Town Building To Be Torn Down

Town Building To Be Torn Down
Former clerk's office lot to be a park

TGN file photo by ERYN DION Carol Harris, the town clerk recently moved from this building to the new Town Hall in East Templeton.

TGN file photo by ERYN DION The old Town Hall in Baldwinville is in rough shape.The back of the building is falling apart and looks unsound.

Rebecca Leonard


News Correspondent

TEMPLETON  The old town clerk’s office at 4 Elm St. will be demolished and as far as selectmen are concerned, it should be done as soon as possible but there are still details that need to be fine-tuned first.

“There is no doubt that there is soil contamination and environmental issues,” expressed interim Town Administrator Bob Markel at a meeting this week.

Officials said the contamination may be manageable as it is thought to be mainly motor oil from use of part of the property at one time by the Highway Department.

According to Mr. Markel, it’s going to cost quite a bit of money to redevelop and remediate the site.

It is unknown how much the demolition will cost but Holly Young, senior legal assistant to the Board of Selectmen, has already started looking for bids.

According to Mr. Markel, they are hoping to acquire “telephone bids,” meaning they will call potential companies and ask them to survey the job and submit their bid.

In compliance with Massachusetts state law, as long as the cost is under $25,000, said Mr. Markel, the town won’t have to advertise for the bids.

“Knocking down buildings is easy, it’s disposing of the materials that’s hard,”

he said. Mr. Markel explained that he intends to approach the Community Preservation Committee for funds to demolish the old building after receiving an appropriate bid.

The building, which is believed to be built in 1900, played many different roles in its lifetime. During its time, it was a post office, town hall, and in 2003, an office for the superintendent. The building behind the main portion was used as a garage for the Highway Department for a time.

“The offices are not in a dangerous condition, however the building behind is in very poor condition – it’s falling down,” explained Mr. Markel.

Selectmen agreed with Mr. Markel that the building should be demolished as soon as possible. Although the building will still have an alarm connected to the police station, it will remain vacant.

Selectmen Vice Chairwoman Diane Haley Brooks expressed that she believed that the building should be taken down soon because they will have to continue to pay electricity and other utility bills. She also stated that with an empty building it will become a “possible free-for-all for people that shouldn’t be there.”

The plan after demolition would be to loam the area, plant grass and to clear some brush to make it a grassy park area with access to Otter River, which flows right beside the lot, in downtown Baldwinville.

“I think it would be a great green area for people who work and live in that area of the town and it’s the best possible use for the space,” said Mr. Markel.

Ms. Brooks although in favor of the park plan, voiced concerns about liabilities with access to the river.

According to Mr. Markel, that part of the river is fairly shallow, but he stated at the meeting he could seek further legal counsel on what the town would be responsible for.

“I’d like to get this done before the snow,” said Mr. Markel, “we can hopefully get some planting done.”