News
Moving
In to Pennell
By Elizabeth Prata
Gray--The Town of Gray and the MSAD #15 officials
are discussing abandoning their respective offices
and moving in together in the old Pennell Institute
building. Pennell is a building in the middle of Gray
that was built in the late 1880s and has been owned
by the Town of Gray, then the MSAD.
During its ownership as a MSAD building, it has been
allowed to come into disrepair, and the MSAD decided
it can no longer afford to maintain it. They will
formally abandon the building, and possibly offer
it back to the Town of Gray, although this has not
been decided. The citizens have not voted.
If the Town and MSAD 15 move in together into Pennell
Institute, it would leave empty the current MSAD 15
offices on Shaker Road, the current Town offices on
Shaker Road, and put into question the use of the
old Post office building, purchased by the town in
2002. No plans have come forth as to what the town
or School Department would do with those buildings.
No plans have come forth as to the use of the Pennell
Lab, adjacent to the Institute. No plans have been
discussed as to the capital improvements scheduled
for Stimson Hall, the Town's historic meeting house.
There have not been investigations as to the level
of abatement necessary for lead or asbestos in the
old building, nor investigations into the condition
of the foundation or roof. Renovations have been reported
to potentailly cost as much as 2 million dolalrs in
order tobring the building upto code and abatements
completed.
Nonetheless, the Town and MSAD are generating a lease
arrangement, and getting specific about who shares
how much space and which entity gets to use the copier.
Excerpted elements of the proposed lease arrangement
are below.
Proposed Elements Lease Arrangement
Town of Gray and MSAD#15
Subject to change, the resolution of outstanding trust,
legal issues and subject to standard long term lease
terms.
Term: Up to 25 Years
Description of Indoor Facilities: Town, MSAD Common
Areas
Sharing of Operating Costs: Pro Rata -Based upon #8,332
sf of main floor space:
Town - 54%….#4,511.80
MSAD - 46%...#3,820.01
Actual cost and monthly lease payment to be determined
Operating Cost Categories: Heat-Oil, Cleaning, Electricity
Insurance-General Liability, Property, Fire, Septic,
Refuse, Pest Control Inspections, HVAC Energy Contract,
Bi annual carpet cleaning, Major maintenance and repair
items
Shared Features: Central copier and fax based upon
metering and use records, Postage meter, Common phone
line in central support area for fax, Conference room
furniture, Electronic data wiring throughout the building,
Possibility of CATV infrastructure.
Elements Not Covered by Lease: Lease Hold Improvements
by tenant's including but not limited to wall surfaces
and finishing, trim, flooring surfaces, interior partitions,
furniture, office equipment except for the central
support area and other electronic and office items.
Lease Payments: Paid in advance by the first of each
month to the Town of Gray Annual increase to be based
upon the CPI as reported by the Department of Labor
for the North East, Schedule C for December of each
year.
Termination:
A) By written notification from the Town of Gray no
later than July 1 of the lease year for the effective
date of July 1 following.
B) By written notification from the Town of Gray no
later than July 1 for the effective date of July 1
following. The Town of Gray may, at its sole discretion
waive the July 1 notification date in A above. (now
a bilateral two year notice from either party to the
other) The Town of Gray shall not be responsible for
any MSAD incurred debt for the lease of or expansion
of the leased premises.
Regardless of the cause for termination, if the Town
of Gray had financed any leased improvements for the
MSAD, the amount of principle and interest outstanding
for the MSAD share shall be deducted from any payments
that may be due the MSAD by the Town. If no payments
by the Town are due (A above) then the amount of MSAD
shared debt service due shall be paid to the Town
of Gray one month before the effective date of termination
when the MSAD vacates the leased premises. The parties
may agree to provide for annual invoicing to the MSAD
by the Town for any payments due above.
