Debate rages about Stevens Building, town hall annex
By Caitlyn Kelleher

Michael Fredricks speaks out during the public discussion on whether to turn the Stevens Building into a town hall annex.

Tempers rose during the Ashburnham selectmen's meeting on Monday, Oct. 16 when the public got to air their feelings on a proposal to use the Stevens Building as a town hall annex.

The selectmen invited members of a variety of town boards and the public to talk about a proposal that would end the lease of the Frederick's piano museum and study center in the building and use it as a town hall annex.

"There is the potential for the town to save," said Jim Whidden, a member of the Town Hall Renovation Committee.

Town Administrator Kevin Paicos presented rough numbers saying the town would save about $300,000 over the course of 10 years.

"I wanted to be every conservative on the savings side and very liberal on the cost side," he said. "It makes sense from a financial side."

Paicos said he realized there are more issues then just financial issues at play.

M i c h a e l Frederick spoke out against Whidden's idea, saying his nonprofit organization added a lot of depth to the community. He said before town officials considered breaking the lease they should review the VMS Building.

"Your analysis was only on two options," Frederick said. "If you are talking about long-term financial costs, should it be."

By the end of the meeting, selectmen agreed to do a feasibility study on the Stevens Building and the VMS Building, which are both town-owned buildings.

They also sent the issue back to the renovation committee to find out where they stood on postponing the project.

"This question has kind of blindsided the committee," said David Sargent, the chairman of the Town Hall Renovation Committee. "It was taken off the table because of expense."

Whidden expressed his disagreement with Sargent saying that the committee never voted to take the Stevens Building off the table and that the committee couldn't consider the option unless the selectmen agreed it was a good one.

Renovation committee member Ron Reed spoke in favor of the concept but not of delaying the project.

"During our deliberations I haven't always agreed with Jim, but on this I think we have a good idea," he said.

Voters approved $2.7 million two years ago to renovate the building

Sargent said the project has already been delayed because of the delay of the public safety building project.

One resident suggested just holding off the project until the public safety building was completed. But most officials and residents objected to the delay because of fear of inflation costs.

The public also got the chance to speak on the matter.

"Are we going to be allowed to vote on it or are we just being told," asked resident Pixie Brennan. "Everyone in this room and everyone in this town is an owner of the town property."

If money is going to be spent on the Stevens Building then voters at town meeting will have to appropriate the money.

"One thing that everybody is forgetting is site plan review," said Joe Kalagher, a member of the planning board. "You will be changing the use."

Mary Coswell said at some point the Stevens Building is going to have to be renovated so the town should look at it now.