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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-03-31 ad Hoc Arts Center Task Force MinutesMEETING NOTE S Town of Reading Arts Center Task Force Date: March 31, 1994 page l of 3 Place: Town Hall Employee Lounge Present: Marc Guyott Task Force Member Bill Crowley Task Force Member , Richard Radville Task Force Member' - Carol Grimm Task Force Member Bill Hughes Task Force Member Bruce MacDonald Task Force Member, Jack Cairl AFPAR Jim B1ortiley RMLD 1. REPORT OF LAST MEETING.; Meeting notes for 3/23/-94 meeting were accepted as written, with two exceptions: a. The meeting was held at the employee lounge at Town Hail not at the RMLD building. b. Under comments offered by Len Rucker, second 'bullet', delete this and substitute: * After a discussion concerning the possible start of a feasibi.lty study concurrent with the start of the 25 Haven sale process, Len Rucker indicated that this would not be possible as once the sale process is started, it cannot be stopped. 2, INFO FROM NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF LOCAL ARTS AGENCIES --A discussion about the material received from this group generated the following comments: a. The material is useful in that it implies the potential economic feasibility of an arts center, gives good reason to study it further. b. Jack Cairl rioted that since there is no arts center in the local area, could not the info be reviewed considering a Reading arts center as a regional one? c. Carol. Grimm noted that the economic impact must be viewed only relative to new business geiierated, not existing relocated (e.g. Creative Arts). d_ Jack noted. that he saw this center as a way to bring together and enhance existing elements, not create new. e. Marc noted that some local art-, groups are currently constrained in their ability to run events by the lack of facilities. €F T~ZEET I NC NOTES Town of Reading Arts Center Task Force Date: March 31, 1994 page 2 of 3 3. ECONOMIC IMPACT Bruce will talk to Jonathan Edwards Friday 4/1 regarding. his progress in tracking down grant info for a market/feasibility study. 4. ARTS CENTER VIABILITY After discussion, there was concensus that Reading would benefit from an arts center, and that the town shoula take the next step. The following motion made by Marc Guyott was seconded and unanimously approved: 'The task force recommends (to the Selectmen and Town Meeting) that Reading pursue an EOCD (Executive Office of Community Development) grant to conduct a feasibilty & market study to determine the desirability and economic impact of creating an arts center in Reading'. i 5. 25 HAVEN STREET Discussion centered around the suitability of the 25 Haven property for an arts center. Bruce MacDonald noted that there were 3 main decision 'choices': a) The sale could move forward as planned. b) Delay the sale to allow time for a feasibility study. c) take steps t:o, turn the property over to AFPAR & pay the appraised value to the RMLD. After discussion the group agreed that the 25 Haven property could possibly house a 'core' arts center, but that several issues exist: a) parking is lacking, and lost parking may affect the local businesses. b) the site may not hold sufficient space to make the center viable at the start (Jack Cairl note that this would not necessarily be a problem). c) the legal issue regarding the need for the proceeds to go to the RMLD creates possible timing difficulties. A motion made by Carol Grimm to recommend that the sale move forward. as planned was withdrawn. The following motion made by Marc Guyott was seconded and unanimously ,approved: 'The task force will report that while the RMLD site could support a potentially viable arts center, the lack of definitive economic impact information, and other issues, leads the task force to recommend that the sale of the RMLD property proceed unimpeded' MH:FPT I NG NO-=S Town of Reading Arts Center Task Force Date: March 31, 1994 page 3 of 3 There was also a consensus that the task force (or some form of it) should continue after Town Meeting to offer support to the feasibility study process should it happen. Jack Cairl noted that if the town was to study the economic impact and feasibiltiy of an arts center, that the RMLD site should. continue to be considered among any others which may be studied. 6. PREP FOR SELECTMEN & TOWN MEETING A subcommitte of two (R.Radville & B.MacDonald) was formed to prepare for these presentations. R. Radville will make the presentation to the selectmen as Bruce M. will be out of town. Subcommittee meetings were scheduled for 4/4 and 4/7 @ 7:30 PM. RR to notify Paula Schena. notes prepared by RR distribution: all present all task force members Town Manager