ROCKPORT — Selectmen want voters' permission to acquire the Granite Savings Bank building for "general municipal uses."
But the controversial proposal approved Tuesday night disappointed Council on Aging officials who have repeatedly urged selectmen to seek permission from voters to acquire the building for specific use as a senior center.
The selectmen's proposal, which does not include a price offer from the bank in its current draft form, will appear on the fall Town Meeting warrant as Article I. A monetary amount is not needed for an article to be placed on the warrant, but will be needed when a motion is made on such an article at Town Meeting.
The bank building, at 26 Broadway next door to Town Hall, is seen by some as a viable spot for a senior center and by others for other municipal uses, such as additional office space for Town Hall. Though the Council on Aging has repeatedly requested selectmen's support in acquiring the bank for a senior center, selectmen have been careful not to commit the building to a specific use. Selectmen are quick to remind Council on Aging officials that the Community House's second floor should also be investigated as a viable location.
"We were the ones to bring (the issue) forward and (the article) should've been (for use) as a senior center; if they had other ideas, they had not been discussed," Council on Aging Director Diane Bertolino said yesterday. "Voters could've decided if the article was worded 'for use as a senior center.' Now, there will be a big fight at Town Meeting and it will alienate a lot of people."
Roughly three dozen people attended the selectmen's meeting Tuesday, with several voicing support for the Council on Aging's preference for using the bank building as a senior center. Currently, the "senior center" is housed in one moderately-sized room in the High School Apartments building — even though Rockport has roughly 2,200 seniors, according to Council on Aging figures.
Selectmen Chairman Sarah Wilkinson said she and her colleagues made a commitment to start negotiations with Granite Savings Bank to buy the building, despite not yet knowing how it would be used.
"It makes sense for the town to try to acquire the building," Wilkinson said. "We have been in communication with the Granite Savings Bank, lots of it is confidential, not by our choice, but because the bank wants it to be. We need to now focus really hard on working with the Building Study Committee, Finance Committee, Council on Aging and others to see what the best use is for the building."
Two sources close to the negotiations confirmed yesterday that the bank has offered a price to the town. According to state law, no land can be purchased for any municipal purpose by any city or town for a price more than 25 percent in excess of its average assessed valuation during the previous three years. The building is currently assessed at $912,500.
Selectman Ellen Canavan said yesterday that the proposed use for the building will undoubtedly make a "big difference" to Town Meeting.
Finance Committee member June Michaels agreed with Canavan.
"If people vote to buy (the bank building) with an understanding it's for one use, but then it's used for something else, people will be upset," she said.
Prior to selectmen's vote to close the warrant, Canavan moved to include a second article asking to allow selectmen to buy the bank building for use as a senior center. However, the motion died after failing to receive a second.
Selectman Charles Clark said the article's wording, to use the building for "general municipal uses," allows for any municipal use, including a senior center, and therefore a second article was unnecessary.
"I know it's a popular thing to do, but I have obligations to everyone," Clark said to Canavan. "This (current article) will provoke the discussion the community wants on the bank building."
Selectmen voted to close the 13-article fall Town Meeting warrant, 3-1, with Canavan casting the lone dissenting vote. Selectman Andrew Heinz was not at the meeting.
On Monday, Aparo has said he would "love to see the bank purchased for the Council on Aging," but decided not to second Canavan's motion for a second bank building article on Tuesday. That sent a mixed message to seniors, according to Bertolino.
"When it came time to vote, he didn't vote for it," Bertolino said. "Ellen Canavan is working for the seniors of the town."
After the meeting adjourned, Aparo said he didn't second Canavan's motion because the issue is up to the voters to decide, not him. Fall Town Meeting is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 8, at 7 p.m.
Jonathan L'Ecuyer can be reached at jlecuyer@gloucestertimes.com.
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