Tiverton Council Moves Forward With Sale Of Ranger School, Tables Nonquit
The Tiverton Town Council voted to draw up a purchase and sales agreement for the Ranger School building and tabled further discussion on the sale of the old Nonquit School at its Tuesday night meeting.
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Dozens of residents weighed in on the sale of two of Tiverton's closed-down school buildings during Tuesday's meeting, where the Town Council voted to move forward with the sale of the Ranger building and tabled discussions on the Nonquit school.
The Ranger School, which received just a single offer during a sealed-bid process earlier this year, will likely be sold to Property Assessor's LLC, a company owned by Tiverton resident John A. Pagliarini, Jr.
"There are many problems with that one as to renovation," said the town's realtor, Matt Hadfield. " It is extremely expensive and having a Class A office space there is not desirable. The only way is to knock it down - to do that turns out to be a lot more expensive than anybody thought."
Pagliarini submitted a bid for $25,750 for the Stafford Road property. In an interview earlier this month, Pagliarini said he planned to demolish the entire building because of the cost of asbestos mitigation. He plans to convert the property into a commercial enterprise of some kind.
"I say we take the money," said Joseph Sousa, Tiverton resident. "Sell it."
The school currently costs the town about $2,800 to $3,000 annually, according to Town Manager James Goncalo.
In a 4-0 vote at the end of the more than four-hour meeting, council members showed they agreed with Sousa as they authorized the town solicitor to draw up and purchase and sales agreement for final vote at the council's next meeting. Councilman David Nelson was not present for the vote.
The Nonquit School, with two offers, warranted more consideration and the council decided to table a decision until after further discussion on the pros and cons of each proposition.
A group of Tiverton citizens would like to see the building converted into a privately managed community center deemed The Nonquit Center and offered a bid of $40,000 for the property.
James Lima, a Neck Road resident and partner of the Nonquit Center proposition, said a 501c3 nonprofit group would manage the building and its activites, bringing a focus to Tiverton's cultural traditions and heritage.
"We believe, without knowing per se what the programs for the Nonquit Center would be, that it must remain a place for people to come together to learn, to play, to discover," said Lima.
Operated as a nonprofit entity, Lima said the group would be exempt from paying property taxes. Lima said The Nonquit Center would be prepared to enter into a pilot agreement with the town to minimize revenue losses.
The second proposal, by Little Compton resident Denise Fleurant for $51,000, would transform the property into a mixed-use elderly facility that would combine a single-family residence with a senior country daycare/cognitive rehabilitation center.
Residents mostly spoke out in support of The Nonquit Center proposal.
"We want to keep this something that belongs to everyone," said an 8 Rod Way resident.
Other residents worried The Nonquit Center was not financially prepared to renovate the building and prepare for operations.
"I have heard nothing as to the actual money that will be available to open the building back up again," said Sousa. "I think it is going to be very expensive to do that. I think the second proposal probably has a better chance of getting financing to do that. I would like to see it be a community center and see things like a farmers market, perhaps a community kitchen, and they do have merit, but I'm not for a proposal that is going to come forward without any money it needs."
Dan D
12:11 pm on Saturday, August 18, 2012
a tale of two Joes. Here, in this article, we have the intelligent and articulate Joe Souza, making perfect sense on all fronts...
My only issues with selling the lots for this cheap is the actual value of the land itself is far far more than either bid. I realize that a mitigating factor is renovation or removal of the buildings, but if a person wanted to buy a 1 acre lot in tiverton of prime real estate with 3,000 trees on it which would need to be removed, how much with that cost? $100,000? trees still need to be removed. I think the $25k for the ranger school is probably about right simply because of what will probably be outlandish cleanup and removal costs. But Nonquit... I cannot see how we could take less than the $51,000 bid, no matter what the use is for. That is a bargain and a half.
Rug Doctor
12:10 pm on Saturday, August 18, 2012
Mr. Lima wants a free building with free land and not pay taxes.... I want to move to the world he is living in!!!!! This is just another way for Weir and Silveira to change zoning down at Four Corners without Mr. Spencer.
Joe Sousa.
12:10 pm on Saturday, August 18, 2012
The voters said twice to sell the schools. Why do we not understand that. The Dr who made the offer said she would live there and use the rest as a rehabilitation center. That portion of the offer would have to go through zoning and there was no guaranty she would get approval. Either way she intended to live there which is an acceptable use. This School has been broken into several times now. If a child was hurt there we face million dollar law suits. We are paying high insurance rates on it because it is vacant. When the voters said sell it they meant sell it..
Jim L
12:10 pm on Saturday, August 18, 2012
As long as their sold i don't care what they are, put them on the taxroles instead sucking up money for maintance
David Robert
12:10 pm on Saturday, August 18, 2012
Being a non-profit doesn't make you tax exempt.
KSilvia
12:10 pm on Saturday, August 18, 2012
Agree that we should just get rid of Ranger, but I frankly I don't follow the logic for not selling the other as well. I think the posters on here were correct in saying that both building are a liability and both need to be disposed of to someone who can pay taxes. The voters made no distinction when they said to sell them- the Council shouldn't either. You have two offers, pick one.
Gloria Crist
12:17 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
I listened to the proposals and the public feedback-glad to hear the council did not jump so quickly on the sale of Nonquit. I think indeed there is so much more that should be learned from the two entities vying for the building. And like others, I feel strongly Nonquit should remain tribal and historic and NOT sold for a sloppy $40,000. And Ranger? I shutter to think the council took the advice of Joe Sousa-I just wish the town would have fared better in the sell and not the realtor. When questioned on this-I was told the commission( $20,000) reflected the agreed upon decision of equating this to the sale of a $400,00 house. Which we all know Ranger is not. I hope the new owner turns the building into something legit that will benefit the town in some way. And as a side note: Maybe those interested in the "Nonquit Center" should put their energy and generated funds into making the FOUR CORNERS ARTS AND EDUCATION CENTER more user friendly and accessible to everyone- I mean, it IS already there. We have the growing success of Sandywoods( attracting a very large east bay crowd!) and the promise of our new library( which is NOT, as stated in debate,half way to Westport) and there is also the growing success of Sakonnet Farms. Someone please tell Joe Sousa we have a farmers market with "canned goods" if he wants to venture to Four Corners on any given Saturday morning. Let's promote what is already doing well in our community and support them-leave Nonquit alone.
Dan D
12:10 pm on Saturday, August 18, 2012
the farm market is awesome Gloria, and on Sundays, many farmers set up in the Flea Market too.
Tiverton Dad
12:10 pm on Saturday, August 18, 2012
Joe said, "I say we take the money."
Is that the new TCC motto?
BD
12:06 pm on Sunday, August 19, 2012
Was there ever any other motto with these people?
Brian Medeiros
12:10 pm on Saturday, August 18, 2012
So let me see if I have this correct: our Town Council agreed to pay a $20,000 realtor commission, on a property sold for $25,000. Can't you just FEEL the fiscal responsibility? And for the record, despite repeated claims that "the people told us to sell these schools", the fact is that the FTM voters voted to "authorize" the Town Council to sell them. That vote did NOT "demand" or "direct" that the schools be sold, and certainly not with a realtor commission that will leave us a whopping $5000 from the sale. Stop them before they sell anything else & we end up owing money on the deal.
KSilvia
12:06 pm on Sunday, August 19, 2012
Brian. I can only speak for myself and the people I knew, but our intention was for them to be sold.
Agree about the broker deal.
Brian Medeiros
11:56 pm on Sunday, August 19, 2012
KSilvia: I think most people want to see them sold rather than sit there empty, myself included, at the best deal possible for the town. I just wanted to make sure people know that the vote taken at the FTM was to "authorize" the TC to sell them without further voter approval, not some demand to do so immediately or no matter what. Some people have been saying the Council didn't do what voters voted for, & that's not the case. Once something's sold it's gone for good, so there's a responsibility to make very sure it's the bets deal possible. The then-Council did the proper thing in forming a committee to study options, & this Council did the proper thing in seeking bids. But the broker deal makes no sense.
Joe Sousa.
11:55 pm on Sunday, August 19, 2012
Another clueless comment from an uninformed blabber .
george medeiros
12:06 pm on Sunday, August 19, 2012
the new library should go where the ranger school is now
Jim L
12:06 pm on Sunday, August 19, 2012
Brilliant MR Mederios Lets not sell them at all, we can just keep spending $10.000.00 dollars a year just to keep them heated and secure and your comment we end up oweing money on the deal agian shows grear maturity why if they aren't sold you fault the tcc for not selling them great thinking, now go into one of your name calling, tale telling story tales of how you did everything first, the one above this reply was pretty good sell a school and owe money!! outstanding
Brian Medeiros
11:56 pm on Sunday, August 19, 2012
Jim: Yet one more subject you rant about, but know nothing about. Not only am I in favor of selling the schools, when I was on the Council in 2008, we urged the School Dept to turn over those buildings to the town to start the process (guess you weren't paying attention then either). I know it bothers you when explain to you the many things that some of us actually DID to help Tiverton rather than just rant about them years later, but facts are stubborn things. I'm glad the last Council formed a committee to study options, & this Council put out for bids. But the absurdity of promising a $20,000 commission on a property where the high bid was $25,000 is something a 5-year-old can understand. For those who preach "fiscal responsibility" to keep wasting taxpayer money like this doesn't do much for their credibility.
oldandtired
3:03 pm on Sunday, August 19, 2012
Broker deal sucked. Sell Nonquit. Period.
Jim L
2:30 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
YEs, put it on the tax roles
Concerned citizen
11:55 pm on Sunday, August 19, 2012
Sell both they are eyesores and money pits to the taxpayers. But..... Can we work on the fiscal responsibility and expectation of sales of town parcels 20 grand commission. Really???
Jim L
2:30 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
Well anyone stept up and tell us how you would do it better Briain you explain to all of us just what the broker did to earn this commision?how much was spent on advertsting etc would you have us keep the schools and blow more tax money keeping them heated? If the broker had gotten $200,00.00 you still be whining, That building is worth NOTHING till it is torn down< Heres an idea for you? why don't you follow all that was done? how many folks bid/ etc/
Jim L
2:30 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
Any thiing that happens good or bad in this town is always bad to you Brian isn't it ?Anything the Council does on anything is no good Even tho they were elected by thev majority of voters in this town?you just couldn't stand that can you? when yourside losses an election you are suppose to act polite and either support or not support what they do, not call them names, smear them, make fun of them, or at least that's the way i was raised, so why do you continue to act as you do? you think that helps anyone? now about those abatements, how does it go?
Nonquit neighbor
6:26 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Isn't flueraunt married to the ex Dr Marvell whom said the ri board of health was witch hunting him somehow I see this turning into another pill popping center but now for elderly
Didn't she just buy rose land acres too