Falls Village To Help Buy Center for Arts

FALLS VILLAGE — Many questions were raised about the deal, but voters gave overwhelming approval at a town meeting Dec. 27 to a $25,000 donation from the town to a nonprofit children’s theater group interested in finding a home. The meeting took place at the Lee H. Kellogg School.

By a margin of 72-8, taxpayers gave the go-ahead to the Board of Selectmen to make the donation to the Falls Village Children’s Theater Company, which wants to buy the old Emerson building for use as a theater and as a community center for town activities.

Still, skeptics asked pointed questions to First Selectman Pat Mechare about the town’s long-term commitment to the theater group and what happens to the money if the deal to buy the 100-year-old building falls through, or if additional funds cannot be raised for the needed renovations.Town Will Not Own It

The town will not have ownership of the building, but the selectmen have been told that the theater group will approach the board for a yearly grant of several thousand dollars to help maintain the building, Mechare said. In response to another question about operational costs, she added that "at this point we have not been asked to pay the utilities."

Leonard Deutsch, who owns property next to the Emerson building on Main Street across from Town Hall, wanted to know about the septic system and parking. Mechare replied that there is not enough room on the 1/8-acre Emerson lot to build a new system, but said the town owns land behind the building where a system could be installed. An easement has been granted and percolation tests have been performed by a licensed septic installer.

There is a also need for bathrooms that are handicapped-accessible, a new roof and a solution to a wet basement. In all, renovations and improvements could run in the neighborhood of $350,000, theater company Executive Director Denise Cohn said in an interview earlier this month.Could Cost More

But Route 126 resident George Anastasio, a former chair of the drama department at The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville said conversion of the Emerson building (a former church and bookstore) to a theater would likely cost much more.

To support lighting instruments, considerable electrical work would have to be performed. Lighting stands, a lighting board, the instruments themselves and theater draperies could push the actual cost in excess of a $1 million, he said.

"This is a big financial commitment," said Anastasio, a former chairman of the Lee H. Kellogg School Board of Education. "I know how expensive it can be. We’re really opening the door to annual taxes going to this group, aren’t we?"

"I think that’s a fair assumption," Mechare replied. She added that the D.M. Hunt Library received an annual grant that totaled $35,000 this year. The Falls Village Day Care has a similar arrangement, receiving $8,000 for fiscal year 2006-07.

But Vance Cannon, the theater company’s vice president, replied, "We’re not talking lights and drapes for years, if ever."

Music Mountain Road resident Sylvia Wismar spoke in favor of the project. She said it’s important for the community — and especially for children — to have a place to meet within walking distance of the Lee H. Kellogg School.

"This could be a spot where they could develop themselves," Wismar said to much applause.Can Funds Be Recovered?

Cobble Road resident Bill Jenks, a former member of the Board of Finance, wanted to know what would become of the $25,000 in taxpayer funds if the project fails. Mechare said a lien will be placed on the property to ensure return of the funds if the purchase does not go through.

Jenks also cited numerous other expensive public works projects that need to be completed, but Roland Chinatti motioned successfully that the discussion be closed.

A motion to use paper ballots by Wayne Collier failed, at which point Anastasio walked out.

As for why the town meeting was not scheduled for after the holidays, Mechare said in an interview earlier this month that a major donor to the project insisted all funds for the purchase be raised by Dec. 31, so the deadline for the town’s commitment was also Dec. 31.

The money will come from the town’s general fund, so taxes will not have to be raised to pay for the donation, she added.

In an e-mail after the meeting, Cohn said, "The Falls Village Children’s Theatre Company will use the building for rehearsals and offer arts classes as well, but it will be available to many organizations in town and the Northwest Corner."