Briggs feasibility study discussed
By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

The next step for a potential renovation or rebuilding project of John R. Briggs Elementary School will be on the Annual Town Meeting warrant as a request of $400,000 for a feasibility study.

The Selectmen heard from Ashburnham-Westminster Regional School Superintendent Michael Zapantis and Committee Chairman David Christianson on Tuesday, Feb. 19, about the most recent meetings with the Massachusetts School Building Authority. The MSBA has moved the town to the list of schools approved for reimbursement on a feasibility study.

"This is a collaboration, this is a partnership," Zapantis said of the relationship with the MSBA.

The town will be reimbursed 53.53 percent of the cost of the feasibility study, which is estimated to cost just under $400,000. The study will include a schematic design that determines room sizes and numbers, reviews the impacts of renovation instead of new construction, and review of other available space in the district as well as cost estimates for all alternatives, according to the MSBA regulations.

"They've got their wallet covered throughout this process," Selectman Chris Gagnon said.

As part of the regional agreement between the two towns each town owns the physical structure and the land for the individual elementary schools, even though the operating budget for the schools is part of the regional budget.

Therefore voters in Ashburnham will be responsible for approving and funding the renovation or new construction of Briggs.

The goal of the building committee - which has been working for more than a year discussing options, MSBA rules and regulations, and environmental concerns of the Williams Road site - is to get "the right building at the right price," said Christianson. This is also the goal of the MSBA which will give the town 120 days to approve funding for the project after the MSBA board approves the design.

"They intend to move very quickly through the process," Christianson said.

Once a feasibility study is started it is expected to take two to four years to have a completed project. Christianson said the "ideal schedule" would be to have project ready to present to voters at the Annual Town Meeting in 2009.

In Other Business:

• Selectmen discussed their concerns about the upcoming budget especially the fact that they have not received the proposed budget from Interim Town Administrator Paul Boushell. Selectman Jonathan Dennehy said he hope when they receive the budget in the next week or two it won't simply be a draft.

Gagnon expressed his concerns about the current budget and said he wanted an update on that at the next meeting.

• Selectmen Chairman Mark Carlisle addressed concerns a letter from a Dunn Road resident concerning the state of the road. He said the DPW crews were out of the last day or so to fill in some of the large pot holes and the long-term needs were being addressed with the plan by DPW Director Don Ouellette.