Council Gives Supporters Four Months to Save Elmhurst Chapel

The Portsmouth Town Council met Monday evening. The following is an account of actions taken during the meeting in Portsmouth. 

7 p.m. - Meeting opens. Council approves various licenses, sitting as Board of License Commissioners. 

7:04 - Only five councilors are present. [Correction] John F. Blaess and Keith E. Hamilton are absent. 

7:05 - Council president reports votes from executive meetings on May 13 and 14. The council approved the firefighters' union contract, Jim Seveney said. 

7:07 - The provisional budget will be posted on the town's Web site on May 29, Town Administrator John Klimm said. 

7:08 - Council appoints a member to Harbor Commission and Prudence Island Planning Commission. 

7:08 - The 375th Portsmouth Anniversary Committee provides an update on their .

7:10 - Every member of the delegation paid for the trip out of their own funds. No town funds or 375th Anniversary Committee funds were used. 

7:11 - Doug Smith spoke about several 375th initiatives, including a Portsmouth High School art education partnership with Portsmouth, England, which might begin this summer. 

7:13 - "There seems to be a pub on every corner," Smith said about the trip to Portsmouth, England. 

7:14 - Smith shows photos from the 375th England trip, including visits to the St. Thomas Cathedral. To see a video from the trip, click here. 

7:19 - Councilor Liz Pedro showed off a wooden plaque of the Portsmouth, England, town seal, which was given to the town of Portsmouth, RI, to display at Portsmouth Town Hall. 

7:22 - "It was a great trip," Smith said. "What made it a great trip? It was the hospitality. It was the friendship. It was the people being nice to us...They treated us like family." 

7:30 - Councilor David Gleason talks about the demolition of Elmhurst School and Chapel. The town has received a bid to demolish the Elmhurst property for $431,000. "I know it's an emotional decision," Gleason said. 

7:32 - Seveney asks about terms and conditions. Finance Director David Faucher talks about details. He says the lowest bid was $431,000. Faucher said, with keeping the chapel, the town could save an estimated $78,040. 

7:46 - Glen Manor manager and Richard Wimpress speak about demolishing the Elmhurst Chapel. 

7:49 - The Glen Manor received a profit of $450,000 in the last two years. Opponents to demolishing the chapel say that profit could increase if the building was saved. 

8 p.m. - Andrew Kelly, Portsmouth School Committee member, talks about creating a fund to save the Elmhurst Chapel. 

8:14 - Several supporters of the Elmhurst Chapel speak at the podium. 

8:21 - "Unless someone can show me the numbers that make sense, I don't think it's a wise idea to keep the chapel," Gleason says.  

8:25 - "This is putting the cart before the horse. I really would have liked to have talked about an item in executive session first," Pedro said. 

8:28 - "I'm in full support of a revenue-generating entity like the Glen Manor House. I like ideas, but they don't generate revenue," Buddemeyer says. "That entire site needs to come down." 

8:31 - Councilor Molly Magee also makes statements about protecting Glen Manor House, not keeping chapel. 

8:34 - Seveney says residents should come up with idea for Elmhurst Chapel and appear before Portsmouth Town Council to change contract. "I think motion would be along the lines of authorizing the town staff to make a contract," says Seveney. 

8:35 - Gleason motions for "town staff to make contract... for demolition with Elmhurst School proper with adjustment for chapel and music room, separate change orders, with that option," Gleason said.

8:40 - The motion includes accepting contract to demolish Elmhurst School property, with potential change order; provide four-month window before demolishing Elmhurst Chapel and music room for public to come forward; and order the Glen Manor to provide storage for items. 

8:41 - Former Portsmouth Town Council President Joe Robicheau suggests motion include business plan for chapel. 

8:42 - Council votes 5-0 to approve motion and accept contract to demolish Elmhurst School property. 

8:49 - "We can start the major demolition of the property and revisit this in a month," Seveney said about demolishing the Elmhurst School. 

8:57 - Council hears request to hire part-time recycling educator. 

9:17 - Council approves recycling program proposal. 

9:17 - Council hears zoning issue in regards to Lot 8, Map 30. The owner of the property is Regal LLC, according to agenda. 

9:27 - The building inspector says there's a "possible violation." "I haven't had time to investigate it," said George Medeiros, who said the owner is East Coast Construction. "I think this could get resolved without the municipal court," Medeiros said. 

9:50 - Residents speak at podium, stating construction is taking place at sight. Medeiros says he has not seen construction performed on site. 

9:59 - Council approves new fees for Planning Board. 

10:04 - Council approves contract for Transfer Station operation. The council tabled a discussion on a security contract for the Transfer Station. 

10:09 - Council enters executive session.