Questions Still Remain as to Fate of Historic Buildings

Representatives from The Cecil Group were on hand Tuesday evening at the regular Board of Selectmen’s meeting to present a draft version of a request for proposal (RFP) for further renovation, construction or other option for the Old Library and Josiah Smith Tavern and Barn.

Steven Cecil of the firm said the criteria listed was based on feedback the firm had received from town officials and residents in a series of meetings over the winter and spring.

The criteria is weighted so that some criterion have more weight than others. There are threshold criteria that must be met by any proposal put forward, and other criteria that isn’t necessary, but is weighted in terms of preference.

“We’re trying to come up with a weighted average that represents [the feedback] the best we can,” he said.

But some residents present at the meeting felt the criteria was missing an important element—historical preservation and bringing the community into the buildings in a way they aren't able to now.

Marisa Morra of the Historic Commission questioned what would happen to historical documents that are currently stored in the Old Library, and said it seemed public desire for some kind of historical center wasn’t being considered.

The Historic Commission may not be able to compete fiscally with a business or for-profit group, and isn’t sure how using part of the building would fit within a larger proposal, said Morra.

“It seems like some of the public stuff we heard bites the dust on this,” she said.

Cecil said that message had come through, but the louder message had been one of fiscal sustainability.

Resident George Bates said he agreed with Morra.

“There is a serious problem of the proper storage of town records—not just what the Historical Society has or the Historic Commission, but the town records,” he said.

In response to these questions about historical document storage, Town Manager Donna VanderClock said the library director has begun a project to clear out Town Hall and other town buildings of town documents and other ephemera, and will have a recommendation soon on what the best options would be for document storage and archiving.

Both selectmen present, Michael Harrity and Douglas Gillespie, said they were pleased with the proposal and only had a few minor changes they would suggest.

The selectmen and town manager are welcoming further comments from the public on the process. Residents can email townmanager@westonmass.org before July 15 with their thoughts. A copy of the proposal is available at right and on the town’s website.