Commissioner DeGroote asked the Board of County Commissioners on July 9 to place a public vote at the next meeting on whether to sell or retain the Keogh Dwyer Correctional Facility, the county jail located at Block 5.01 Lot 19.

The request followed a brief history from DeGroote noting that a prior resolution (Resolution 62-25) used the term “desires to sell” rather than committing to a sale, and that the county has spent money on repairs and engineering since the facility stopped housing prisoners. DeGroote said the county has spent “over $300,000” on repairs and mold remediation in recent years, that a $100,000 appropriation was set aside for a survey and subdivision work (about $18,000 of which has been spent on legal and engineering fees), and that rebuilding a comparable facility today would cost on the order of $100,000,000.

DeGroote moved that the board vote at the next commissioners’ meeting to determine whether to sell the jail property or not. Another commissioner seconded the motion, but the roll call produced two yes votes and two abstentions: Commissioner Hayden — yes; Commissioner Henderson — yes; Deputy Director Space — abstain; Commissioner DeGroote — abstain. The clerk noted the mixed response and the meeting record reflects no binding action taken as a result of the motion.

Discussion at the meeting stressed the facility’s long period out of service (the board was told it has not housed prisoners in nearly six years), the cost of phased renovation versus demolition and replacement, and that subdivision work to separate the parcel is nearing completion and will be submitted to the Town of Newton planning board. No formal direction was adopted for immediate sale, disposal, or renovation; the motion to add a public vote to the next agenda did not carry forward into a recorded approval.

The board identified outstanding items that would affect any future decision: final engineering and legal reports for the subdivision, a clear accounting of recent repair expenditures, and a multi-phase cost estimate for renovation versus new construction. Director Carney was absent from the meeting and DeGroote said his request for a public vote was made in part out of deference to the director’s absence.