THRC Minutes 2.20.14
February 26, 2014
TOWN OF BRADFORD
TOWN HALL RESTORATION COMMITTEE
February 20, 2014
7:00 PM
Call to Order and Roll Call:
Eileen Kelly, Chair called the meeting to order at 7:09 pm with Marcia Keller, Scott MacLean, Marge Cilley, George Cilley, Sandy Paul, Nikki Dubaere, Jim Bibbo, Audrey Sylvester, Mel Pfeifle, Karen Hambleton, and Jim Bruss (guest, and Sue Reynolds, Secretary,) present.
Review and Consideration of January 16, 2014 Minutes:
Motion was made by Jim Bibbo, and seconded by Mel Pfeifle to approve the minutes. Motion carried unanimously.
Jim Bruss Update on Revised Floor Plan:
Jim Bruss reported that floor plans were updated to include an area for mailboxes, a door out to the hallway was added from the first floor meeting room to accommodate town meeting (as required by law), an alcove was added in the Town Administrator area to accommodate a small safe, and an emergency egress was added to the Tax Collector area. There is good storage in this plan as well, and it did not increase the budget to make these revisions. These are the final plans.
Work is still being done toward acquiring grant money for the meeting/Emergency Operations Center (EOC) room which is the largest room on the first floor.
The Presentation of Plans will take place at KRES-Bradford on March 1, 2014 from 10:00 am to noon. Jim Bruss will present the floor plans and address any questions. He will make a point of stressing that this is the FINAL plan and has been APPROVED by the Fire Chief, Board of Selectmen (BOS), and town employees.
John Pfeifle (BOS) will also be attending the Presentation of Plans to answer questions that may arise.
Presentation of Plans:
Scheduled for Saturday, March 1, 2014 from 10:00 am-Noon at KRES-Bradford (elementary school).
Nikki Dubaere will arrange for refreshments.
Nikki Dubaere spoke about the collection jar at Dunkin Donuts being placed on a back shelf. She contacted the General Manager and was assured that it will sit on the front counter until Town Meeting.
Nikki has made contact with several of the people who signed the petition and they have given a primary reason for signing regarding financial difficulties and not wanting taxes to go up. Discussion followed regarding safety of the current location of the town offices and how this would be improved in the new design of the Town Hall, economic benefit to the town businesses (catering, meal purchases, fuel purchases, etc).
George Cilley commented that no one shows up at the Budget Committee meetings and if they did they would see that the Budget Committee sees the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) staying STABLE for next 5 years.
Audrey Sylvester stressed the importance of making the Town Hall Restoration issue clear and simple. Otherwise it will confuse people.
Nikki Dubaere stated that we should address the issues of financial hardship, fixed incomes, and taxes up front and should be humble. She stressed the importance of bringing back a sense of community and making memories for our children in the town hall like previous generations have.
Marcia Keller raised the importance of emphasizing the changes to the Town Hall plans and the Town Offices MUST be returned to the Town Hall in order to meet the requirements of the grant for the Community Center which forbids use of the building for municipal purposes. A TEMPORARY exception was made to allow the Town Offices to be in the Community Center while the Town Hall underwent repairs. If no repairs are being made the Town Offices have to move out or the Town may be required to repay part of the grant.
Mel Pfeifle stated that the Presentation of Plans should be kept short. Make weaknesses strengths and suggested getting the Chief of Police to provide his opinion on the safety of the current situation versus what it would be in the Town Hall after renovation.
Question was raised if the In-kind donations would include volunteer time such as painting and the like. Jim Bruss and Eileen Kelly both responded that this was included.
Next Steps – Town Meeting:
Town Meeting will be held on March 12, 2014 at 7:00 pm at the TOWN HIGHWAY GARAGE located just passed Brown-ShattuckPark on Cilley Lane. Handicap/elderly parking will be at the Highway garage. Buses will be used to transport townspeople from the elementary school, church, and Post Office. The Fire Department will provide illumination lights and additional lanterns on Main Street for walkers.
There are no absentee ballots allowed for Town meeting.
Karen Hambleton offered to contact the Chief of Police about using the electronic sign to notify townspeople of the changes to Town meeting.
Marcia Keller gave an update on the Communications Committee. She stated that the Rural Heritage Connection sent letters to The Bradford Bridge and Intertown Record regarding the BOS support for the Town Hall Restoration. The focus included statements from the Town Administrator regarding safety, storage, and the like.
Other Business:
Committee members were reminded to send a list of all the volunteer hours they have completed in relation to the Town Hall Restoration to Audrey Sylvester to add to the log.
Mel Pfeifle meet with Jim Bruss and talked about meeting with 5-6 local business owners relative to making in-kind donations and what their presentation will look like (specifications, etc). She emphasized that the THRC does not determine the value of an in-kind donation, the vendor or individual does.
The next meeting will be held after Town Meeting at a date to be determined.
There being no other business, meeting was adjourned at 9:03 pm.
Respectfully submitted
Sue Reynolds
Secretary