North East considers the possibilities of the Millerton Elementary School building

NORTH EAST — Monday, Jan. 3, wasn’t the first time and it certainly will not be the last time that the North East Town Board discussed the possibility of converting the former Millerton Elementary School  (MES) into a joint municipal building, to be shared with the village of Millerton.

“It absolutely has potential,� town Supervisor Dave Sherman said following the organizational meeting where the topic was raised. “I think there’s sufficient potential and my interest in talking with the Town Board and also with the Village Board is that I think the reuse of the building ought to be done in the manner that’s most successful and beneficial for the community overall.�

Building uses

In addition to potentially using the building for both Town and Village halls, there have been discussions about having the North East Community Center (NECC) make use of the space, which it has  been doing already for a number of years. Currently it uses three rooms in the otherwise vacant building for its GED classes; it also runs its summer camp from the building. (This is in addition to the center’s main location on South Center Street.)

Also, the NECC is about one month away from learning if it’s to become the recipient of a federal grant for the Youth Build program, which teaches construction skills to young adults who have dropped out of school. They then use those skills to build low-income housing in their communities while the program’s tutors help them earn their high school diplomas, and then ultimately enroll into college.

A fourth room, a construction workshop, will be needed at MES in order to run the Youth Build program.

“We’re serving a huge number of people with essential services there,� NECC Executive Director Jenny Hansell said about the various programs offered through the community center at MES, adding those services could grow into the future. But she thinks that growth could be accommodated at the school, as it’s a large building — 25,000-square feet — with 10 large classrooms, a large auditorium with a stage, a ground floor with a gym and outdoor grounds.

“There really are interesting things that could happen in that space,� she said. “We thought about a farmers market, artists’ studios, college classes — there’s a ton of potential but it has to pay for itself.�

Potential costs and

deadline dates

Hansell estimates that it costs roughly $50,000 a year to keep the school building running, including electricity, oil and maintenance, but not including insurance and other costs. She said she’s hoping other groups, organizations or businesses interested in co-habitating with the community center and potentially with the Town and Village halls will contact the Webutuck Central School District at 845-373-4104 as soon as possible. Interested parties could also contact Hansell at 518-789-9247.

There have already been promising conversations with Dutchess Community College and BOCES (Board of Cooperative Educational Services) about having satellite classes at MES, as well as The 14th Colony, a local arts collaborative, setting up gallery and studio space. Time is an issue.

“Everybody is interested in finding a solution,â€� she said, adding it could take years for the town and village to make the move and rent must be paid in the meantime. “As of June 30th we’re out unless a solution is arrived at. The school district has told us as of now they plan to close the building at this point, and it would  be a shame, because it doesn’t cost anything to run it during the summer, so at least we hope to have it open for camp.â€�

Filling the halls

“We’re just very interested in being as helpful as we can in finding a solution,� she added. “NECC aside, it would be terrible for the community to have a big empty building.�

North East Councilman Steve Merwin agreed.

“I think it would be great to make use of it; it’s a historical building and should be a mainstay,� he said. “And if the town and the village could go hand-in-hand and utilize the building, I would like to see that building saved.�

Adding to the rolls

Another benefit that would result from such a venture is that both the current Town Hall and Village Hall buildings would return to the tax rolls — something everyone agreed would be a good thing.

“It makes sense to me,� said Councilman Dave McGhee. “If we could afford it I think it’s a good thing to do and lets us put this back on the tax roll. And I think we’ve outgrown this place [Town Hall]. The Nutrition Site needs to move, the Senior Center could be there, and an arts place, the sheriff’s [sub-station] or state police could be there, maybe we could rent out some space — there’s tons of room.�

“It sounds to me like everybody’s on the same page, and there are a lot of good reasons why we should look at it,� Millerton Mayor John Scutieri said. “It’s going to come down to feasibility.�

Down the pike

Webutuck Board of Education President Dale Culver said there’s a committee being formed between the town and the village to investigate the wisdom of acquiring MES as a community property. He said the school district is “very willing� to work with both municipalities on long-range planning for the community and the possible transfer of the facility. Culver said he will stay very involved in the process.

“I’m in a unique spot because they can turn to me for input on the town side and also on the school side,� he said, referring to his newly appointed post as chair of the North East Planning Board. “What better way to serve the community than to provide greater opportunities for everyone?�

The school district just transferred ownership of the former Amenia Elementary School building to the town of Amenia last year; the building is now the new Amenia Town Hall. Taxpayers had to  approve that decision through a referendum; a similar voting process would have to be held in Millerton and North East to transfer Millerton Elementary School to the two municipalities.