Cheshire Needs Architectural Study Before Leasing School
CHESHIRE, Mass. — The town may have to put a second possible Cheshire Elementary School tenant on hold until the building can undergo an Architect Evaluation Review.
Selectwoman Carol Francesconi last week read a letter from Berkshire Body, an exercise group that wants to use the school's cafeteria. However, the building inspector has told the board that leasing out the area to the group would be a change of use.
"We are dead in the water until I call EDM [architects] tomorrow," Francesconi said on Tuesday. "Anything we put in that building that is a change of use to what it was before you have to have the review … that is the first thing we have to do."
Berkshire Body is the second group to approach the town about leasing the now-closed school.
The town was told that it would have to undergo this study that would consider all possible uses and list needs that would have to be addressed. This could mean fire and safety doors as well as other upgrades.
Francesconi estimated that this study could cost between $20,000 and $50,000.
But the board did like Berkshire Body's proposal and the business offered to pay the town 25 percent of its earnings.
Francesconi added that the business would not need heat and would bring in space heaters to maintain a comfortable temperature of 50 to 60 degrees for exercise sessions.
"We are plowing it, we are heating most of it, and we are paying the electric bill," Selectman Robert Ciskowski said. "This would be a way to defray some of the fixed costs."
Francesconi said she will call the engineers before informing Berkshire Body.
In other business, Highway Superintendent Blair Crane said he will close West Mountain Road this week for the winter.
"I normally try to hold off until after deer season but with the impending weather I think we should close it now," Crane said. "Lanesborough had nothing against it; their side of the road is in worse shape than ours."
He added that the dock will also be pulled out of the water for the winter.
"I try to go through Veterans Day weekend and there have been a few boats on the lake," he said. "I think we are one of the few with the dock left in, but the dock will be out tomorrow for sure."
Tags: cheshire school, school reuse,
