Mayor Hedland: North Way branch unused, town pursuing low-impact tenants and VFW earmark

Mayor Robert Hedland told viewers the town determined it was not economically feasible to keep four library branches while building a new flagship and that two underused branches were slated for closure. ‘‘Less than 10’’ weekly users in one branch helped justify the move, he said, and the town solicited offers to lease or buy the North Way branch but received only two viable responses: one existing Weimoth business and one small daycare proposal that proved financially infeasible.

Hedland said planning and legal staff are engaged in negotiations with at least one low-impact tenant under consideration and that the town is evaluating other uses but has not agreed to a final deal. ‘‘We put an RFP out…we only got two responses,’’ he said, adding neighbors had objected to housing uses during the planning process.

Separately, Hedland said the town has an earmark of roughly $1 million to rehabilitate the old VFW on Broad Street. The plan would relocate the veterans service office there and establish a small military museum upstairs, with some staffing provided by the veterans council. Hedland cautioned the project is contingent on final congressional action and said the timing could be affected by federal budget developments.

Hedland said the overall town office space assessment—driven in part by changes such as the Chapman project and office moves—reduced the need to repurpose the North Way site for internal departments. He asked the public to remain patient while negotiations and planning continue, and promised to share updates if and when leases are signed or funds disbursed.

The mayor closed the segment by urging continued public input on library and town-office plans.