Town Hall Feedback

by Amy Kolb Noyes

Two members of the Morristown citizens' group CREST attended a meeting
of the Morristown Selectboard Monday evening, July 19. Richard
"Buckwheat" Lowe and Tina Tomlinson were at the meeting to express their
concern over the town's recent real estate option secured on the Cole
property, on the corner of Park Street and Richmond Street, for $10,000.
Lowe called the board decision to take out the option "unprofessional."
He accused the board of being backed into the deal by a real estate agent.
"I just don't understand why the board thinks they can spend our tax
dollars [this way]" said Lowe. He went on to say the money would be
better spent on paving projects on town roads.
Tomlinson said she also disagreed with the option. She went as far as to
say board members should use their personal money, rather than tax
dollars, on the option. She inquired if the opportunity to purchase the
option came up suddenly.
Selectman Jim Paige was acting as board chair in the absence of chair
Brian Greenia. Paige explained the small window of time to purchase the
option did come up suddenly, and the board felt it could be a valuable
piece of land for the town to own.
Paige noted the land has not been ruled out for the Town Hall project.
He also said it was a crucial parcel to fixing the Richmond Street/Park
Street/Elmore Street/Copley Avenue intersection, which he called "a
mess." In addition, Paige said the school was going to lose its parking
privileges behind the Advent Christian Church, once that property is sold.
"We decided it would be advantageous to put our foot in the door," said
Paige. "It seemed to us as if it was going to shut."
When asked by Tomlinson why the town did not consider purchasing the
church, which was also considered in the Town Hall site selection
process, Selectman Brian Kellogg said there were significant repairs
needed to the building. He said the selection committee did not consider
the church to be a viable structure to be renovated into a town hall.
Board members also noted the selectboard could not purchase any property
without voter approval. Kellogg said securing the option to buy the Cole
property did not mean voters will have to approve the purchase on Town
Meeting Day. It would mean, he noted, forfeiting the $10,000 deposit.
Selectman Shaun Bryer added, "We thought, in the long run, that securing
the property was good for the community."
Tomlinson praised the town for its survey asking for direction in the
town hall project. A joint project with the library, involving the Cole
property, passed on Town Meeting Day but failed to pass when a second
vote was called by petition. Tina Tomlinson called the survey "an
excellent idea" and asked what the town would be doing with the
information collected.
Paige said, once the surveys have been collected a committee will be
formed to analyze the information and decide on a new direction.
Tomlinson said she would like to be part of that committee. Paige said
he hoped other members of CREST would also continue to be involved in
the next steps of the project. Lowe said he believes any town hall
project would have to come in under $2 million to pass muster with the
voters.
Morristown residents have through the end of this month to complete the
town hall survey. Copies of the survey are available at the Town Clerk's
office and area businesses. The survey can also be downloaded from
www.morristownvt.org. Zoning Administrator Mark Leonard said they have
had a good response rate on the survey thus far.