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Roxbury Village School Committee approves facilitated retreat, files change-of-use as building lacks legal occupancy
Summary
At its May 27 meeting the Roxbury Village School Committee approved planning a facilitated retreat for June 24, agreed to file a retroactive Change of Ownership/Use (form 15d) and to request a Fire Marshal/code inspection after determining the building currently lacks legal occupancy; the committee also assigned a set of facility and policy follow-ups.
The Roxbury Village School Committee voted on May 27 to proceed with a facilitated retreat and moved to advance a number of facility and policy follow-ups after members learned the school building currently has no legal occupancy.
Committee member Heidi Albright moved to proceed with planning and scheduling a four-hour retreat with facilitator Andrea Liew of Sugar Moon Consulting; Judy Lusk seconded the motion and it passed 6–0 with Tom Frazier recorded as abstaining. The retreat is scheduled for June 24, 4–8 p.m., and Heidi Albright and Heather Holter will work with Liew to collect committee input and finalize the agenda. VCRD has offered funding to support facilitation through June 30, the committee heard.
The meeting’s most consequential operational item came from Bob Ketchel’s update on fire-safety and code matters. Ketchel said the committee will file a retroactive Change of Ownership/Use application (form 15d) because the district and the selectboard did not submit the form after the ownership transfer. He said the Fire Marshal and Code Officer must inspect the building; their determination could require a building-wide sprinkler system to meet 2025 code and may limit what kinds of tenants the site can host. Ketchel stated the committee currently has no legal occupancy for the building; Tom Frazier suggested there might be a workaround, but Ketchel emphasized the rules do not bend and the committee must follow the process to resolve occupancy and code questions. Kristen Getler will provide access for the inspection when requested.
Committee members also discussed immediate maintenance and operational needs. The group reviewed key-sorting and locksmith history—Lenny Davis previously handled outside locks at an approximate cost of $2,000—and noted the building still uses a master key for interior doors. Tom Frazier suggested more frequent mowing; Heather Holter said the RVS mowing contract is separated from the town’s mowing budget, so additional mowing might be funded separately.
On building-marketability and space planning, Jim Rogler recapped a walkthrough with Lance Garrett of Garrett Properties. Rogler said Garrett suggested exterior improvements and making interior spaces appear more adult-oriented (for example, removing a tiny toilet and child-height coat hooks), and recommended the committee consider a new name for the property. Rogler said Garrett can provide market-demand guidance, including $/square-foot estimates; the committee agreed to follow up with Nate’s real estate contact, Esther. Rogler reported that Garrett continues to offer a “whole package” maintenance option.
Kristen Getler reported she has three years of heating and electric bills from the MRPS district and is sharing those records with Roxbury Energy Commissioner Nick Laskovski and with Nate, who is coordinating with an energy-audit contractor to evaluate the building for efficiency opportunities.
The committee moved several assignments into a working-group-driven workplan (limited to three committee members per group to avoid creating formal subcommittees subject to Open Meeting Law requirements). Assigned leads and tasks recorded at the end of the meeting include: creating a facilities maintenance plan and vendor list (Bob Ketchel); filing the change-of-use and arranging the Fire Marshal inspection (Bob Ketchel); adding Nick to the town login (Heather Holter); reviewing water-source testing and reporting (Bob Ketchel); continuing key-sorting (Judy Lusk and Tom Frazier); drafting a business-plan skeleton (Jim Rogler); contacting MRPS about a 2026–27 MOU (Kristen Getler); and drafting community access and use guidelines (Heidi Albright and Judy Lusk).
The committee also designated Heather Holter to present the actions and workplan to the Selectboard at its June 1 meeting. The committee set its next regular meeting for June 10, 6–8 p.m. at Roxbury Village School and adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
What’s next: file the retroactive Change of Ownership/Use (form 15d), schedule the Fire Marshal and Code Officer inspection, complete the retreat planning session with Andrea Liew on June 24, and continue assigned workplan tasks.
