LEYDEN — Pearl Rhodes Elementary School could be in use again as soon as next month, since the town effectively took full control over the building on Sept. 1.
While the building is owned by the town, Pioneer Valley Regional School District leased the building from Leyden after the district was formed. The lease was officially discontinued on Sept. 1.
The Selectboard discussed possibilities for moving town offices and storage to the school, which closed in June, during a meeting last week. Selectboard Chair Jeff Neipp said the board needs to account for chairs, desk space and other items before deciding which offices or stored files to move.
The town needs to occupy space in Pearl Rhodes to avoid it being considered vacant, and thus keep the town from paying to insure a vacant building.
“We’re supposed to occupy 31 percent of the building,” Neipp explained.
According to Municipal Assistant Michele Giarusso, the town needs to provide Leyden’s building inspector, who is contracted through the Franklin Regional Council of Governments, with a comprehensive floor plan for its expected change of use before moving into Pearl Rhodes.
The Selectboard will hold a tour of the building with a few town employees during its next scheduled meeting on Sept. 16. The tour will involve discussing possible layout plans, involving input from multiple town offices and committees, Neipp said.
According to Giarusso, some town records — including payroll and vendor warrants — were moved to, and are being stored in, the town forge. The town has also been using space at the Leyden United Methodist Church for storage, paying a fee of $250 a month for the space, in a month-to-month agreement.
Giarusso said she is in the process of getting quotes from moving companies to determine the cost and time for moving town supplies. While the town does not have an exact timeline for the move, Neipp suggested the move happen before winter.
“We’ll want to move stuff before the snow comes,” Neipp said. “We will be heating the building regardless.”
Zack DeLuca can be reached at zdeluca@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 264.