Middlefield forms Church Exploratory Commission to study $1.35 million church property purchase

The Town of Middlefield’s newly formed Church Exploratory Commission met on Jan. 16, 2025, to accept its charge from the Board of Selectmen and begin work on a community petition asking the town to pursue acquisition of the Middlefield Federated Church property, which is listed for $1,350,000. First Selectman Robert Yamartino read the commission’s official charge and led discussion about next steps.

The commission, created to inform the public about the proposal and recommend whether the town should pursue purchase, elected Ken Twombly as chair and Susan McNamara as secretary during the meeting. Both motions passed unanimously with no abstentions; Cheryl Pizzo moved to elect Twombly as chair and Susan McNamara moved the motion to elect McNamara as secretary, seconded by Robert Yamartino.

Commissioners noted the acquisition request follows a petition submitted to the Board of Selectmen that contained more than 250 signatures in favor of pursuing the property. Yamartino described the church as a centerpiece of the town, said the parcel is zoned residential and noted the town green is owned by the church under a long-term lease. The property for sale includes the church building plus an education building; the two buildings share a well.

Members discussed possible municipal uses — including consolidating town functions into one building or repurposing space to provide improved services — and also raised basic operating and funding questions such as acquisition cost, ongoing operating expenses, potential rental income, and uses for the current town hall. Yamartino said the commission should meet with the real estate agent and arrange a walkthrough of the property.

Commissioner Susan McNamara raised accessibility concerns, saying the education building has many stairs and is not easily accessible, and she asked whether either building contains asbestos. Those building-condition questions were not answered during the meeting and remain open items for follow-up.

The commission set its regular meeting schedule, voting to meet on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, at 4 p.m. and every other Tuesday at 4 p.m. thereafter; the commission also scheduled a property tour for Jan. 21 at 4 p.m. Yamartino said he would contact the real estate agent to arrange the tour. The commission indicated a public hearing is intended for early March; Yamartino noted the process would require public notice, a hearing and then a vote approximately two weeks after the hearing.

During public comment, Bill Konefal, president of the Historical Society, suggested appointing Fran Gudelski, the Historical Society’s curator, to the commission; Anne Malcolm offered ambivalent remarks about the project. Jim Irish, a member of the Board of Selectmen, was present during public comment.

The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn by Cheryl Pizzo, seconded by John Giammatteo; the motion passed unanimously and the meeting adjourned at 7:42 p.m.

What’s next: the commission will tour the property on Jan. 21 and continue gathering information on building condition, accessibility, funding options and legal/land-use constraints ahead of the planned public hearing in early March.