Approved December 12th, 2005
Committee
Attendees
Jim
Goldsmith – Chair |
Marilyn
Z. Kahn |
David
DePree – Chair |
Bob Levin |
Michael
Baskin |
Marcia C.
Liebman |
Craig
Edwards |
Melissa
Mills |
David
Gordon |
Joel Tran |
Guests
Stephen
Crane - Consultant |
Paul
Lauenstein – Planning Board |
Jeanette
Keating |
Barbara
Nadler - Library |
Meeting Initiation
Meeting was
called to order at
Meeting Minutes
Overview
Tran stated
that in 1993, the town voted to declare the
Abatement
Baskin
reviewed his PowerPoint presentation for Town Meeting. The committee commended
him for his efforts.
DePree
reviewed the old financial analyses for the
Consultant
Crane stated that a non-profit developer such as the Architectural Heritage
Foundation seeks more non-traditional forms of funding and may be able to make
redevelopment work. The trade-off would be an increase in the time it takes to
complete the project. Goldsmith
suggested a
Liebman
suggested taping into the Comm Preservation Act Funds. Another source is the
Historic Preservation Funds; however, the Wilber is not on the historical
register and thus can not receive tax credits. There was also a concern that if
the Town owns the property, no tax is involved, so the question of tax credits
becomes moot.
Crane asked
about the town’s commitment to leasing the site. If subdivided, could the
committee convince the Selectmen areas of the property could be sold? Goldsmith
stated that there is a portion of people that will not let the property go as
it is emblematic of seeing the old
Crane distributed
a draft RFP which was nominally reviewed at the meeting; deeper analysis will
be done at the next meeting after committee members have had a chance to review
the document. The committee will then provide Crane with updated comments via
email which Crane will compile and present back to the committee. It was
determined that there are 4 sessions remaining in his contract.
A short
discussion ensued regarding in what format the responses to the RFP would be
received. Crane advised against requesting lots of sketches but stated that
minimum criteria can include site plans.
Administrative
As the
committee secretary has recently taken another job within
Future Meetings:
Liebman/Tran
moved to adjourn meeting @
Respectfully
submitted,
Rachelle F. Levitts