Possible Life Again at Parker Memorial School

There could be new life at the old Parker Memorial School.

Last week, town officials said they hoped to relocate the Recreation Department to the rear of the school and use the roughly 14,000 square feet – including eight classrooms, bathroom facilities and the gymnasium – for office space, recreational programs and the preschool.

During a May 10^th meeting of the Town Council, Town Manager Steven Werbner said by making the space available before the summer it will provide a refuge for the town summer camp and address some of the town’s need for additional recreational space.

“It’s too good of a space to be just sitting there and the longer it sits the more damage created by moisture and other environmental concerns,” Werbner told council members.

To ready the space for use, some cosmetic work that must be done and support services, such as the water service and temperature units (oil tanks and air conditioning units) need to be either cleaned, upgraded or purchased. To this end, Werbner recommended transferring $30,000 from various accounts where money is available because of vacant positions or from when an employee was hired at a lower salary than anticipated, to cover the initial costs.

To complete all the cosmetic work necessary, Werbner said it would cost about $50,000 in total, including the initial $30,000 investment. He said the remaining $20,000 worth of work could be done gradually when there is either more funding available in the budget or from grants.

To pay for the first year's utilities cost, Werbner recommended using $25,000 from the town’s agreement with AT&T for an easement on town-owned land near the high school.

Council Chairman Frederick Daniels said although there will be an ongoing utility cost, leaving the building fallow could result in a greater cost to the community.

The council approved the department relocation and renovations pending a detailed agreement between the school board and the town, for the use of the building; the property is still under Board of Education control.

At its May 11^th meeting, Superintendent of Schools William Guzman once an agreement is developed it will be brought back to the two groups for consideration in the coming weeks.