Wilber School
Redevelopment Committee
August 15, 2005 Meeting
Minutes
Approved August 28, 2005
Committee
Attendees
Michael
Baskin
|
Marilyn
Z. Kahn
|
Dave
DePree
|
Bob Levin
|
Craig
Edwards
|
Marcia
Liebman
|
Jim
Glaser
|
Melissa
Mills
|
Jim
Goldsmith
|
Joel Tran
|
David
Gordon
|
|
Guest
Attendees
Paul
Lauenstein
|
Barbara
Nadler
|
Meeting
Initiation
Meeting was
called to order at 7:30 pm by Jim Goldsmith.
1. Septic
concerns/CHAPA Report
- Liebman provided copies of the
August, 1995 Weston and Sampson report on calculated nitrates added to
Well #4 for different scenarios on the Wilber property. Report was
provided for reference and group discussion. Kahn expressed interest in
the different technologies available for the treatment systems to be used
for the site. Goldsmith was interested in the differential between an
alternative system and a conventional system as was Tran. Kahn will pursue
additional research regarding the alternative treatment system. The CHAPA Report
should contain information pertaining to conventional systems.
- Liebman reported that as per
conversation with Grasfield, the overdue CHAPA study report from Weston
and Sampson has not yet been received. Grasfield, Hooper and O’Cain have
been actively trying to get the final version of the report submitted to
the town.
- Baskin unsure if CHAPA Report
will answer our questions such as: Is it feasible to design and build
systems capable of treating the projected effluent outflows levels of the
various schemes under consideration without negatively impacting Well 4 or
neighboring properties?, What systems/technologies are available? How much space on the site would be
required? Is it possible to include
extra capacity to tie in local neighborhood systems producing untreated
(high nitrate) effluent to reduce nitrates migrating to well while adding
total effluent outflow? Costs?
Maintenance required?
Goldsmith and Baskin to collaborate on presenting such questions to
Weston and Sampson this week to ensure an appropriate response will be
included in their report.
2. RFP
- Committee’s goal is to have the
RFP for the Wilber property completed by the end of October.
- Baskin will contact Puritz to
determine the appropriate approval procedure the developer RFP must follow
i.e.; legal review, selectmen etc.
3. Schedule
- Levitts to produce availability
schedule through the end of October and provide to Committee for response
and tracking.
- August 22nd and
August 29th to be used to discuss the CHAPA Report.
- September 12th
meeting will include Larry Koff and Larry Bluestone as well as Stephen
Crane. Koff/ Bluestone expect Committee’s reactions to the various options
established for the Wilber. They will begin to develop the criteria for
the RFP after communicating with Crane (in order to gain a measure of
common understanding) so that they can present their recommendations.
4. PR Plan
- Gordon provided summary of PR
Plan proposal which recommends publishing a series of 5 articles in the
Advocate as well as shorter pieces for the Globe and possibly Patriot
Ledger.
- Glaser will contact PR firm featured
in the Advocate to determine how they can help. Levitts to provide the
appropriate names and numbers.
5. Abatement
- Goldsmith stated that, as per
conversation with Bill Heitin, abatement of the building is positive,
however, taxes would need to be raised if approved at November Town Meeting. Goldsmith proposed
three alternatives:
- Continue on same path with no
Selectmen support.
- Table the topic until spring
and get warrant issued then.
- Get approval in November but
word the warrant such that the article gets built into the borrowing for
May. Taxes would not be raised. This proposal may get the FinComm and
Selectmen approval.
- DePree/Tran moved to accept
Goldsmiths recommendation for scenario three. The committee voted as
follows: Baskin–in favor, DePree–in favor, Edwards–in favor, Glaser-in
favor, Goldsmith–in favor, Gordon -in favor, Kahn–in favor,
Liebman–abstained, Levin–not present for vote, Mills–in favor, Tran- in
favor.
6. Strategy
- Committee conceptually agrees
that approximately 75% of the Wilber property should be developed as a
commercial site and the remaining 25% should be kept for municipal use.
- The specific municipal use for
the site should be determined by a separate vote at Town Meeting, with the
Committee providing its recommendations.
- Retail should be included
within the site if it is economically feasible.
- Committee would like to keep
the façade but not set as the only criteria. Need to determine if the
developers are willing to develop. DePree stated it should be proposed at
Town Meeting to determine if the town wants preservation and at what cost.
- Committee agrees to the basic
understanding that the septic will work for the site. Discussion also
included the possibility of bringing Wilber neighbors, with outdated or
failing septic systems, into a Wilber septic system, thereby potentially
lowering the current nitrogen level of Well #4.
- Need to determine what
financial incentives will be included within the RFP. As an example, should
we offer to sell property with town option to buy back within 50 years.
Tran to discuss covenant to purchase back with Crane.
To do’s
- Prioritize likes/dislikes of
Koff’s drawings. Determine best alternative.
- Continue discussion of finances
- Goldsmith to research changes
to the warrant
- Determine date Langley’s are speaking: 8/22 or 8/29
- Provide Rachelle with
individual meeting availability.
- Provide Rachelle with agenda
items so formal agendas can be created.
Meeting
Schedule
The next
meeting will be held on August 22, 2005 at 7:30 pm in the Cynthia B. Fox Community
Room at the Sharon Public Library.
Meeting
Adjournment
DePree /Liebman
moved to adjourn meeting at 9:15 pm: motion carried unanimously.
Respectfully
submitted,
Rachelle F. Levitts