HADLEY — A nearly $1.24 million request to stabilize the former Russell School and prevent continued deterioration of the 1894 building is among four projects seeking Community Preservation Act money this spring.

The CPA Committee is reviewing proposals, which also includes a Historical Commission concept to tell the town’s history through signs, an audio driving tour and a walking tour of West Street, a Hadley Historical Society idea for preservation of needlepoint samplers and a Friends of Lake Warner request to begin a study for enhancing the North Hadley Pond.

The committee next meets Feb. 27 at 7 p.m., when Committee Chairwoman Mary Thayer said members are expected to finalize recommendations and a funding plan that would be presented to annual Town Meeting in May.

By far the largest request comes from the Russell School Committee, with support from the Municipal Building Committee.

Russell School Committee member Dan Regish said the vacant building at the corner of Route 9 and Middle Street, across from Town Hall, will need “some serious money” before more elaborate plans for its future can be undertaken.

“We really need to pay this building a little better respect,” Regish said.

The money would go toward fixes to the roof, foundation, retaining walls and brick. The work would draw upon recommendations from a Drummey Rosane Anderson Inc. report in 2019 and an Olde Mohawk Masonry & Historic Restoration Inc. report in 2013.

Before supporting such spending, CPA Committee member Andy Klepacki said residents might want to know the overall cost to restore the building, including whether there will be more significant investments in the coming years.

WHICH COMMITTEEE? Committee member Andy Morris Friedman noted that money has previously been appropriated by the town for restoration projects on the Russell School, but never used. He said if the CPA commitment is made, the Russell School Committee should ensure it takes oversight of the projects and that money is spent.

Other requests

Meanwhile, the Historical Commission’s ask for $15,000 would pay for four signs about town history to be placed in Hockanum, North Hadley and town center, and on the West Street common, a new audio driving tour and an update of the walking tour of West Street.

Commission Chairwoman Diana West said all three work together and complement each other.

Morris-Friedman said telling the town’s history is a good idea. “The more people who know about Hadley history the more they’d be willing to support its protection,” he said.

Another request comes from the Hadley Historical Society, which is asking for $18,000 for a $19,000 project.

Society member Alan Weinberg said the money would help preserve 10 needlepoint samplers from the 18th and 19th centuries made by women and girls from Hadley or with family connections to town.

Framed and unframed examples of this work will be on display at the Hadley Public Library on April 23, as a national expert on samplers, Lynne Anderson, founder of the Sampler Consortium, visits for the in-person event.

The final request comes from the Friends of Lake Warner for $19,500 that would match $6,700 to hire a consultant.

Friends member Brian Pearson said a lake management plan would be created based on samples of water and sediment taken from May to September. This will create a long range action plan to manage invasive aquatic plants, nutrient loading and pollution.

Thayer said the CPA committee has enough money in hand to fund the four projects directly, with nearly $1.9 million available and $1.39 million reserved for other projects. The money is collected based on a 3% surcharge on property tax bills, with the first $100,000 value of residential properties exempt, and an anticipated 93% match from the state.

Should all be funded directly, the committee’s account would be left at $607,852.

But Thayer said there is also an opportunity to borrow to pay for the projects, similar to how the overhaul of Hopkins Academy playing fields is being done. Borrowing for the Russell School project and combining it with previously authorized borrowing over a 10- or 15-year period would give more flexibility for other projects in future years.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.]]>