24,000 sq ft Wastewater Treatment Plant built 1923, value $13 million
Last night the Amherst Select Board, after many years of asking, finally received a 65 page draft inventory report of all the buildings owned by the town.
Put together by Director of Facilities and Maintenance Ron Bohonowicz, the inventory catalogs when the building was constructed, recent renovations, total square footage, estimated value and a recommendation for future use.
One measurement that stimulated the most discussion was the "Mission Dependency Index," or how important/critical is a building to the town. Obviously Police and Fire scored high with 100 and 99 respectively (out of 100).
So did anything to do with water. And anyone who has ever watched Survivor knows water is your first priority.
22,480 sq ft Town Hall built 1889, value $6.5 million
But the Jones Library only measured a 50 and that left a bad taste in the mouths of our bookish Select Board. So they voted to have Mr. Bohonowicz scratch that measurement.
And the Select Board did show some concern that perhaps Mr. Bohonowicz crossed over into "policy" with some of his comments.
For instance he mentions the worst kept secret in town that if the current DPW building is abandoned for a new facility it would make a great location for the (too) L-O-N-G talked about new Fire Station.
Or under Recreation he states the Walmart quality Cherry Hill Golf Course Clubhouse, "Should be eliminated if there was to be any type of major renovation." At the Select Board meeting last night he called it "disposable." (Kind of like the golf course itself).
5,600 sq ft War Memorial Pool built 1960, value $243,000 (surrounding play area not so much)
The report is considered a "living document" and will be amended and upgraded over the years.