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Date: 7/11/2023
HADLEY — The future of the Russell School Building Committee has been decided.
As part of the Select Board’s review of committee activities, vacancies and their necessity, the board voted to disband the current committee looking into the prospects for the Russell School building.
“I think they’ve done a great job but I’m not sure we need them at the moment, until we move on to the next steps of where we’re going,” said board member Jane Nevinsmith. “It may be a whole different group at that point.”
The viability of the committee addressing the next steps for the vacant structure was considered by the Select Board at the June 7 meeting with options floated of dissolving the committee altogether, immediately creating a new panel or redefining the present committee’s purpose.
“I think their original charge was for them to figure out what the town wanted,” said Chair Amy Parsons. “They did the survey, they got everything ready because the town wanted the feasibility study and they did that at Town Meeting.”
An article approving a $40,000 expenditure to fund the feasibility study passed by a margin of 140-10 at the May 4 Town Meeting.
Potential options for the building’s future include sale, renovation or a complete demolition of the structure.
Pending the results of the feasibility study when a new committee could be formed, the board voted unanimously to disband the Russell School Building Committee with the town’s thanks for their service.
The board also disbanded the Municipal Building Committee, the Shade Tree Committee and the Hadley Media Advisory Committee, which is currently vacant.