WASHINGTON PLANNING BOARD

Town Center Vision Subcommittee – Working meeting Minutes

September 19, 2018

Members present: Jim Crandall, Andrew Hatch, Ron Jager, Kevin Provencher, Bert Bodnar, Roxy Otterson and Nan Schwartz.

Visitors: None

1.0 Call to Order - The meeting was called to order by Co-Chair Jim Crandall at 9:30 AM in the Town Hall.

2.0 Crandall opened the meeting and commented that the tour we took with Whitman and Reynolds was good. He said we need to pick what we want to focus on for Town Meeting. He said that some are ideas for a charrette and need buy in by the public next year. He wants to focus on the Schoolhouse and Jager wants to focus on the parking and landscaping behind the Town Hall. He said we have cost estimates for the Schoolhouse. He asked how we get buy in from the BoS; it is Krygeris’ project and we have volunteered to help out but we haven’t been asked. Our goals are the same but maybe the thought of using the excess bond money is different. Provencher asked if the PB could recommend that the remaining funds be earmarked for Schoolhouse restoration. Jager said it is up to the BoS to make warrant articles, if people don’t vote to do something else with the money it goes back to pay down the bond. Crandall said that a 2/3 vote is needed and costs will go up over time. Bodnar asked about holding a community meeting to inform the public what we are thinking and get them behind the idea. Crandall said we need a plan to bring to them. Bodnar said we should present what we are thinking and ask what are their ideas to get buy in. Jager said we need different strategies for different projects, the driveway and landscaping are one kind of project, do we agree that it is one complex problem that we want to focus on including the pound, should we come up with a plan by December and get costs for Town Meeting? Jager said we need a different strategy for the Schoolhouse and clarify the ideas. Provencher asked if the first focus is the Schoolhouse and second focus is the driveway and landscaping around the buildings. Schwartz said we need engineering and design help for the parking lot, access and landscaping; she feels if we do the building afterward we could damage the driveway work if it is done first. Otterson thinks that the access issue is controversial if we do it now, she thinks we should get the building in shape and then focus on a plan for the surrounding area. She feels the Schoolhouse is more important. Jager asked the use of the building. Crandall said who is using it doesn’t matter; we need to stabilize the building for the building’s sake. Provencher said the building is an icon and needs to be taken care of. Crandall suggested asking for money to plan out the driveway and get buy in for the design. Jager said the danger is that the BoS will just move ahead and put money in DPW’s budget to get the driveway done next year. Otterson asked if the design could be done after the Schoolhouse restoration. Jager would like to have them designed together. Provencher asked if the architect’s letter be sent to the PB as this subcommittee’s priority. He thought the PB would then take it to the BoS as the priority. Otterson stated that we all value the Town Center. Provencher suggested taking it to the PB meeting and then to the BoS. Jager wanted to know what we are asking for at this point. Crandall said the blessing to work with the architect.

Schwartz collected the booklets from those in attendance. She will send one to Kluk to fill out. Otterson took a couple of booklets to fill one out herself and one for her neighbor. Schwartz will write to Whitman and get a little more time to turn in the booklets.

Crandall asked about adding people to the subcommittee and asked us to talk to people.

We decided our next meeting will be October 10^th at 9:30am.

Jager said he is doing a presentation on Town Pounds at the Historical Society meeting on Monday October 8^th at 7PM and would like us all to be there. Bodnar will send Schwartz the flyer to send out as a Town News item.

Schwartz said a few booklets are still available at the Town Hall.

Whitman also gave us more copies of the “LoveSullivan” postcard for distribution around town, website and more information here: https://unhcoopext.maps.arcgis.com/apps/StoryMapCrowdsource/index.html?appid=f57fae9b93cf44f1ab7af72e2ea56b7f

3.0 Next meeting – Wednesday, October 10^th at 9:30AM in the Town Hall.

Meeting adjourned at 10:30am.

Respectfully submitted,

Nan Schwartz

Planning Board Secretary