ASHBY Old town hall proposal submitted
By Karen Mann

Robert and Marcia Thorell, of Princeton, submitted the only request for proposal (RFP) to buy and re-use of the soon-to-be old Town Hall.

The couple offered $1,000 to purchase the building. The RFP packets put out by town officials had no minimum asking price. Town Planner Alicia Altieri had previously said if the RFP was good enough, the building could be sold for $1.

Robert Thorell, the Westminster's building commissioner, said submitting the RFP was a last minute decision.

"It is a beautiful, old building," said Thorell. "I hate to see anything that has value thrown away."

He thought that the building could still be used. In the Thorells' RFP, they say the proposed use will be consistent with the current use.

The Thorells' RFP states they will renovate the building in phases. The first would be improving the exterior of the building. The Thorells said they would work with the Historical Commission and the Town Hall Re-use Committee to maintain a certain exterior appearance.

They propose creating street parking on Pleasant Street, which would include adding an exit door on that side of the building.

The first floor would be renovated next, which the Thorells said would be a "face lift." They plan on renting out this floor to private businesses. Work on the first floor and exterior of the building would be done with existing funds.

They would wait to work on the second floor until some revenue came in from the first floor. They propose using the second floor for assembly use, but may turn it into residential use, if more appropriate. The Thorells said until that time, this floor could be used as storage for the tenants on the first floor.

"The nice thing about the proposal is that it preserves the building without cost to the town," said Altieri.

She added that using it for business use is nice, because the building will still be open to the public.

Thorell has served as the building commissioner in town since 1988. Because of this, he is waiting for a written opinion from town counsel on whether there are any conflicts of interest, which would prevent him from being allowed to buy the building.

Town Coordinator Karen Murphy said he would have to file certain disclosures so a conflict of interest would not arise. He would also not be allowed to inspect the construction work on the building but have his assistant oversee that.

According to Altieri, the next step is for the Town Hall Re-use Committee to look at the RFP to make sure it meets the minimum standards. They will then decide whether or not to bring the RFP to the Board of Selectmen for their approval. If these steps are carried out, the issue then goes to town meeting to declare the land a property surplus.

Altieri said it would probably be September before any decisions are made. She said it is hard to say what the committee will decide because there are such diverse views throughout the committee.