News

When Options Collide
So many buildings, so little money

Pennell Institute
By Pam Wilkinson, Chair of the Gray Town Council

Each of us has a fond memory that is attached to the Pennell Institute complex and if you don't, you only have to peer from Route 100 to realize that in today's market this architecture is sacred. The pages of history which range from its inception in 1884 to present is almost as thick as the history books we once were taught from within its walls. The poor building's ownership has been bounced from once entity to another over the years. As she sits "mothballed", having all the appearances of an orphan, she is now wondering who will take her, care for her.

This now leads us to the present wrangling of legalese. It isn't as simple as it used to be to do what is right and just. Transfer of property needs to pass a test that assures all parties are fairly treated. Left, Wilkinson. The Monument: Prata file photo

From 1884 to 1899 the foundation for the complex started with Henry Pennell's will conveying land and schoolhouse in a trust to support education in the Town of Gray, John and Mary Haskell conveying land for athletics, John Anderson conveying land and building for science (Anderson Lab Building).

In 1961 the Trust was transferred from the Town of Gray to S.A.D. 15. In 1982 S.A.D. 15 returned Newbegin Hall to the Town of Gray after paying for needed repairs. The SAD also transferred the maintenance building to the Town as a swap of facilities.

In April of 2003, a Pennell Ad Hoc committee met with representatives from Gray and New Gloucester to pursue the options for disposition of the Pennell property. During this time the SAD Facilities Committee was submitting information to the Attorney General asking for a determination for the disposition of the Pennell property. This transaction happened without notification to the Pennell Ad Hoc committee which was comprised some of the same people.

On June 13, 2003 the Superior Court issued a ruling which stated the SAD would be able to transfer the property for "fair market value." The information submitted to the Attorney General did not include the chronology that was part of the Ad Hoc committee's charge. The information that was submitted neglected to mention the fact that in 1963 the SAD had returned the former New Gloucester High School back to New Gloucester under the provisions of the Sinclair Act for $1.00.

In the best interest of all the citizens from each entity, and to save taxpayers from further legal expenses, it was [Gray Councilor] Richard Barter who suggested the SAD and Town of Gray share the use of the building and eliminate duplicated expenses.

To meet the "fair market value," the assets and/or trust would be handed back to the Town of Gray. In return, the value of the property, minus the necessary renovation,s coupled with a lease agreement of shared uses, would hopefully meet the intent of the Attorney General's decision in June of 2003.

This regional concept still has miles to go to develop hard data to make a sound decision. The Town of Gray has to provide a building where ALL people have access to ALL areas of town business.

Not all people are able to make it down the stairs in the current Town Office to the Tax Assessor, the Code Enforcement Officer or the Town Planner. We need to provide that.

We need to assess all the buildings the town owns and decide their future. Do we sell some of them? Do we forecast future needs and hold on to them so we are not faced with wishing we had not made a poor short term decision? Where do the people want THEIR town center?

If we do not act to keep the Pennell complex, are we going to be saying the same thing people in Portland say every time Union Station is mentioned? There is a price to pay to maintain historical value, are we willing to add that to the price of a new town office center?

In the next few months we are ready to do our homework and provide the data to the citizens so that they may send their message to Council as to whether the shared concept is a viable one.