Warren Connecticut

As curator of the Warren Historical Collection housed at the Academy, I wish to thank Anna Ponder and Charles Katan who generously donated their mother, Rose Breen’s, photograph album of the Brick School during her first years teaching there and her lesson plan book.

Both items have been accessed to our collection and are available for inspection by appointment.

Building Committee Meeting Dec. 8  by Marion Smith
The Warren Building Committee met on December 8  with Clifford Cooper, Architect present, to continue discussions of renovations/additions/new structures required to meet present and future needs and codes.

Nancy Scofield opened the meeting by recapping the thrust of the previous meeting consensus: that the committee was charged with addressing:
-space/storage needs for present and future
-recreation space
-two options for consideration by the citizens  to be presented by  the architect
-proceed with all due speed

Nancy referred to the last meeting discussion of the Academy building and it was decided that code requirements could be met and cost absorbed by the Town.  Further, any work on the library will be deferred for the moment.  The RFP was reviewed and judged thorough as far as the needs/space concerns, but not thorough enough in the written estimates and no second option was presented.

The town has two requirements: Town Hall (TH) and Recreation/Community space (RC).

At next Town Meeting what should the committee present?
1. Renovate Town Hall  as Town Hall and build Separate RC.
2. Renovate Town Hall as a Community Center. and build new Town Hall.
3. Addition at south end of Town Hall for offices.
4. Addition at north end of Town Hall for offices.

Jack Travers will check to see if there is any money available for new construction.

Cooper told the committee that new construction costs are lower than renovation costs. To renovate may cost more than $200 per square foot. To build new may costs between $160 and $200 per square foot.

There was general discussion on new construction: It could be located north or south of current Town Hall or on ball field.  Between Town Hall and Fire house (south) might not be popular.  It could be more expensive to build south of the town hall than north.  Without a bump- out into parking area on east (except for kitchen hood) parking spots on that side (east) would not be lost. Without the bump- out the town hall building still has 7500 sq ft for a Community Center/recreation space and offices for P&R and that will reduce space needs of the new town hall..  As a Community Center, the current town hall will also have kitchen and space for required emergency shelter.  It already has a functioning generator.

Nancy redirected discussion to pro and cons of a separate new office building.  The major, overriding pro is that the current office space will not be disrupted during construction of a new office building.  Such a disruption would require a large outlay of money for trailers to accommodate town functions during renovation.  Renovation typically has a less certain completion date than new construction.  Separate new TOWN HALL means less work would be needed on the current TOWN HALL.  Cooper was  questioned on 2 vs. 3 story office building and size of footprint: smaller area usually means smaller cost.

Cindy raised question of additional overhead for two separate buildings with the new Community Ctr. (current TH) underutilized. Nancy stated that the current practice of holding scout meetings in the Academy is not satisfactory. Jack said that the downstairs area is now used daily. Joe indicated that if you improve the space you will improve the usage.  Jim said that there will be more use if the building is designated as the Community Ctr. A participant indicated that the Town Clerk et al.’s office space (the 1974 addition) will be razed, removing the need for dealing with leakage problems and structural problems with that space.  The increase in population will mean increased demand for Community/ Rec. space.  Nancy indicated that school programs requiring an auditorium should be held at WAMAGO now and in future. The town should not be concerned about providing auditorium or large meeting space for the school since that is the responsibility of the school district.

Pros and Cons of building new office space:

Pros                                Cons
Added maintenance cost
Lower cost to build                            Location
No disruption of Town offices
More emergency shelter space (existing auditorium space.
Generator is in place
Rec. offices in “old” TH
Don’t need to build with brick

To turn the current town hall into a Community Center the following would be needed:

?    Delete north end
?    Renovations minimal
?    Office for Parks and Recreation
?    Kitchen renovation
?    Upgrade existing facilities

At next Town Meeting two proposals will be presented:  the one presented already will be reviewed and new proposal with separate office building introduced.

The committee was polled for preference of two options:  voted 8-1 in favor of a separate town hall and community center.

Cooper interjected at this point that if there had been more talk at meetings of 2nd option he wouldn’t have spent so much time on one already presented.  If committee agrees to spend the entire $20,000 allotted, he will bring a second option with rough idea and cost to next town meeting.. He will also bring a visual presentation and cost of separate gym to supplement first (TOWN HALL renovation for offices) proposal. The committee agreed.

Nancy asked if the new gym would be full size gym or smaller?  Cooper responded that a steel building is the most cost effective. Not much higher cost for full size gym.

There was a brief discussion of financing:  STEEP grants are available for recreation/community center, but not for town halls.  ADA grants are available for renovation to comply with codes.  No more than $500,000 is available in one year for STEEP.

In Memory of  Arthur Lewis “Bob” Tanner   1909 - 2004

Remembering

The first time I saw Bob Tanner was in 1922.  He and his sister, Marge, were sitting on a high seat of a lumber wagon pulled by a matching pair of Clydesdales.  Bob and Marge’s parents had come to pay their respects to my mother who was terminally ill.  The children were told to stay on the wagon until they came out.
We six children asked them to come down and play with us.  We really wanted them to join us in the fun we were having.  Marge started to step down but  Bob said something to her and she sat back in the wagon.  We practically begged them to come and play but they were adamant.
I remember  that Bob was a slim, very blonde lad and his sister Marge was plump.
Many years later I asked Bob if he remembered the incident.  He said that he did but he wasn’t going to get down from the wagon and play with a bunch of  wild  indians.
——submitted by Connie Verbowens via the Warren Public Library —————

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