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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1958-03-11-BOS-min 281 I StiLECTMEN'S MEETING March 11, 1958 A special meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's• Room, Town Office Building, on Tuesday, March 11, 1958 at 7 :15 P.M. Chairman Maloney, Messrs. James, Adams and Mrs. Morey were present. Mr. Gayer, Superintendent of Public Works, and the Executive Clerk were also present. Mrs. Marek, Messrs. Clark and Steele of the School Committee and Mr. Butler, representing the Sachem Council of Boy Scouts were also present. The Chairman explained that the meeting was called to discuss the Barnes property and what the Board should do about it. Mr. James reported that some time back, perhaps a month ago, he spent a Saturday morning with Mr. Butler and advised him of the possibility of at least a part of the property being used by the School De- llpartment for administration purposes, and asked him to consider if that were done what affect it would have on the operation of the Sachem Council offive and if there was any way that the Sachem Council could work out in the wing sufficient space for their needs, provided it were suitably renovated. Lat Saturday, he met again with Mr. Butler and he had done some work on this and Barnes has some ideas as to what he would like to have done. property Mr. James aid that last night the Board acted upon request in the form of a letter from Mrs. Marek and agreed to t over the Barnes building to the School Departme t, at least the main part of the build- ing and, provid ng suitable arrangements can be made to take care of the Boy Scauts, the entire building. One of the ques ions was how much money will it cost to do the required renovation in the wing antivw can it be financed. He s id he thought the group might first hear from Mr. Butler and find out what he would like to have done, and about what it might cost. Mr. Butler said he had some plans made up of the first and secon floor, copies of which he presented. He explained th t he tried to work out a plan that would require the min mum of reno'Vations and he found out by scaling, they c n just get their operation down stairs. He 11 explained, by u e of the plans, the present location and suggested changes, and said that is, expept for plumbing and heating, all that needs to be done is removal of some existing permanent partitions. 281 The Chairman asked if there were any supporting partitions and Mr. Butler replied that they wouldn't support anything but the ceiling. He said he knew the strain is running the lengthway of the ell and at the most there might have to be one larger beam installed. He said the Boy Scouts would like a storage room at the end of the garage which would not have to be heated, but to store paper and other supplies, He said he did not have any idea what the cost would be, but it would be well under $5,000. He stated that if it cost $5,000 or less, he understood probably, in talking with Mr. James within five years the Town or School Department might need the office space. The Scouts pay $1,000 a year rental so if this could be renovated at that figure, or less, the Town would recover that mush money during the Scouts ' occupancy. He said whether the Scouts stay there or not, or whatever use is made of the building, the roof will have to be fixed, as it is now leaking badly and ruining the ceiling they put in several years ago. The Chairman asked if Mrs. Magic had any suggestions, and she said she raised the questiororhe 4er, if the re- novations are to be done , it might/well/lave the entire project studied. She said the School Committee has, what it believes, is a fires figure so far as the renovations of the main part of the building is concerned. If the figure for the total building at this time was $20,000 -- she said she wondered if the renovation to the part 44 the Boy Scbuta are interested in could be done par- tially and yet in such a way that what was done now would contribute toward the total completed job. She said her suggestion is that it should be studied. The Chairman said the School Committee has requested *10,500 to remodel part of the building. He explained that the Board feels the School Committee should be re- sponsible for the entire building and with that thought in mind, perhaps the School Committee should try to plan whatever renovating is to be done in co-operation with the Sachem Council to satisfy both the School Committee and the Boy Scouts. Mr. Butler said that something would have to be done about the heating. The Chairman explained that the Board felt this should be done by one group and preferably by the School Committee, how the Board arrives at delivering the build- ing and driveway has not been determined. Mr. Butler said that as far as Town Meeting is con- cerned, he thought they would be more repeptive to do the entire job, particularly if they thought they would be getting something back in way of rent. Mrs. Morey said the Scouts may be the School Depart- mant 's tenants, but the rent will have to go into the Ex- cess and Deficiency Account. 283 Mr. Butler said he realizes the Sachem Council will have to make other arrangements in five years because he has an idea the School Department might need the space, but this will give the Scouts an opportunity to look around. He explained that there are seven employees, in- cluding himself, and he knows he can get them in there, but that is about all. He said they do need a meeting room. Mr. James asked if he would use the upstairs for meetings, storage in the back of the garage and office space downstairs and Mr. Butler replied in the affirmative. The Chairman explained that Mr. James is more familiar with this than he is so he would direct his remarks to him. He asked ILthe School Committee should ask for additional funds inifiaMovati,ng program. Mr. James replied that he thought that would be the wisest thing to do. He said how it is arrived at in time is what concerns him. He said fl they take #5,000 and see what can be done with it is about all that can be done at this time. Mrs. Marek said that the partitions would be lees of an expense than taking care of the roof and certainly lees than the heating. Mr. Butler said that heating, the roof and a little plumbing would be the major expense. He suggested acous- tical tile for the ceiling. The Chairman pointed out that the roof has to be re- paired regardless of who does it. Mr. Adams said that this article would undoubtedly not come up at the first session and that gives ten days . He asked if the contractor could give the Committee a fairly good estimate. Mrs. Marek explained that the Committee had not tried to work through an architect as there were no funds avail- able and for th purpose of this article Mr. Custance's estimate was ro h. She said the Committee has not dis- cussed whether t would be wiser for it to ask far the total amount in the first place or ask for *10,500 and then ask to hav the vote amended. Mr. Clark aid that the action tonight alters the case. The Comm ttee should go back and review the sub- ject and take i to consideration the cost of ding the job far the Sch of Committee 's needs and the Sachem Council's needs The Chairm n said that when Mr. Custance figured the job he coul not have figured mti just fixing half of the heating stets. Mrs. Maria- said that she did not go through the building with h,'.m but as she remembers, there was a question as to whether it would be wiser to have two 11 burners; one for the main part of the building and one 284 "-C Z for the annex. She said that there is no heat in the glassed-in porch. The Chairman said that Mr. Custance must be famil- iar with the entire building, and he thought it would be wise to check with him and see what he would think it would cost tp repair the entire building. Mrs. Marek reported that Mr. Custance gave the Committee a figure of $2000 for School purposes and it may be that some of the things the Committee needs the Council would not need. She thought somewhere between $10,000 and $20,000 would be the figure. Mr. James suggested that the School Committee con- sider the building as belonging to it and it wouldbe the Committee 's problem to work with Mr. Custaltce and Mr. Butler and get a figure to use at Town Meeting. Mrs. Marek said that the Appropriation Committee should be notified assoon as the Committee has a figure. Mr. James said that was correct as this would be something new tothem. The Chairman said it should be pointed out that in the next five years there will be revenue of $5,000, coming into the general Lund. Mrs. Morey said that the School Committee will furnish heat and supply whatever janitorial service the Scouts have been geeeing. Mr. Butler said they have had no janitorialserviee but they d© have heat and light. Mrs. Morey emid.,it -seems 'as hough the School i' Committee wants the building, so the building itself will be underthefSohoolrjanitor. She said the Town would take care of the grass and planting and as far as parking is concerned in the back, it will be en- larged and continued out to the street behind which will serve to the advantage of the Committee as well as the Town. She said that as far as the use of the garage is concerned, that will work out as the need develops. The building itself will be the Committee's. She ex- plained that if it burned down, the School Department will not own the piece of land and then it will decide what is to be done. The Building will be the Committee 's and the Board will keep up the surrounding grounds. Mr. Clark said that this would be nonconforming use. The Chairman said that the Board would like to ex- tend the parking area in back of the Town Office Build- ings and would like access to Fletcher Avenue. The Board feels it could develop the entire area much easier than the School Committee could and it would help the entire town. Mr. Clark said that he was glad this decision had been made. Mrs. Marek asked if she should mention anything about a long-term agreement. 1. 285 She said the Committee feels there should be some agree- ment as to how ' ong it can use the building. Mr. James aid it was his impression that it is the School Comm ttee 's building for as long as needed. Mrs. Morey said if they need more space, they would come back to the Board of Selectmen and ask the Town to appropr ate money for an addition. The Chairm n explained that rummage sales are very frequently held at the building. Mrs. Morey said that if rummage sales are to be con- tinued, they wo ld be controlled by the School Department. Mr. Clark eked if the Board expected to use the garage. Mr. Butler said that the Seouts have a truck there and the Town has the engineers ' truck there. Mr. Gayer pointed out that the School Department has a garage for the school truck and Mr. Clark agreed. Mr. Steele asked if the Committee needed additional storage space and Mrs. Marek replied not for the present. Mrs. Marek asked if the Committee should have some- thing in writing from the Selectmen by way of confirmation of this meeting. She also asked if the Board would take care of whatever is necessary to transfer the property. Mr. James explained that it will require a vote of Town Meeting and the Chairman said that the Board would discuss it with Mr. Stevens. The meeting adjourned at 7:50 P.M. A true record, Attest: xe tiv Clerlk, Select,1-n a, ��