SHUTESBURY — Installing a bathroom and getting running water into the former M.N Spear Memorial Library should be prioritized so that the 124-year-old building at 10 Cooleyville Road can continue to be used.
That is a main recommendation included in the final report from the M.N. Spear Library Reuse Committee, which for the past several months has been studying what purposes the 768-square-foot building could have following its closure late last year, making way for the new Shutesbury Public Library at 66 Leverett Road.
“In summary, the committee’s opinion is that the addition of a functioning bathroom at the former Spear building greatly enhances the potential options for its future uses,” said committee member Stephen Dallmus.
While the cost of hooking up a bathroom and potable water could exceed $100,000, this would expand possible uses, such as for municipal offices or a Police Station. The former library is located across the street from Town Hall.
Procuring services of a sanitary engineer would determine if these improvements are possible.
Because the building is on the town common, it would be difficult to consider a non-municipal use. The greenspace is protected under Article 97 of the Amendments to the Massachusetts Constitution, which makes it a complicated process for any change of use to neighboring buildings.
“We didn’t reach any true final conclusions about what should be done with the Spear, because we felt the decision is up to the Selectboard and the townspeople,” Dallmus said.
If no changes are made to the building, it might be able to remain a basic meeting or record storage site, continuing town uses for provisions of the insurance. That is similar to what has happened to the Old Town Hall, another building in the town center.
Outgoing Selectboard member Rita Farrell said it would be worth making an investment if a septic system, tight tank and a new well could be installed.
“My opinion is it’s a good investment so we’re not languishing here for years trying to think about what we’re doing with the building. Having a bathroom in there makes it a much more useful space,” Farrell said.
Farrell said having a building sit idle and empty is not a good thing, observing that this has challenged neighboring communities.
“It would be good to keep this moving,” Farrell said.
In other business, the board discussed the possibility of extending winter road maintenance on the private Birch Drive, with the current policy limiting plowing and sanding on this street to the first utility pole, or first knoll.
Town Administrator Hayley Bolton said Birch Drive is complicated as it is owned by the Lake Wyola Association and there are questions about whether there is sufficient upkeep.
Farrell said it makes sense to revisit the winter maintenance policy and come up with standards that the Selectboard and Highway Department can agree to.
Before the meeting concluded, Farrell, likely attending her last Selectboard meeting after six years on the board, thanked the volunteers on town committees, the townspeople and the expertise of municipal workers.
She also praised Melissa Makepeace-O’Neil and Eric Stocker, her Selectboard colleagues.
“You two have made my time on the board a real pleasure, and I’m honored to have both of you as friends,” Farrell said.
James Walton Jr. won an election in May to succeed Farrell.
