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When Options Collide
So many buildings, so little money

New Gloucester's perspective on Pennell

Jim Giffune is a former New Gloucester Selectmen and was appointed as New Gloucester's representative on the Pennell Ad Hoc Committee. Gray and New Gloucester from a School District and share costs educational assets through a State funding formula based on population. Gray currently pays about 66% of educational shares in SAD 15 and New Gloucester pays about 33%. Right: GIffune. The Monument: Prata photo

The Monument: Currently, the Town of Gray and the SAD owns several properties in the center of town, (SAD Central Office, Old Post Office, Town Office, Stimson Hall, Monument Park, Pennell Institute, Pennell Lab, Old Town Hall/Fire Station...) What is the New Gloucester's position on what the highest and best use for Pennell might be as the Town/SAD considers selling/reconfiguring it and the Central Office Building, both of which are partially 'owned' by New Gloucester taxpayers.

Giffune: Highest and best use... I have not thought of the issue in terms of highest and best...My thoughts were toward a suitable solution that would extend and continue the trust. Frankly the building (s) are of little interest to me as the cost of bringing them up to current code and standards of public safety are going to be quite considerable. The reality is the ruling by the Attorney General is the governing condition and the key condition in the stipulated judgment is Fair market value. So to me any arrangement that continues the trust and can pass a straight face test for fair market value is OK by me.

The Monument: How do you see the Pennell Building fitting into the discussion that Gray and the SAD are having about possibly sharing the building for use as offices?

Giffune: Since the offices that now house the SAD are terrible it is goes without saying that they need a new efficient office space. If the proposal follows the thought laid out at our last meeting. Gray gets the physical assets and has agreed in principal to the required renovation to bring them up to standard. They then will agree to a long-term lease to SAD 15 at a favorable rate this would in effect represent a continuation of the trust .As we all know the Devil is in the details .But given a reasonable amount of good will I'm certain that the ( fair market value) issue can be resolved.
In my view New Gloucester relieves itself of an asset of questionable value. and could get the badly needed office space for the SAD at no cost and assuming continued good faith a very favorable long term lease which would save us money as well.

The Monument: Have you any observations about this issue after having completed your tour of duty on the Ad Hoc Committee?

Giffune: [Interim Superintendent] Vicky Burns and [Town Manager] Mitch [Berkowitz] deserve credit for coming up with the suggested solution. I hope that it works out.

As to what Gray does with all those old buildings.........I will trust to their wisdom and will.