LEVERETT — Concepts for how the historic Field Building in the town center might be put to use, whether for municipal or private purposes, will soon be accepted by the Selectboard.
With residents at Annual Town Meeting recently giving town officials more time to come up with a plan for what could happen at the 1 Shutesbury Road building, board members at last week’s meeting said they anticipate soliciting proposals.
Board member Jed Proujansky said he would like to provide a year for proposals to be submitted and then spend time after that determining if there is a viable plan from which to choose.
“We’ll probably hear some ideas we’ve never thought of,” Proujansky said.
Chair Patricia Duffy said she would like to continue with the hybrid approach that involves the Historical Commission acting as a consultant to help secure grants that could improve the former library building, such as for running water and a septic system.
Town Administrator Marjorie McGinnis said the process could be similar to advertising for requests for proposals.
There are still questions, such as whether someone who might want to run a small cafe from the site would be allowed to do so as adaptive reuse.
Concerns also exist over the historical objects, artifacts and documents in the building, and whether anyone would have to keep those on site or if relocation is possible.
Board member Tom Hankinson said he would prioritize protecting the building from further deterioration and address immediate improvements. Hankinson said he believes there are those who would be willing to make donations to do painting and scraping.
The discussion comes as the Historical Commission on Monday, June 8, will use the first hour of its 7 p.m. meeting at Town Hall to discuss next steps for the Field Building.
The commission is reimagining the building’s future, building on its uses and character, and will draw from an ad hoc committee and ideas developed at public forums earlier this year.
In other business, the Selectboard:
- recommended to extend Fire Chief Michael Visniewski’s contract to three years following a probationary period that began following his hiring in January, with favorable feedback from residents and Fire Department staff. Duffy said Visniewski has done the right community outreach and reporting back to the board. “I feel you’ve done everything we’ve asked you to do,” Duffy said;
- authorized the Council on Aging to add up to four hours per week to the work of its 15-hour-per-week events coordinator to handle special events, with the salary to be paid from grants and not through the town budget;
- hired Sarah Fortune as the town’s conservation agent, a position that pays $25 per hour. Fortune, of Warren, has more than 10 years of experience in the field, serving in communities such as Belchertown, Bernardston and Palmer.
