Cheshire to Make Final Approval of Board Increase Documents
CHESHIRE, Mass. — The Selectmen must approve some final changes to legislation that will increase the size of the board from three to five members.
Selectwoman Carol Francesconi last week read a letter from state Rep. John Barrett III explaining the actions the board must take for the town to officially file the home rule petition.
"I think we should go over these and come back next week because this isn.t something we are just going to read," Francesconi said. "It seems like simple language changes to me but I am not approving it without being sure."
The initiative began in 2015 with a citizens petition that looked to expand the board. The process was delayed because the increase could not simply sail through with a petition. After understanding that they had to solicit the state Legislature to make the change, the town restarted the process.
Since then the article has gone through town meeting and in March passed a ballot vote with just over 70 votes.
Barrett included in his letter the draft legislation to which House Counsel attached proposed revisions and comments. There were also some questions in which the town had to clarify.
He wrote once sent back, House Counsel will draft the formal language.
Once this is complete the document will be sent back to the selectmen. Because there have been substantive changes, the board have to vote on the final document before it can be filed.
Town Administrator Mark Webber said the changes can't be too drastic because they are only seeking select board approval.
"It can't be too dramatic because they are only looking for your approval," he said. "Not town approval."
In other business, Francesconi said finding new tenants for the Cheshire Elementary School may be more expensive than anticipated and any change of use would require an Architect Evaluation Review.
"You have to list all of the things that any group is going to do in the building and then the architect comes in to see if the building is able to support all of those things," Francesconi said. "They come up with a list of things that would have to be improved with a cost."
When the school closed in 2016 the town underwent an in-house study of the building trying to establish a future use. The Adams Cheshire Regional School District's Central Office currently occupies the building and other agencies have shown interest.
Selectman Robert Ciskowski said leasing out space may not be affordable depending on the new use.
"So because of the change of use even though someone is interested it may or may not be economically possible," he said.
Francesconi agreed and said any agreement going forward she thought would need some sort of contract.
"Why would we spend between $20,000 and $50,000 for an architect to review a building and have them not come into the building," she said. "That would be a total waste of money."
The selectmen also discussed moving Town Hall to the school. This would certainly be a change of use.
Francesconi also gave a quick update on the Fire Station roof that is under repair after a portion of the roof collapsed. She said the collapsed area has been rebuilt and is awaiting roofing.
There had been delays because of rain but it should be mostly complete by the end of last week, she said. "Once there is some nice weather they can finish the roof but at this point, it is not done."
Tags: cheshire selectmen, citizens petition,
