HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-05-27 Board of Selectmen Minutes - Executive Session Board of Selectmen Meeting—Executive Session
May 27,2014
The meeting convened at 9:35 p.m. in the Selectmen's Conference Room, 16 Lowell Street,
Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman John Arena, Secretary Dan Ensminger,
Selectmen John Halsey, Kevin Sexton, and Vice Chairman Marsie West (remotely), Town
Manager Bob LeLacheur.
John Halsey introduced the Post Office acquisition as a topic to be discussed. The Town Manager
gave a brief overview of the past process: the Board had authorized an offer price of up to $400,000
based on the acquisition of the 50+ parking spaces, with no final plan for the building, although
there was a consensus from the previous Board that a tear-down was likely.
The Town Manager discussed the issue with Assistant Town Manager Jean Delios, and she made
that offer informally over the phone to the PO realtor (CB Ellis) to see what the reception would be.
The CBE was not at all interested as another party had a much stronger bid, and the conversation
was brief.
Within a week CBE called to apologize and ask for a bid in writing,with no time frame. Perhaps the
bid had vanished? We have had some back-and-forth discussions since with CBE without reaching
any conclusions, or ever putting that offer in writing as it still was not close enough to an
unspecified higher figure that would be required.
John Halsey and the Board discussed many possible uses for the building as-is. First, the Post
Office could remain as a tenant and pay rent. The Town Manager described a visit that he and the
ATM had paid to Eastern Bank over the winter, and the possibility of a retail PO presence in their
lobby. The ATM communicated that offer to CBE and there has been no further word.
Uses for the building included a place for cultural groups, for Recreation and/or Social Services (to
be moved out of Town Hall), for the School's Central Office (to be moved to Town Hall or to the
PO location). For the latter, this would free up enough classroom space for the RISE preschool
needs, which would in turn allow a few classrooms to be free up in elementary schools to begin to
address all-day kindergarten space needs. This would solve a big portion of the space needs at a far
cheaper cost that the new building proposal brought to April 2014 Town Meeting.
The Town Manager agreed to revisit an offer to understand what type of funds would be required
under the lease-in-place option. He also will discuss area parking with both Northern Bank and
Reading Co-op Bank.
On a motion to adjourn at 10:00 pm by Mr. Ensminger, seconded by Mr. Sexton the Board
voted Ensminger—yes; Arena—yes; Sexton—yes; Halsey—yes.
Respectfully submitted,
V
Secretary
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