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Date: 4/25/2023
HADLEY — The Select Board along with the Finance and Community Preservation Act committees came together in an April 19 tri-board meeting, the fate and future of the Russell School building again topping an agenda ahead of the May 4 Town Meeting.
Issues concerning whether a feasibility study was to be completed prior to stabilization and renovation of the structure as well as the potential $1,236,000 in funding were considered among the three panels.
Early on, Select Board Chair Jane Nevinsmith presented the board’s position on the matter.
“The Select Board feels very strongly that we don’t spend money without a feasibility study,” she said.
In concurrence, the Finance Committee’s David Fill stressed the need for the study to remain impartial.
“There’s a financial ramification whether we stabilize the building, do nothing, tear it down …whatever it is I think the feasibility study needs to be done by somebody who is independent and there is no emotion involved in the process which there has been a lot of emotion involved in the survey and the processes so far,” he said.
Following discussion, the CPA voted to approve $40,000 from the Historical budget to fund the feasibility study while also withdrawing current support for the additional $1,236,000 to finance any actual construction and stabilization work pending the outcome of the study.
The Finance Committee followed suit, voting for approval of the revised Warrant Article 18, funding the feasibility study.
After their respective votes, the CPA and Finance committees adjourned.
The Select Board carried the agenda forward, reviewing warrant articles to be presented at the Town Meeting. Article 18 was approved while Article 19, which addressed the larger expenditures for the Russell School was removed from consideration.