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Finance committee OKs mayor’s negotiation to buy Exchange Street buildings for school offices
Summary
The Chicopee Finance Committee voted Nov. 10 to let Mayor John Vieau negotiate purchase terms for 219 and 225 Exchange Street to relocate Chicopee Public Schools administrative staff; the committee cited space, parking and proximity to City Hall and voted unanimously to proceed.
The Chicopee City Council Finance Committee voted Nov. 10 to allow Mayor John Vieau to negotiate terms to acquire 219 and 225 Exchange Street so the City can relocate Chicopee Public Schools administrative offices.
Mayor John Vieau said the district’s lease at Dulong Circle expires Aug. 30, 2026, adding that “we prefer to own” and that a proposal from Westfield Bank meets the city’s needs. The committee paused the meeting for a tour of the buildings and, on returning, reviewed the selection process and site details.
School Superintendent Dr. Marcus Ware told the committee there are “forty plus” employees at Dulong Circle and an additional “forty to fifty” stationed at Fairview School, and estimated “eighty to ninety people will be using this building.” He said being on a bus line and consolidating staff into a single, owned location were advantages but that timing would be crucial given mid‑school‑year logistics.
Lee Pouliot, Director of the Planning Department, summarized the evaluation criteria used by the review committee, which prioritized location (town‑center sites), land acreage (targeting 1.7–4 acres), an existing building size of roughly 17,000–19,000 square feet, ADA/Massacheusetts Architectural Access Board accessibility, and site quality including parking and pavement. Pouliot said a consultant’s space‑needs report will need updating to reflect additional positions the superintendent seeks to consolidate.
Councilors pressed several operational questions. Business Manager John Marecki said existing furnishings are not included in the real estate sale. Councilor Frederick Krampits and Councilor Shane Brooks raised concerns that exterior ramps may not meet current ADA slope standards (one‑to‑12), and noted limited site area could constrain regrading; Pouliot said elevator installation or retrofitting would be needed to meet accessibility requirements. A meeting participant reported the site has sixty‑eight parking spaces; council discussion noted differing counts of how many spaces are currently used.
On motions, Councilor Frederick Krampits moved to close public input; Councilor Laflamme seconded and the motion passed by roll call. Councilor Shane Brooks moved to allow the mayor to negotiate terms for acquisition; Councilor Laflamme seconded and the committee approved the motion by unanimous roll call. The committee also approved the April 8, 2025 minutes before adjourning at 7:33 p.m.
The order authorizing the mayor to pursue acquisition references the City Charter and Section 14 of Chapter 40 of the Massachusetts General Laws. The committee did not set a purchase price in the meeting record; Councilors and staff noted that furnishings and reconfiguration costs, accessibility upgrades and IT integration remain to be negotiated and documented. The next step is for the mayor’s office to negotiate terms and return to the council with any finalized agreement or further requests for action.
