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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1982-11-15 Adjourned Subsequent Town Meeting MinutesADJOURNED SESSION SUBSEQUENT TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School November 15, 1982 The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, John W. Faria, at 8:00 P.M. there being a quorum present. The invocation was given by the Rev. Dale Hufford of the First Congregational Church, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Upon request of Carl H. Amon, Jr., Mr. Gerald Fiore, Finance Committee Chairman, and Mrs. Elizabeth W. Klepeis, Treasurer, presented a brief overview of the Town's financial condition. ARTICLE 13. On motion of Henry A. Higgott it was voted to lay Article 13 on the table. ARTICLE 1. On motion of Henry A. Higgott it was voted to take Article 1 from the table. ARTICLE 1. The following report of the Space Needs Committee, presented by Henry A. Higgott, was accepted as a report of progress. SPACE NEEDS COMMITTEE FEASIBILITY STUDY Interim Report to Town Meeting, Nov. 15, 1982 General Information In order to study and make recommendations concerning this most complex space situation for the Town, the Committee began by requesting information from each Town Department relative to their present space situation and the extent to which they felt their space requirements are being met. Space measurements for the Town Hall were taken off plans, as were those of the library building so that comparisons could be made. The information showed that space is at a premium in the Town Hall. Because it was the opinion of the Committee that Town departmental offices should be kept together for efficiency, it was decided that the best plan would be to unite the Town Hall and library buildings, with an addition between. The library and Town Hall were both built in 1918 with an addition being built to the library in 1954. They are similar in age, condition (very good) and architecture (Georgian Revival). Both are historic buildings, and probably of greatest importance, located in the center of Town, on the Common. The ceilings in the library are low. Those in the Town Hall are high. The inside of the library is very open, while the Town Hall is laid out as an office building with many small offices. The library has six floor levels, and the Town Hall has three. The basement corridor levels are the same. One of the most important considerations in any space study is the concept of "Change in Use." When a building is changed, the building must be brought to Code. Changing a library to Town offices is a change of use. The laws governing access for the handicapped have to be likewise taken into consideration. This can be very costly. Also, if a building is renovated over 5% of the assessed value, the building must be brought to Code. The 5% is a cumulative total. Departments and Boards in the present Town Hall all need more space, including storage space which can only be provided on the ground level because of floor loading problems. The Committee looked at the possibility of moving some of these departments or Boards to the library building. The Committee also looked at the possibility of moving the Town offices presently located in the Community Center to the library building. The offices to be relocated include the Historical Commission, Planning Board, Health, Building Inspector, Dog Officer, Conservation Commission, Cemetery Department, Veterans Services and a number of meeting rooms. The remaining areas are best located in a Community Center -type building (See "Recommendations ") Space is at such a premuium in the Town Hall that additional storage is needed at a separate location. This can be achieved by using the portable classroom at the Highland School. 83 Subsequent Town Meeting Options November 15, 1982 1. DO NOTHING. Board up the library building. It can possibly be used for storage, but not occupancy as is. The result will be loss of the building through deterioration and vandalism. 2. RENOVATION OF THE LIBRARY BUILDING. Use of the library for Town government is a change in use and requires renovation to Code, which includes egress, stairs, toilets and Barrier Code. An elevator and ramping is required. The book stack area is not suitable for storage or offices and should be removed and new floors installed. 3. RENOVATION OF THE LIBRARY AND TOWN HALL AS SEPARATE BUILDINGS. Renovation of the Town Hall is needed if certain boards or departments are relocated to the library. Any renovations over 5% (cumulative) require renovation to Code. Same Code problems as library. 4. RENOVATE THE LIBRARY AND TOWN HALL AND CONNECT WITH WALKWAY ON EACH FLOOR. Only one elevator and ramp is required. 5. RENOVATE THE LIBRARY AND TOWN HALL AND CONNECT WITH 25- FOOT -WIDE ADDITION. Elevator, stairs, toilets in the addition. Heating system revised to require only one Boiler Room. Many Code problems solved in the addition. Recommendations 1. Convert the present library building to an extension of the Town Hall, with a connecting addition between the buildings - the new complex to be known as the Reading Town Hall. 2. Relocate the Town offices presently in the Community Center to the library -Town Hall complex building. 3. Appoint a committee to study the use, reuse or other disposition of the Community Center. The Building Superintendent and Maintenance Operations, Civil Defense, Council on Aging and Elderly Drop -In Center and rental space remain in the Community Center with the removal of Town offices. 4. If maintenance operations are relocated, it should be to some location other than the Town Hall complex because this function is not appropriate to office areas. 5. The Council on Aging and the Elderly Drop -In Center should remain together, presently at the Community Center. 6. Concurrence with the wish of the School Department that they relocate their 34 Gould Street operations to a vacant school and not to the Town Hall complex. 7. Move the Highland School portable classroom to the Board of Public Works John Street site and use for storage of Town records. Budget Estimate Notes The cost of doing nothing would be the cost of boarding up a building that cannot be used and which will in time be a total loss. Construction Costs include construction contingencies. Total Costs include construction costs, design fees, Clerk of the Works, furnishings allowance and escalation. Library Library To Code Library Library To Code Town Hall Town Hall Town Hall Do Town Hall To Code Connector Addition Nothing As Is Separately To Code To Code Gross Sq.Ft. 19,416 19,416 19,416 21,156 24,291 Net Sq. Ft. 13,160 10,900 10,000 10,800 14,100 Contt. Cost $ 632,000 $1,001,000 $ 942,000 $1,062,000 Cost /Sq.Ft. (Dollars) $ 69.20 $ 51.60 $ 44.50 $ 43.70 Total Cost $ 828,000 $1,312,000 $1,235,000 $1,392,000 Notes The cost of doing nothing would be the cost of boarding up a building that cannot be used and which will in time be a total loss. Construction Costs include construction contingencies. Total Costs include construction costs, design fees, Clerk of the Works, furnishings allowance and escalation. 1. 2. 3. 4. Subsequent Town Meeting Schedule Preliminary Design Town Meeting - Approval of Preliminary Plans and request for funding Final Design and Contract Documents Library Vacant 5. Bidding 6. Construction (Library has been vacant six months.) Library work would be done first, with Town Hall to follow. Town Hall would be occupied while work is progressing which would delay completion. November 15, 1982 November 1982 - May 1983 April 1983 May 1983 - December 1983 September 1983 January and February 1984 March 1984 - March 1985 ARTICLE 13. The following motion presented by Henry A. Higgott was voted in the negative. Moved that the Moderator appoint a committee of five members to be known as the Town Hall Building Committee for the purpose of producing plans and costs for converting the present Library building to meet the space needs of Town government including those Town departments located in the Community Center, together with rehabilitation of the Town Hall building and including a connecting addition between the present Library building and the present Town Hall and that the sum of Thirty -three Thousand Dollars ($33,000) be transferred from free cash and appropriated for the purpose of hiring consulting engineers, architectural services, plans and services and other expenses required to accomplish the committee's purpose; said sum to be expended under the direction of the committee. ARTICLE 26. On motion of Sally M. Hoyt it was voted to take up Articles 26 and 27 out of order. ARTICLE 26. On motion of Sally M. Hoyt it was voted that the Town authorize the transfer of the care, custody, management and control of the following described land to the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Reading for general municipal purposes, or take any other action with respect thereto: 11.329 acres of land, more or less, situated on the northerly side of Franklin Street known as Batchelder Field and acquired from Amy E. Batchelder and Bernice A. Batchelder by Order of Taking dated December 29, 1958 and by deed to the Inhabitants of the Town of Reading dated December 23, 1959 and shown as Lot A on a plan entitled "Plan of Land in READING, MASSACHUSETTS, Owned by Amy E. and Bernice A. Batchelder ", dated February 6, 1958 by H. Kingman Abbott, Reg. Surveyor, Reading, Mass., which plan is recorded at the Middlesex South District Registry of Deeds as Plan No. 1724 of 1958 in Book 9299, Page 401. 120 voted in the affirmative 6 voted in the negative 2/3 vote required ARTICLE 27. On motion of Sally M. Hoyt it was voted that the Town authorize the Board of Selectmen to convey by deed, or otherwise, 3.92 acres of land, more or less, in what is known as Batchelder Field, bounded and described in the 1982 Fall Town Meeting Warrant, the description of which is incorporated herein by reference. Said parcel of land containing 171,169 square feet, more or less (3.9295+ acres) to be conveyed to Edward S. Knudsen, Jacquelyn B. Godfrey and Sylvia N. Buck for not less than $1.00 and for the further consideration of conveyance to the Town for conservation, recreation and water resource protection purposes of 29.9 acres of land, more or less, owned by said Edward S. Knudsen, Jacquelyn B. Godfrey and Sylvia N. Buck, bounded and described in the 1982 Fall Town Meeting Warrant, the description of which is incorporated herein by reference. Said parcel of land containing 1,303,953 square feet, more or less (29.9347+ acres). Specifically reserving from this conveyance the right for Edward S. Knudsen, et al. or their designees, assigns and successors in title to construct, install and maintain structures, pipes and open drains to drain surface water over the above described parcel from their remaining land and land to be conveyed to them by the Town of Reading to the existing brook on the 29.9 acre parcel. The exercise of this right shall be subject to the approval of the Town of Reading Conservation Commission and Board of Survey. Also reserved from this conveyance is the right of Edward S. Knudsen, et al. or their designees, assigns and successors in title to construct, install and maintain a sanitary sewer line and other utilities in a location within the above described parcel to be approved by the Town of Reading Board of Survey in order to allow dwellings and other structures constructed on the remaining land of Edward S. Knudsen, et al. and land to be conveyed to them from the Town of Reading, to the sanitary sewer and utility systems existing in Batchelder Road by way of an existing easement over abutting properties. Such utility easement shall be thirty feet in width. Said conveyance shall be upon such other terms and conditions as the Board of Selectmen shall consider proper. ARTICLE 21. Motion under Article 21 by Maureen T. O'Brien was under discussion and is pending. Motion to adjourn for lack of quorum was voted. Meeting adjourned at 10:52 P. M. 158 Town Meeting Members were present. A true copy. Attest: Lawrence Drew Town Clerk 55