Clarksburg Issues RFP for School Roof

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
Print Story | Email Story
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Town and school officials are looking to price out replacement of the school roof in preparation for a possible debt exclusion vote. 
 
A joint meeting of the Select Board and School Committee earlier this month agreed that something needed to be done about the roof — and sooner rather than later. 
 
As water dripped through a classroom ceiling into buckets, the boards broached the possibility of taking out a loan rather than waiting years on the Massachusetts School Building Authority's accelerated repair program. 
 
At its meeting last week, the Select Board determined to put out a request for proposals to get an idea of how much it would cost.
 
"We need to come to a definitive moment here with the school because it's been five, six years that nothing's been done because no one wants to make a decision," said Town Administrator Ronald Boucher at Wednesday's meeting. "But we have to do something for that roof. We can't just leave it like that."
 
The next day, a request for proposals was issued for replacing the 25,000 square-foot roof with new roofing materials, R-30 rigid insulation and rails for future solar panels. A site visit is set for Feb. 13 and the deadline for proposals is March 6. 
 
The RFP can be found on the town's website.
 
While the roof replacement is a priority, officials are still grappling with the long-term future of the school. Boucher noted it needs more than a roof — there's electrical issues, asbestos and inaccessible bathrooms, for a start. 
 
The potential of a new building or renovation has been discussed, but the town rejected a school building project eight years ago and the MSBA has determined the school no longer conforms with modern educational needs. Plus, the number of local children enrolled has grown, putting pressure on classroom space. The school district is also involved in a regional study that could offer other options.
 
Boucher advocated for a vote to determine whether the townspeople want to invest in a long-term project. 
 
Board member Colton Andrews agreed: "Lay everything out and see where the chips fall."
 
In the meantime, the board will continue discussing a loan similar to that taken out to make infrastructure and school repairs some years ago.
 
In other business, 
 
Agricultural Commissioners Martha Tanner and Trish Wilson informed the board the commission recommending Clarksburg as a Farmland of Local Importance through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 
 
Tanner explained that town has prime farmland soils and land conserved through the state's Chapter 61 laws which include forest, agriculture and open space and recreation.
 
"In our town we have a pretty good amount of [Chapter] 61 properties," said Tanner. "They're really valuable. They definitely add a lot of value to our properties, to all of our properties."
 
Some 559 acres are managed through the state, there's 64 acres under an Agricultural Preservation Restriction on Wood Road, the old North Adams Country Club is in a private trust connected to an APR, and Many Forks Farm on River Road has 20 acres in an agricultural covenant.
 
"Considering about half our town is owned by the state, another 10 percent is agriculture," she said. "So I think it's important we're doing things to protect it."
 
They also asked about hosting agricultural talks at Town Hall after being told they could not use the Community Center. Boucher said they should be able to use the center and would look into it; the library was also suggested as a space. 
 
• New Animal Control Officer Diana Worth asked for identification, such as a sweat shirt and business cards, to alert residents to her office. She also asked the board to decide on a veterinarian to use in cases of injured or neglected pets. 
 
• Town Treasurer Kelly Haskins updated the board on some OPEB, or "other post-employment benefits," issues including if they would be putting funds for that in the budget. This has been questioned in the town's audits. She also said she was speaking with Adelson & Co. about the annual audit. 
 
• Boucher reported that fiscal 2024 should be closed out within three weeks but that he did not anticipate any significant free cash. 
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

North Adams Arts Commission OKs 'Hatchlings' Installations for Downtown

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

Vanessa Hooper of Studio HHH gives a presentation on the light structures to the Public Arts Commission on Thursday. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A light installation that's graced the Esplanade and Greenway in Boston the last couple years will spend the spring, and likely the summer, in North Adams. 
 
The Public Arts Commission last week enthusiastically approved a proposal by Studio HHH to set up the "Hatchlings," six lighted half shells, at points around the downtown. 
 
The studio has offices in Greylock Works, where the Hatchlings were built. The half shells are a metal framework strung with LED lights that can be programmed. Two are solar-powered and the others require electricity. 
 
"They really just generally attract a lot of attention and people wanting to come ... they just sort of flock to it and want to take photos," said Vanessa Hooper, director of Studio HHH. 
 
She gave a presentation on their construction and showed pictures of people interacting with them during their time in Boston.
 
"I included these photos because we were actually really surprised that a lot of people come during the day and still like to take photographs in them as they are, this sort of like basket-woven black structure is also just really beautiful, and people love that, too."
 
They spent a year on the Esplanade, playing off the iconic Hatch Shell, and the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway, until all nine were moved to the Greenway last November.
 
View Full Story

More North Adams Stories