
The selectmen have different views on the future of the school building, so expending money without a clear plan led to some nervousness.
"I am very concerned with doing anything with this building," said Selectman Michael Ouellette, who has previously voiced support of selling or demolishing the building.
Ouellette said mold has begun to grow mold in the building creating a health hazard, but Cesan responded that it is limited to a small section and was caused by the humidity and lack of air flow. The town is working on increasing air flow, she said. But Ouellette said it is "an indication" that more work will be needed than the town currently expects.
The town is aware that other repairs will be needed, including upgrading the heating system.
Chairman John Duval said he is in favor of making the repairs because it will only enhance the town's ability to sell it. Ouellette agreed and voted with the rest of the board.
Tags: Adams Memorial Middle School, economic development, middle school, school building,
