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<br />2 <br /> <br />tree impacts of the project. Ms. Walker also asked about discussions with the neighbors. Mr. <br />Cronin stated that discussions with the neighbors have not yet taken place but that many <br />opinions will need to be heard before Town Meeting. Mr. Pressman mentioned that at a prior <br />Select Board meeting it was stated that a staff member would be assigned to identify a non- <br />profit that could utilize the Stone Building space and asked if a person been found to undertake <br />that task. Mr. Malloy stated that he would be the person in charge of finding such an <br />organization. Mr. Malloy also stated that he has not yet reached out to any potential <br />organizations regarding their use of the building, largely because the building’s interior is in <br />such a serious state of disrepair. Mr. Malloy also stated that once design work was underway, <br />the Town would issue an RFP to see if any organizations would be interested. Mr. M alloy also <br />stated that there was a desire for part of the space to be used for social justice issues and that <br />the Town was interested in contacting Ibram X. Kendi and Boston University for that purpose. <br />Mr. Pressman then brought up interest rates (5-6%) for potentially bonding the project. He <br />mentioned that a 5-year bond with $2,000,000 in annual debt service would be crippling to the <br />Committee’s finances in other funding buckets but that a 10-year bond could be more <br />palatable. Ms. Kosnoff mentioned that there are different financing options and that the <br />project does not need to be exclusively financed by debt. Ms. Kosnoff then reiterated that the <br />Committee does not undertake bonds that go beyond 10 years. Mr. Pressman also stated that <br />the $10,000,000 was troubling to him as an individual. Mr. Beuttell asked if the design phase <br />was going to be split since a user for the building hadn’t been found yet. Mr. Malloy stated that <br />he wanted the design phase to begin before the project is put out to bid and that bidders <br />should be included in some part of the design phase. <br />Mr. Creech then asked about the square footage of the building and how this square footage <br />was spaced over floors. Mr. Malloy stated that there were two floors and a basement of <br />around 1,600 square feet each and there was a 1,200 square foot addition spaced over two <br />floors. Mr. Creech then asked if there were any precedents for the Committee to back such an <br />expensive project. Ms. Fenollosa stated that the Committee has recommended at least two <br />prior large appropriations, the Cary Memorial Building and the Community Center projects. Mr. <br />Creech then asked about the state of parking near the structure. Mr. M alloy stated that there <br />were no additional spots set aside for the Stone Building and that right now street parking is <br />the only option. Mr. Horton asked if the Select Board determined what uses or tenants would <br />be preferred for the building. Mr. Sandeen stated that the Select Board had heard some ideas <br />and so far, the Board did not oppose any of them. Mr. Horton then stated that the current <br />“build it and they will come” approach can only potentially attract tenants years down the line. <br />Ms. Krieger stated that she was struggling with the spending on the design if there was no <br />known use or tenant for the building and that the lack of a user will be a tough sell at Town <br />Meeting. Mr. Malloy responded that this will be a tough balancing act but that since the Town <br />owns the building, it is responsible for its rehabilitation, even though the Town has no <br />municipal use for it. The building is insufficient for housing a town department on the basis of <br />size and lack of parking. Ms. Krieger then suggested that the Committee could appropriate