The meeting was called to order at the Bradford Area Community Center at 5:35pm.
Present: Kris Foss, Bruce Gezelman, Pat Moreland, Bryan Nowell, Tracey Quigley and Anne Kratz.
Selectman Marlene Freyler and Deputy Fire Chief Jim Raymond were in the public audience.
Motion was made by Anne, Second by Pat, to approve minutes from last meeting as presented. Motion passed unanimously.
Kris reported that she had been before CIP meeting for costs for planning for the future of the Masonic Building. Our request was a little out of the norm by asking for a one-year funding option. All requests were put into the spreadsheet and then this week they edited. The Masonic request was first removed entirely, after discussion a nominal amount of $5,000 every two years was suggested with fundraising to supplement the cost.
This Committee discussed, and are not interested in fundraising, that was not part of our scope and fundraising to pull down a building would be particularly difficult. Kris suggested that the Committee continue our path to present the Select Board with our recommended options and funding will be addressed later. Discussion followed about how funding worked with the budget and CIP recommendations and the Select Board, and a last resort could be a petition warrant article again. Ideally the building could be sold for an amount to cover the cost of the project, possibly looking into grants for some landscaping and historical signs.
There was discussion as to whether the building can be offered for sale before Town Meeting with contingencies that a decision has to be made there before the sale could go through. Could we make inquiries to realtors and see if there is any interest in moving the building.
Public Comment:
Marlene Freyler stated, ”I’m speaking as a citizen not a Selectman. When this all started it was $30,000 to take it down and we asked people. And I’ve talked to people and they said $33,000 plus cost for abatement. And I thought that was what we were saying not to plan the paving, to take it down and give the land to the Fire Department and let them decide what they want there. The Town has said that they have gravel they can fill the hole and make it look decent. Well, those are things, that’s something for you to look into. I’m talking about when this first came up 3 or 4 years ago.”
Kris responded to the public comment, that it was not how the Committee understood their charge from the Select Board, which was read into the record again by Anne. It was not the sentiment the Committee felt was put forward after Town Meeting in reaching a solution.
Bruce reported that one way to cover some of the costs would be to sell the granite foundation and steps, the person who came to quote for the paving suggested that and gave Bruce a contact. He also gave a quote of $33,000 for the paving of the whole area with 3 inches of base and tar but not the breaking of the pavement. Bruce will ask for this cost also. This would give 9 spaces on the site of the Masonic Lodge and 2 on the other side. Extra spaces could be put long side the Fire Department if two or three trees were removed. Diagrams were presented showing the future spots and driveway. A map including Sonny Harris’s markings was made by Anne and so we now have a more accurate map of the lots. State guidelines were used for the spacing of the parking lots and leaving room to back out safely.
Kris extended an invitation to the Committee members to think about joining the Economic Development Committee once this Committee wraps up its charge. To continue the work and enthusiasm for working on moving Bradford forward.
The Committee looked at images of historical signage and green space parking that Tracey brought with options to make the parking lot more presentable and honor the history of the area. Signage could be something that would continue throughout Bradford.
Anne talked about a google docs group that she has set up for us all, so we can all add our information to it and get a presentation ready for the Select Board.
The Committee will continue to get costs with details so we can compare and use more than one quote for each option, and we can compile all costs for the presentation. Including selling parts of the building to cover costs and selling the whole building and using that money to offset costs of filling holes, crushing the septic tank, paving, and landscaping.
Tracey reported that at the last Bradford Historical Society meeting a vote was taken regarding moving the building to the BHS area and it was voted down. BHS did not feel the group at this time could take on another building project of that size. Tracey also reported that she has contacted a land trust group on Warner who are renovating old buildings for affordable/workforce housing.
There was discussion as to whether the building can be offered for sale before the Town Meeting with contingencies that a decision has to be made there before the sale could go through. Could we make inquiries to realtors and see if there is any interest in moving the building. Discussion about a minimum price being put on the building that would cover costs but get the building sold. Discussion about whether the contents of the building could be sold separately from the building. We are tied a little until we can get access to the building for realtors and valuers. Look for ideas and avenues to get the word out that the building might be for sale.
Bryan suggested that we watch the timelines and have some deadlines that are realistic and not let the project continue for years and lose usage of extra parking or watch the building deteriorate further, and we need to get something put forward at Town Meeting as deadline.
The Committee feels that the option to sell just the building and recoup some town costs for completing the project would be the preferred option with razing the building as the last option.
Anne suggested that we have our notes and details available to show we have delved into all the options we could, but not have all those details in the presentation.
Meeting adjourned at 7:06 pm