Selectmen repeat determination to knock down old town garage

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The old brick town garage on Water Street, its windows boarded and its aspect forlorn, is absolutely, positively coming down, the Selectmen reiterated unanimously at their Monday meeting. It will be demolished, the board determined, because it stands in the way of development that could generate more in taxes than any use of the 1920s former automobile dealership that served as the town’s Department of Public Works garage until 1998. Those prospective taxes are even more important in today’s economic climate, Selectmen said, and a multi-story building combining retail, offices and apartments is in line with the recommendations of the town’s Master Plan, which envisions the parcel as critical in the revitalization of Water Street. The Selectmen confirmed the building’s fate in a discussion Monday with Historical Commission Chairman Charles Bonenti, who voiced concerns that the circumstances surrounding the town’s application for demolition were “confusing.” And, Bonenti said, he was concerned that the Shanleys — Peter and Michael, brothers who own and operate Berkshire Ivy Gardens and wanted to renovate the building to house an antique automobile museum — may not have been kept informed of the board’s thinking on the building’s future. “I have this lingering feeling that the Shanleys were ill-dealt with,” said Bonenti. “I have to say I found the circumstances surrounding the town’s application for demolition confusing,” said Bonenti. The Historical Commission last Tuesday, Dec. 3, voted 5-2 not to impose a 90-day delay on demolition. On Monday, Selectmen voted unanimously — Selectman John Madden was absent — to proceed toward demolishing the structure before the request for proposals process is finished. This and earlier votes to demolish the dilapidated building, whose structure is insufficient to support additional stories, stemmed from the Selectmen’s belief that a clear site would appeal more to potential developers and expedite a process that many consider inevitable. The Master Plan calls for public parking on part of the site, as well as three- or four-story building combining retail, office and residential space. Said Selectman Jane Allen, “We do have to expand our tax base, and this is a property that’s going to help us do that.” But Selectman John “Jack” Merselis questioned, “are these seemingly contradictory uses mutually exclusive?” Town Manager Peter Fohlin said “The RFP process and the demolition process are unrelated.” Early last year, said Fohlin, who owns a black 1963 Cadillac and a light blue 1961 Cadillac, the Shanley’s idea drew support from “the unlikely duo of Dagmar Bubriski and myself.” In April, 2001, “the Selectmen instructed me not to take any further action on the property pending the results of the Master Plan, so we did nothing for more than a year.” The Selectmen Nov. 12 instructed Fohlin and DPW Director Timothy Kaiser to seek bids for demolition, and Nov. 25 voted unanimously to proceed with demolition which, he said, “we will do as diligently as we did nothing.” Selectmen Chairman Margaret Johnson Ware said the economic climate has turned gloomy since the Shanley’s idea first surfaced, making the tax-generation potential of the parcel even more crucial, and indeed imperative. Fohlin said that absent intervention by the Selectmen there is a 50-50 chance the building will be demolished in January. The RFP will be advertised in February and returned in May, he said. “A classic car museum is not likely to generate the highest selling price or the highest tax revenue,” said Fohlin. Fohlin said the RFP is “meant to attract proposals that are the most advantageous to the community in terms of job creation and housing.” Its potential as a tourist attraction has never been given a high ranking, he said. Selectman Charles Schlesinger said “the Master Plan very clearly says this should be a multi-use building with parking.” Also Monday, Fohlin, in his town manager’s report, told the board that the apparent low bidder for the Photech cleanup is Air Quality Experts of Salem, N.H., at $233,000. Other bidders were A+ Asbestos Abatement of Pawtucket, R.I., with $484,526; Accutech Insulation & Contracting of Ludlow, $399,500; Environmental Compliance Specialists of Kingston, N.H., with $280,000; GEM Environmental of North Adams, $411,748; D.L. King & Associates of Amherst, N.H., $397,000; Safe Environment of America of Ludlow, $350,000; Aeroclean Demolition Contractors of Trumbull, Conn., $448,300, and Suburban Middlesex Insulation of Norwood, $332,800. Fohlin also informed Selectmen that Officer Robin Hart submitted his resignation from the Williamstown Police Department to Chief of Police Arthur Parker Monday morning, and that Fohlin accepted the resignation that afternoon. Hart had been suspended since August pending the outcome of a charge of assault and battery against his estranged wife Debra Johnson Hart. On Friday, Hart was found guilty in Northern Berkshire District Court, where Judge Fredric D. Rutberg sentenced him to a year’s probation.
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North Adams Council Sets School Debt Exclusion Vote

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

Council President Bryan Sapienza holds up an application to work as a poll worker for the upcoming elections. The form can be found under 'Becoming an election worker' under city clerk on the city website or in the city clerk's office. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The City Council gave final approval on Tuesday for the mayor to borrow $65,362,859 for a new Greylock School to serve Grades prekindergarten through 2.
 
This second reading of the order, approved last month, was adopted unanimously.
 
This final adoption paves the way for two community forums and a debt exclusion vote scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 8, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at St. Elizabeth's Parish Center. Passage of the debt exclusion vote will allow the city to raise funds beyond its levy limit for the life of the loan. 
 
City Clerk Tina Marie Leonesio said the city has about 1,400 requests for mail-in ballots for all elections and that in-person early voting will start the Saturday before. 
 
The first forum is Thursday, Aug. 15, at 6 p.m. at Greylock; officials will provide an overview of the project and tours of the school. Zoom participation is available here. Northern Berkshire Community Television will also record the forums for later broadcast.
 
The second forum is Thursday, Aug. 22, at 6 p.m. at Brayton Elementary School. The Zoom link is the same and those attending in person can also take a tour of the building.
 
The Massachusetts School Building Authority will pick up about $41,557,218 of the cost, the city about $20 million and the $3 million balance is expected to come from federal energy grants. The 30-year tiered loan for $20 million is expected to have its highest impact in 2029 when it will add $270 to the average tax bill, or about $22.50 a month.
 
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