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Go to Plan B

The Board of Selectmen (BOS) needs to scrap turning Academy into a community center. Arguments for a new community center seem to hinge on the need for an auditorium and space for community activities. The Polson Middle School's auditorium is being renovated and should be available for town use. Or has anyone asked the local movie theater to accommodate us for some form of quid pro quo? Scranton Library has amazing space for all kinds of community activities, including a maker space, children's area, meeting rooms, etc.

Not only would a new community center duplicate existing space and activities, but it will also compete for taxpayer money as well as the community's largesse. The Town provides slightly more than the 75% of the $2 million needed to operate the library each year. The rest of the money, $462,000, needs to be raised from contributions and donations—a significant challenge. What would a community center require from the Town and the generosity of the community?

Almost $1 million has been spent on consultants and architects on what to do with the building—now we're being asked to vote on a referendum for an additional almost $4 million. Who is to say that's the end of it? The original estimates did not include asbestos removal, and now labor costs are up 21% since the 2022 vote, and many building materials are up 50%. It's a shame that the building has been empty for the last 20 years instead of producing tax revenues.

We urge the BOS to go to plan B: sell the property to a developer to create something that will add to our grand list and use the sale proceeds to fund other capital programs or pay down debt. We need a revote on the issue and not in February.

Mary Farrell

Susan Geisenheimer

Sara Greenwood

Madison