CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Town and school officials are looking to price out replacement of the school roof in preparation for a possible debt exclusion vote. 

 

A joint meeting of the Select Board and School Committee earlier this month agreed that something needed to be done about the roof — and sooner rather than later. 

 

As water dripped through a classroom ceiling into buckets, the boards broached the possibility of taking out a loan rather than waiting years on the Massachusetts School Building Authority's accelerated repair program. 

 

At its meeting last week, the Select Board determined to put out a request for proposals to get an idea of how much it would cost.

 

"We need to come to a definitive moment here with the school because it's been five, six years that nothing's been done because no one wants to make a decision," said Town Administrator Ronald Boucher at Wednesday's meeting. "But we have to do something for that roof. We can't just leave it like that."

 

The next day, a request for proposals was issued for replacing the 25,000 square-foot roof with new roofing materials, R-30 rigid insulation and rails for future solar panels. A site visit is set for Feb. 13 and the deadline for proposals is March 6. 

 

The RFP can be found on the town's website.

 

While the roof replacement is a priority, officials are still grappling with the long-term future of the school. Boucher noted it needs more than a roof — there's electrical issues, asbestos and inaccessible bathrooms, for a start. 

 

The potential of a new building or renovation has been discussed, but the town rejected a school building project eight years ago and the MSBA has determined the school no longer conforms with modern educational needs. Plus, the number of local children enrolled has grown, putting pressure on classroom space. The school district is also involved in a regional study that could offer other options.

 

Boucher advocated for a vote to determine whether the townspeople want to invest in a long-term project. 

 

Board member Colton Andrews agreed: "Lay everything out and see where the chips fall."

 

In the meantime, the board will continue discussing a loan similar to that taken out to make infrastructure and school repairs some years ago.

 

In other business, 

 

• Agricultural Commissioners Martha Tanner and Trish Wilson informed the board the commission recommending Clarksburg as a Farmland of Local Importance through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

 

Tanner explained that town has prime farmland soils and land conserved through the state's Chapter 61 laws which include forest, agriculture and open space and recreation.

 

"In our town we have a pretty good amount of [Chapter] 61 properties," said Tanner. "They're really valuable. They definitely add a lot of value to our properties, to all of our properties."

 

Some 559 acres are managed through the state, there's 64 acres under an Agricultural Preservation Restriction on Wood Road, the old North Adams Country Club is in a private trust connected to an APR, and Many Forks Farm on River Road has 20 acres in an agricultural covenant.

 

"Considering about half our town is owned by the state, another 10 percent is agriculture," she said. "So I think it's important we're doing things to protect it."

 

They also asked about hosting agricultural talks at Town Hall after being told they could not use the Community Center. Boucher said they should be able to use the center and would look into it; the library was also suggested as a space. 

 

• New Animal Control Officer Diana Worth asked for identification, such as a sweat shirt and business cards, to alert residents to her office. She also asked the board to decide on a veterinarian to use in cases of injured or neglected pets. 

 

• Town Treasurer Kelly Haskins updated the board on some OPEB, or "other post-employment benefits," issues including if they would be putting funds for that in the budget. This has been questioned in the town's audits. She also said she was speaking with Adelson & Co. about the annual audit. 

 

• Boucher reported that fiscal 2024 should be closed out within three weeks but that he did not anticipate any significant free cash.