ATHOL — Some members of an advisory committee expressed frustration this week over what they perceive as their advice being disregarded with future use of the former Pleasant Street School
Pleasant Street School Reuse & Disposition Study Committee members complained that the committee’s recommendation is not what appears in the town meeting warrant article addressing how to deal with the vacant 1060 Pleasant St. building. James Smith, Ken Vaidulas, Rick Hayden, Eric Jack, Deb Kuzmeskas and Stephen Wills abstained from a vote recommending the warrant article and a few members suggested dissolving the committee during Tuesday’s meeting.
Vaidulas, who once spent two years as principal at Pleasant Street School, said the committee’s work seems to him to have been “all for not.”
“The committee doesn’t serve any more purpose,” he said about the warrant article being different from the committee’s recommendation.
The warrant article asks if voters wish to authorize the Selectboard “to dispose of by sale or any other lawful means” the 8.13 acres of building and land known as the Pleasant Street School.
Hayden explained the committee agreed to different lot configurations. He said the property earmarked was closer to 5 acres.
Town Manager Shaun A. Suhoski said clear, concise language was needed for the article before the warrant deadline. He said the draft plan would have required the creation of a new public way and the difficult task of assigning new addresses to nearby buildings. Adoption of the article would allow the Selectboard to seek buyers through requests for proposal.
Smith said he thinks it would be wise to wait and “see what comes to light.” Aimee Hanson, a committee member, said it costs an estimated $40,000 per year to maintain the school building.
The Athol-Royalston Regional School Committee voted last year to turn over four local schools back to Athol. The town loaned the Pleasant Street, Sanders Street, Riverbend and Ellen Bigelow school buildings to the school district for educational purposes, but the district is no longer in need of them with Athol Community Elementary School, which opened in September.
Pleasant Street School changed hands on Sept. 1.
Hanson and Rebecca Bialecki, the two members to vote to support the article joined Suhoski praised the committee and its seven months of work. Talk of dissolving the committee then seemed to subside.
Committee Chairman Alan Dodge was absent from the meeting. The committee’s next meeting is scheduled for May 30.
You can reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com
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On Twitter: @DomenicPoli