Town Won’t Move
To Co-op Building
By MD Drysdale

The Randolph town offices won’t be operating out of the former Randolph Cooperative Market building after all.

Three weeks ago, the Randolph Selectboard expressed considerable interest in buying the co-op space at a bankruptcy sale later this week, but after further discussion at Monday’s selectboard meeting, it was decided not to offer a bid.

Concerns were raised especially about the fact that the building has been divided into three condominium units, one on each floor, and the condominium also includes the Three Bean Café building.

That would mean, speakers said, that the town wouldn’t really have control over its own building. It would have only a 25% vote on matters affecting the whole condominium. However, because of its large square footage, it would have to pay 35% of any general repairs.

Further, it was suggested that the building, a former textile manufacturing plant, although well-constructed, is plug ugly.

(Its former owners, in fact, used to refer to it light-heartedly as The Big Ugly.)

Making the building less ugly—via repainting and landscaping, for instance, would be made more difficult because of the condo arrangement.

In addition, a concrete vault, which would have to be built for town records, might be too heavy for the floor, it was pointed out.

A motion was made by Selectboard Chair Jim Hutchinson not to submit a bid. It carried 5-0.

Other News

The board approved an application for a Transportation Agency grant for the sidewalk and streetscape project in East Randolph. The vote was unanimous.

After considerable discussion, the board tabled a proposed dog ordinance and animal cruelty ordinance.

Jenny Carter pointed out several items that needed to be researched, and she will assist Town Manager Peter Butterfield in finding out the information for the Sept. 4 meeting.

The board did, however, find a new animal control officer and appointed Rick Warner by unanimous vote.

Public Works Supt. John Rotter reported that the president did sign the declaration for disaster relief regarding the July flood. There is no individual assistance, however, only assistance for towns.

He said he hoped that bid documents for Howard Hill Road will go out soon so that the road can be passable before winter.

It was suggested, according to the minutes, that West Hill Road be a joint effort with Braintree or Brookfield taking the lead, since they have the biggest stretches of affected roadway.

A public hearing was scheduled for Oct. 8 on the request to upgrade 1500 linear feet of Clover Hill Road.

The board asked Town Manager Butterfield to coordinate a meeting with snowmobile clubs prior to the hearing to discuss alternate routes for snowmobiles which currently use Clover Hill Road as an important connector trail.

Snowmobiles are automatically permitted on Class 4 roads, which is the current designation of Clover Hill, but not on Class 3 roads.