Wilber School Redevelopment Committee

Minutes for October 4th, 2006

Approved October 29, 2007

 

Committee Attendees

David DePree - Chair

Ed Hershfield

Michael Baskin

Marilyn Kahn

David Deitz

Phil Kopel

David Gordon

Marcia Liebman

Craig Edwards

 

 

Meeting Initiation

Meeting called to order at 7:45 pm by David DePree.

 

Meeting Discussion

v      Summarizing the hearing within the BOS meeting the previous night, committee members agreed they accurately identified the problems which will be created by development of the Wilber property. At the meeting, the attendees (many of whom were abutters) seemed pleased. Issues of concern include septic, affordable housing, noise, lighting/aesthetics, traffic, and length of lease.

v      Joel Tran and Greg Waugh have resigned from the committee. (Both perceived their roles as ending with selection of a developer.); the WSRC now has11 members, with a quorum of 6.

v      Baskin brought the committee up-to-date on the Sharon Standing Building Committee Meeting held on 10/3. Representatives from Frontier Enterprises will thoroughly inspect the Wilber site on 10/5 for a final review prior to the beginning of abatement. The SMI Group (of Norwood) has 90 days to perform their work. The SSBC guesstimates it will be 6-8 weeks before the windows are removed and the roof peeled. The SSBC has complete authority as to whether or not any change-order to leave the roof and windows will be issued. They are concerned that leaving the windows and/or roof will leave the building “at risk” and will not fulfill the mandate given them at Town Meeting. They will consider a change-order to button-up the building at the end of the abatement process and they will contact STV for a cost proposal to perform this task. Baskin will continue to work with the SSBC committee. Baskin thinks the contract could be modified for the windows.

v      Hershfield noted that during the 10/5 tour, the developer needs to determine what they need saved and the financial impact.

v      Discussion ensued pertaining to the release of the Executive Session Minutes for 8/28. 9/4, 9/11, 9/18, and 9/25. Due to the content of the minutes which, if made public, might give the developer an unfair advantage in negotiations with the Town, Baskin/Liebman moved that the Executive Session Minutes not be released until negotiations with Frontier have been concluded; unanimously approved.

v      DePree reviewed a financial document (see attached) he prepared which summarizes our previous discussions of the financial impact on the town for all developers. Frontier, based on lease rate was the highest bidder. A copy of this will be sent to the Finance Committee to help them in their recommendation about the warrant for Town Meeting.

v      Group reiterated Timility’s statement at the BOS meeting that if the building collapse before Frontier Enterprises takes over, the deal will be negated and the RFP would need to be reissued.

v      Liebman and Mills will attend the Historical Commission meeting on 10/12; Frontier/WSRC is on the agenda for 8:15pm.

v      DePree told the committee that the Selectmen have asked for help with contract negotiations. Gordon suggested supplying a clearer understanding of what we want to accomplish, using the nine criteria to show what we are looking for. DePree reiterated that the big issue of nitrates that need to be addressed. DePree will take the lead with the BOS regarding contract negotiations but will contact the appropriate WSRC member for their expertise. Liebman stated Crane had sent her a sample contract and she will distribute to the committee.

v      Deitz suggested that the committee needs to have an idea of what is minimally acceptable and what is vital in order to correctly work on the contract. DePree requested that over the next two meetings, committee members develop a list of what needs to be provided to the Selectmen: high priorities, nitrates, lease payments etc. The recommendations will be focused on the 9 criteria of the RFP.

v      Baskin stated that the SSBC is disinclined to spend money to button up the building unless the contract with Frontier is signed. The SSBC will also need to go before Town Meeting on 11/13 for approval. (They have an open warrant for this purpose, if needed.)

v      DePree stated he spoke to the top 3 developers who provided proposals and informed them of the WSRC decision. He will contact the remaining two developers. Liebman asked about releasing the deposit checks provided by all developers. DePree observed that Fitzgerald advised to keep all checks until the contract is signed, as nothing is final yet. The committee agreed that the checks should be held.

 

Minutes

v      Liebman/Gordon motioned to accept the open meeting minutes of 9/18; all voted in favor.

v      Liebman/DePree motioned to accept the executive committee meeting minutes of 9/18 as amended; all voted in favor.

v      Liebman/Gordon motioned to accept the open meeting minutes of 9/25; ll voted in favor.

v      Liebman/Gordon moved to accept the executive committee meeting minutes of 9/25 as amended; all voted in favor.

 

Next Meeting

v      Week of 10/9 (Monday is holiday)—Liebman to survey members on day and post meeting

v      7:30 pm, Monday October 16th. Room TBD.

  

Meeting Adjournment

Liebman/Gordon moved that the committee adjourn; unanimously approved. Meeting adjourned at 9:40 pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Rachelle F. Levitts