Cheshire to Seek Proposals for Former School Building
CHESHIRE, Mass. — The town will release a request for proposals for the use of Cheshire Elementary School.
Selectwoman Carol Francesconi relayed a recommendation from the Reuse Committee to the full board Tuesday to release an RFP after receiving some interest after a request for expressed interest.
"We would like to have an RFP go out for the one or two that showed interest," she said.
Since the school's closure last year, the town formed a committee that has been formulating possible uses for the building.
Francesconi said the town received two RFEIs: One from Head Start of Pittsfield and one from Dancecapade of Adams.
Currently, the Adams-Cheshire Regional School District's central office is the only lease in the building and Francesconi said both Head Start and Dancecapade could join them in the building with room to spare.
Selectman Edmund St. John IV added it would be nice to be able to consolidate all three organizations to one portion of the building.
The town is not looking to sell the building but only to lease.
The Selectmen's meeting ran shorter than usual and the board members discussed what items they would like to see on the town meeting warrant.
One item Francesconi said she hopes the town can take some action on at town meeting is an article that would increase the size of the board from three to five members.
This article was brought forth via citizens' petition some years ago and has been through several iterations of town meeting. One as recent as last town meeting.
Because the town improperly executed the action, it must vote again this summer. Once approved it will be sent to the state for approval. If approved, it goes to a ballot vote.
Town Administrator Mark Webber said the increase could be in action by 2019.
Francesconi said she was still hesitant to increase the board when it is so hard to fill other town positions.
"By the same token we can't even get people to run for existing offices and we are going to increase the select board," she said. "We can't fill the School Committee, the Cemetery Department and multiple other offices."
Tags: cheshire school, school reuse,
