At Special Meeting BCSD Board Votes To Accept Barter Proposals For Empty Buildings

by David Flint
The Berlin School District has decided to seek specific proposals from the Grafton Fire District and the Stephentown Town Board for taking over ownership of the closed elementary school properties in those towns. School Board President Gina Goodermote, having failed to get approval two weeks ago to hold a referendum in March on this issue, came back to the Board at a special meeting on January 31 with a new resolution. It calls for the Board to request the Grafton Fire District and the Town of Stephentown to submit “barter” proposals by March 6. [private]In exchange for the transfer of the properties, they would specify what services they might provide to the benefit of the School District. Then, at the March 20 meeting, if the School Board deems the proposals acceptable and if the properties are not in the process of being sold, the Board would schedule a referendum on whether to authorize the transfers effective July 1, 2012. The resolution passed on a 4-2 vote, with Webster and Nash voting against.
Goodermote said she had researched the transfer of the Petersburgh school to the Town of Petersburgh some years back and found that it similarly involved a barter transaction, with the Town providing some 200 hours of services to the District. She is anxious to have the vacant, deteriorating buildings disposed of quickly so as to avoid another $50,000 in the upcoming budget for maintenance of the two buildings. The resolution, she said, would simply have the Fire District and the Town come and make a presentation to the Board regarding what plans they might have for the properties and what services they could provide to the people of the School District in return. The Board would not be committed to going ahead with a referendum.
Board Member Rachel Finney said she would like to hear what they have to offer and give them some time to make a presentation before the for sale signs go up again. Frank Zwack said the District has spent $150,000 just maintaining the vacant buildings. He did not expect the buildings, that need a lot of renovation, would sell on the open market in these economic times, but volunteers working with kids in the communities could use some help. Jim Willis, who earlier voted against the March referendum, felt that this resolution would just provide more options, and he was all for it.
Alan Webster thought that asking for these proposals should wait until after the properties had been placed on the market for six months. Board Member Beverly Stewart was absent from this meeting.
John Nash restated his opinion that the District, in tight economic times, needs to aggressively consider all revenue options. “We haven’t really given it a fair shake,” he said, regarding the previous attempt at placing the Stephentown school on the market. He said he had recently spoken with two realtors who deal in commercial properties both of whom expressed interest in putting these properties on the market. And if the District were to transfer the buildings to the towns, Nash saw no reason why all the surrounding land should go with them, about 15 acres in Grafton and six in Stephentown. The value of the land, he believed, particularly in Grafton would undoubtedly increase substantially as time goes on.
Nash rejected Goodermote’s argument that the Board was dragging its feet on this, noting that they have been busy with other things. But now the Board should look seriously at either a sale or lease agreement, something that would generate needed revenue. He did not agree that the buildings are in such terrible shape, as has been represented. Nash also noted that the Grafton Fire District does not represent all of the community of Grafton.
Schools Superintendent Dr. Stephen Young said he is in the process of contacting real estate agents. He wants to interview three or four agents and then let the Board choose one. “We’ll put it out for three or four months and if no bites we’ll reel up line and go home.” Pursuing the market sales route, however, does not in his estimation preclude the option of having Grafton and Stephentown come in and present their proposals. “They might have some good plans,” he said, “and I’d like to hear them. If the District can sell the properties, he said, “It’s revenue in our pocket.” Otherwise the District could turn the properties over to the towns if they submit acceptable proposals.
CS Arch Selected For Construction Management
Also on the agenda at this meeting was a presentation from the architectural firm CS Arch. Executive Principal Richard Peckham and Director of Construction Management Scott Wolfe made a pitch to the Board to act not only as architectural designers for the construction project passed by the voters in December but also to provide construction management services. This would provide the District with one point of contact and direct access to the design team. They would provide planning, oversight and coordination at the pre-construction stage and during construction as well as post-construction follow-up. All during these phases emphasis would be placed on continuing and accurate communication with the Board, the administration, faculty and students. There would be daily on site presence during construction, ensuring that everything is done as specified.
There was some discussion about whether replacement of the main entrance portico at Berlin Elementary should have a pitched roof as currently or revert to a flat roof as it was originally. CS Arch recommended the flat roof as being in keeping with the original design. Although Peckham said it would be constructed with modern materials, probably fiberglass, and built with drainage and appropriate load bearing capacity, several Board members had qualms about flat roofs in this environment and expressed worry about leaks. Peckham said they would come back with more information about the advantages and disadvantages of the two roof designs along with input from the State Historic Preservation Office.
The Board passed a resolution to retain CS Arch for construction management. The vote was 4-2 with Nash and Webster voting no. Nash said he would like to review further the information just provided from CS Arch and also have a chance to consider other options.
Special Ed Coordinator Appointed
Tricia Carlton was appointed at the previous meeting to the post of Interim Director of Pupil Services. The primary duty of this position is the coordination of special education. The Board now voted 5-1 to appoint Carlton on a permanent basis. John Nash dissented saying that with enrollment declining he was not sure the District needed to fill the position.[/private]