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Citizens group asks Sabattus Select Board for direction on former school, LWCF site visit set for Jan. 16
Summary
A citizens initiative urged the board to clarify whether the town will sell, protect, or lease the former school building so the group can pursue an LWCF grant, private pledges and architectural work; a site visit and an architect meeting are scheduled for Jan. 16.
Raquel, a member of a citizens initiative, told the Select Board the group is preparing for a Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) site review and an architectural meeting to assess change-of-use costs for the town’s former school building.
"The grant would be applicable...the proposal is not for the town to maintain the building," Raquel said, describing the group's plan as a lease-to-nonprofit rather than a request for the town to assume ongoing maintenance costs. She invited board members to two meetings on Jan. 16: a 10:00 a.m. site review with Matthew Herren from LWCF and an 11:30 a.m. meeting with a representative from Seammens to review a 2022 evaluation and architectural deficiencies.
The citizens initiative said it is collecting pledges and pursuing corporate donations but cannot finalize commitments until the town gives a clear direction. "If the town votes not to keep the building and to sell it to a developer or whatever, we don't collect those pledges," a group member said, urging the board to state whether the town would sell, retain ownership and lease, or protect the land as open space.
Board members discussed how best to resolve that uncertainty. One member recommended a town vote so the community can register a definitive preference; others raised concerns about turnout and whether a special election would produce a representative sample. A participant estimated typical turnout for local special votes at about 150 people and noted June elections already include school-budget voting.
Raquel and other speakers emphasized potential community benefits if the building is preserved and used for training, a community center or services for incoming residents near the planned 73-unit development across the street. They said keeping the town as owner but leasing to a nonprofit would allow the group to pursue grants and private funding without increasing town maintenance obligations.
The board did not take a vote on the building at the meeting. Raquel requested the item be placed back on the agenda for Feb. 3 for further conversation, and she asked board members to attend the Jan. 16 site and architect meetings. The group also asked the board to articulate a preferred direction so fundraising and grant applications can proceed.
