Sherman – A larger than usual crowd gathered for the Sherman Board of Selectmen’s (“BOS” or “Board”) regular monthly board meeting on Thursday, March 23, 2023, at Mallory Town Hall, and it is clear there is no consensus on the Sherman School Building Project.
Pam Bonner, Chair, Sherman School Building Committee (“SBC”), addressed the Board to inform it about a design scenario being put forth by the architects, which creates the availability of just over 6,000 sf that could be used by the Town for community use. At a recent Town Meeting, it was suggested that such space could be utilized for a new senior center. According to State guidelines, based on enrollment, the current building is too large for the population. Ms. Bonner stated the state mandates square footage based on enrollment. She clarified that the Town receives state reimbursement for the project only on qualified spaces. As such, the Town can choose to renovate the entire building – including the superfluous 6,000+ sf, but that extra space would not be qualified and therefore the costs associated with renovation of that space would not be considered in the reimbursement calculation.
Selectman Robert Ostrosky spoke, noting the need for an assessment of the community – are residents interested in a community center, or what could the space be used for if not a community center, how much would it cost the Town – before considering use of the space by the Town for the community at large. Selectman Joel Bruzinski jumped in, noting this was just one of a few scenarios put forth by the architect for use of the unneeded space.
Discussion between the Board and Ms. Bonner got tense, particularly when Mr. Lowe sought clarification of an earlier presentation by the SBC in which the elimination of space was discussed as well as the addition of classroom space and re-purposing of other space. In brief, Ms. Bonner explained the need to add classroom space while “getting rid of” too much space, which boils down to educational specifications from the Board of Education and State mandates. Despite the tension, Mr. Lowe expressed gratitude for the work of the SBC and reiterated that he wants success and wants a referendum on the project to pass, but he stated his belief that right now he does not believe a referendum will pass.
In an update of the SBC, Mr. Bruzinski said he has spoken to “a lot of folks, who have a lot of opinions,” this is potentially the largest project undertaken by the Town, at great cost to the taxpayers, and he is disheartened by community attendance of the meetings, which are both in-person and virtual, on Zoom. “It’s fine to have an opinion, but it’s better if it’s an informed opinion,” he said.
Public comment brought forth impassioned comments regarding the school project, including wording of services rendered or to be rendered by the architect, an ominous signal of things to come. Town Treasurer Eric Holub expressed concern over a contract item noted as “public engagement/referendum strategy,” noting “referendum strategy” (or lobbying) might be outside the scope of services approved by the Town. He also expressed concern that the time of the SBC meetings (6pm) might not be conducive for residents, especially those who work full-time.
Former Board of Education member Casey Diotte commented on dialogue from the recent SBC meeting regarding a suggestion by a committee member that “we” not look backward and only deal with what is today. “If there is anything that I’ve learned from my eight years of service to the Town, to the Board of Education, that it is actually a very critical mistake to make.” Ms. Diotte went on to say, “It is actually your due diligence to look backward and understand how you got to where you are currently. Especially, if you don’t like where you are because you don’t want to repeat the same problems of the past. I would just really urge everyone who looks at this … to really take a very strong look at the history of how we got here. The only thing worse than not solving this problem today is repeating the mistakes of what happened in the past.”
Responding to Mr. Bruzinski’s dismay over public attendance at SBC meetings, Rowland Hanley mentioned he has no idea when meetings occur because he does not have time to look (search) for that information, working numerous hours each week. “To Bob’s point, you have to try harder; you can’t assume that everybody is as interested in this stuff as you are, and even if they are, that they have the time and energy to go find out when these meetings are happening. You have a pretty poor track record.” Speaking more conceptually, Mr. Hanley went on, “The challenge with actual, literal participation from those of us who are interested, is that the scope of the building committee seems to have been, either intentional or not, wholly limited on building a new school or doing extensive renovations to the school. Some of us were hoping in the community that there would be a broader conversation about where this Town, not just necessarily the Board of Education or the school district, but where this Town wants to be in 5, 10, 20 years and where the school and public education fits into that vision and being able to make contextualized decisions and priorities around what we want to do there and have a built-in conversation around things like regionalization, like extending the school choice program to the middle school, like a virtual or hybrid arrangement for education.”
Tabled until a full Board was present, counsel for Jay and Lisa Neugarten spoke regarding a petition for the Town to discontinue an unused portion of Cedar Lane. Mr. Lowe provided some background noting at the end of Cedar Lane there is an unused portion of the road owned by the Town, but no longer utilized by it. The road separates two parcels, privately owned, upon which houses stand. Despite three benefits for the Town should it choose to discontinue its ownership of the road, as conveyed by counsel, the Board is not inclined to support the Town relinquishing ownership of the unused portion of the road or bringing to a Town Meeting such request. Specifically, Mr. Bruzinski does not like the precedent it would set, and feels such request does not serve the town at-large and therefore not within the purview of the Board’s responsibility of bringing to town meeting requests that serve the town at-large.
Although noting the Neugarten’s do not need the Board’s approval of their petition, it is simply a request that the Town support it, counsel suggested another solution – allowing the installation of a gate to prevent vehicles and other unwanted trespassers from trespassing over/across private property. Mr. Lowe expressed the Board’s willingness to hear and consider any proposal brought to it and noted a precedent for a gate as one was installed at/on an unused Town road between North and South Jericho Road. One resident from the Deer Run community asked that it be noted “on the record” that counsel and the BOS “have stated that the use of this piece of property by residents of, in my community, the Deer Run Shores community, that we’re committing an act of trespass, and I believe that would be relevant in the future if this comes up and we need to bring and adverse use lawsuit against the Town.”
In other news, acknowledging receipt of a second quote, Mr. Lowe indicated the Town would put out to bid a capital request from Parks and Recreation to fund repair of the lifeguard shed and the storage shed. Mr. Lowe brought forth a motion requesting permission to form a Building Committee for the Sherman Senior Center “project.” After a second by Mr. Ostrosky, the motion passed. Mr. Lowe mentioned the intent to hire Westchester Modular for preparation of site plans and renderings, the cost for which was recently approved by the Town from its capital non-recurring fund. Kris Fazzone presented the monthly report for Public Works. He also discussed the notion of replacing road signs with larger, easier to read signs. Look out for this to be a topic at future meetings. Without Chief Fuchs, there was no monthly report from the Sherman Volunteer Fire Department.
First Selectman Don Lowe called the meeting to order and the Board quickly dispensed with its administrative items. Meredith Kroeger was appointed to the Commission on Aging, replacing a recent retiree for the remainder of his term; and Megan Schaab was appointed Alternate Commissioner of the Inlands-Wetlands Committee for a two-year term.
The next Board of Selectmen meeting is scheduled for Thursday April 27, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. in Mallory Town Hall.
By Michelle L. Santoro