MEETING MATTERS
BOARD OF SELECTMEN MONDAY, APRIL 30, 2007
Compiled by Caitlyn Kelleher Journal Reporter

Top Story:

The Board of Selectmen held off a discussion of the reuse of the former Town Hall on Bacon Street until their meeting at the end of May, over objections from some residents.

The board listened to an update on the possible reuses of the building, which was vacated in February, from Town Planner Alicia Altieri.

Altieri spoke on behalf of the Town Hall Reuse Committee.

The committee was recommending that the building be preserved for public use because private preservation use was not financially feasible, she said. The ideas for public use included a senior center, a youth center, storage for other town departments, or relocation for either the police or fire departments.

Selectman John Fairbanks asked to hold public and board discussion on the matter later, so a full conversation about the site could be held. Neither selectmen Thomas O'Toole or newly-elected Nick Hay objected.

Town Moderator John Bowen, who is the appointing authority of the reuse committee, said he can appoint new members - as suggested - and that the committee can continue. The committee was started after a Town Meeting a few years ago for the purpose of determining the future of the building at 3 Bacon St., when Town Hall employees moved into the new town hall on South Street.

"We are now two years beyond that (creation)," said resident David McKeehan. "This town has not done a good job of maintaining the buildings it does have for preservation."

McKeehan had his say before the discussion was closed.

Since the committee was appointed they have researched preservation costs and issued to requests for proposals (RFPs) for the property, Altieri told the selectmen. The RFPs were issued as part of the mandated bid procedures for the sale of public property.

The RFP process was done twice, and each time only one response was received. Robert and Marcia Thorell responded, both times, with proposals stating they would preserve the exterior of the building if they could buy it below the market value.

"It's very strange," McKeenhan said of keeping the Thorells waiting.

In Other News:

+ Selectman voted unanimously to appoint former Selectman Lorraine Emerson to the Department of Public Works Commission to replace Preston Baker, who resigned from his position on the committee on April 17.

+ The board set their summer meeting schedule. The board will meet on the following Mondays: May 16 and 30, June 6 and 20, July 9 and 23 and Aug. 13 and 27.

+ The board also discussed the warrant articles for the annual Town Meeting, which followed on Tuesday night. Hay's election to the board created a minority opinion on some of the warrant questions but did not change any of the board's recommendations to the Town Meeting voters.