Town of Sharon

Sacred Heart Reuse Committee

Meeting Minutes of 1/17/12

Approved on 1/30/12

Sharon Community Center

 

Committee Attendees

Karen Friedman, Chair 

Jim Michael - absent

Michael Ginsberg  - resigned

Ed  Keenan

Larry Seggelin

John Davis  - absent

Carl Gladstone

David Straus 

 

Other Attendees

Alice Cheyer

 

 

Chair Report

Ms. Friedman called the meting to order at 7:40 PM.

 

RFP

Ms. Friedman stated that the RFP was due last Friday. No proposals or inquires were received. Ms. Friedman thanked everyone for the work that they did and said she was sorry it did not move forward. The next step is to update the Board of Selectmen. She asked for recommendations of what should be done.  She said the question is whether we should take the issue to Spring Town Meeting as a budget item to take the building down.

 

Mr. Gladstone said that the biggest problem is the building.

 

Ms. Friedman moved to recommend to the Board of Selectmen to tear down the building. Mr. Keenan seconded the motion and the Committee voted 5-0-0 in favor of this recommendation.

 

Ms. Friedman will put a placeholder in for the Spring Town Meeting. The question the Committee needs answers to is how the project will be funded. Is it a budget item or a warrant item? Ms. Levitts will contact Mr. Puritz and ask his opinion.

 

Ms. Friedman said that Mr. Davis, via email, indicated that he is in favor of taking down the building as well.

 

The Committee reviewed the various reasons/barriers that the RFP was not successful which included:

  1. The economy
  2. Cost to remove the structure
  3. Small footprint
  4. Recreational constraints
  5. Water issues

 

Ms. Friedman indicated that she has spoken with Brett McGowan, Recreation Director regarding his suggestions for the land. He is in favor of fields and may have a donor to support a field for kids with disabilities. Ms. Friedman said he was agreeable to attend a future meeting and that Ms. Friedman said she will work with Mr. McGowan to determine costs to develop the fields as well as ongoing maintenance costs or other expenses incurred.

 

Ms, Friedman suggested that the Committee meet one more time with the Conservation Commission to determine if there is any way to change the footprint of the property.

 

Mr. Straus indicated the property does not have enough parking for commercial or recreational uses. Parking would be competing against the times the fields are used.

 

Mr. Gladstone suggested perhaps a medical office that was used during the day, would not interfere with field parking.

 

Mr. Keenan thinks that parking became too much of an issue. He said the fields are not used as much as thought.

 

Ms. Friedman said the Committee needs to meet with the Board of Selectmen as well as prepare a report which includes a listing of the RFP recipients. .

 

Mr. Keenan thinks that a new police, fire and town hall should be built on the property.

 

Mr. Straus said here are various scenarios to layout: for the BOS:

 

  1. The Town does nothing and the building remains as does the liability.
  2. The Town takes down the building but nothing is done to the land.
  3. The Town takes down the building and pays to have a usable field.
  4. The Town takes down the building and goes through the RFP process again.
  5. The Town uses the property for a new municipal building.

 

The Committee members agreed that the building is a tricky site and may be more appealing if there is no building on the site.

 

Ms. Friedman indicated that she did not hear from anyone, that if the building were removed, they would be interested. Mr. Straus said it will be easier to pitch the property without the building but if no one inquired he does not hold much hope.

 

Ms. Freidman indicated that the quote received to take the building down, back in July 2011 was for $288,000. The process at that time was not competitive. The process would need to be put out to bid.

 

Mr. Gladstone said that we need to meet with the Selectmen, get the marching orders, and then go to Peter O’Cain for the bid process.

 

Ms. Friedman said she has a memo from Peter O’Cain stating that the building is not sound.

 

The Committee agreed that it is not on the table to change the RFP uses that would be allowed.

 

 

Other

The SHRC would like to attend the 2/7 BOS meeting.

The next SHRC meeting is January 30th. The intent of this meeting is to finalize all recommendations for the BOS.

 

Minutes

Mr. Keenan moved to approve the minutes of 11/21/11. Mr. Straus seconded the motion and the Committee voted 4-0-0 in favor.

 

Adjournment

Mr. Keenan moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:20 PM and Mr. Straus seconded the motion. The Committee voted 4-0-0 in favor.