Thursday, March 15, 2007 Older Editions

Manager wants to buy three parcels of downtown land

By Brian Messenger

The town hopes to increase parking spaces for users of the library and public safety center and expand the town yard. Pending Town Meeting approval, they could use the powers of eminent domain to do it.

Town Manager Buzz Stapczynski has sent a memorandum to selectmen revealing the town's interest in three individual parcels on Pearson Street, which runs between North Main and Essex streets near the safety center and Memorial Hall Library.

Informed the pieces of land - which in total equal just over a half acre - had been placed on the real estate market after the Annual Town Meeting warrant closed March 5, the selectmen might decide to include an article at a Special Town Meeting asking voters to approve buying the parcels.

The three properties are at 16, 18 and 37 Pearson St. Together, they are assessed at a total of $1.049 million for 2007, according to information provided by Stapczynski.

A Special Town Meeting is expected to occur during the second night of Annual Town Meeting, to vote on articles concerning a town youth center behind Doherty Middle School.

The town manager suggested using "friendly eminent domain," which would include an agreement with the property owners, to purchase the property instead of a 32B procurement proposal, which would prevent price negotiations.

"It's been my stated goal that if a property became available on Pearson Street that we give it serious, serious consideration," said Stapczynski at a meeting with selectmen and the Finance Committee on Monday, where he also expressed regret for not pursuing the former Friendly Ice Cream property, which abuts the safety center and was sold to Butler Bank for $1.4 million.

"I'd hate to miss another opportunity, as we already have in that area," said Finance Committee member Harold Wright.

"I think we should pursue it," said Selectman Brian Major. "Let's do the investigative work."

Stapczynski said he will have a report from the town engineer ready for the March 21 budget meeting that will outline how many parking spots could be added if the town acquired the 16 and 18 Pearson St properties.

"When anything's going on in that area ... where are they going to park?" asked Memorial Hall Library Director James Sutton.

Added Finance Committee Chairwoman Joanne Marden of the Safety Center, "It's a wonderful facility, but there's nowhere to park. This would free up the facility."

Stapczynski said if more parking was added on Pearson Street the town could hold public meetings at the safety center's conference room.

As for 36 Pearson St., Stapczynski said, "It would be parking initially, then once we start getting into the specifics of the town yard (expansion), that's what we'd use."

Stapczynski said the town could use the land for "additional build-out, storage, any number of functions."

"We've never had an adversarial eminent domain," said Stapczynski of prior town land purchases. "Where I'm coming from is that this is an opportunity that we need to work into the budget."

The cost to the town of buying the parcels would be spread out over 20 years, with the first year estimated at $280,000 and the payment being reduced to $150,000 by the 20th year, said Stapczynski.

"We're talking a lot of dollars. It's a pretty big request," said Selectman Chairman Alex Vispoli at Monday's meeting. "There's certainly a cost to it ... These opportunities don't come up. I think we have to jump at it."

"No question, there is some money involved," said Stapczynski on Tuesday. "However, in the '50s times weren't any better and the people who sat in my seat and the selectmen's seats and the Finance Committee and School Committee's seats made the tough decision to buy the Sanborn (Elementary School) property, the South (Elementary School) property, the Wood Hill (middle school) property. Times weren't any better then.

"I just can't let another opportunity like that pass us by," he said.