Ashland voters ok old school as rec center
By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
ASHLAND — Citizens in Ashland recently voted unanimously to accept the Ashland Central School complex from SAD 32.
According to Town Manager Ralph Dwyer, ownership of the facility will allow the town to apply for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to convert part of the facility into a community/recreation center and to demolish the remaining structures.
“We did a voice vote and there were no ‘nays’ from the crowd; the room was packed. I’d say there were 50-60 people there,” he said. “We’re in the process now of doing the paperwork to have the school transferred to the town.”
The community/rec center would be used for a number of purposes.
“Our goal is to have some extra rooms where the senior citizens can meet, the Boy Scouts can meet, as well as other interested clubs and organizations could meet and have events,” Dwyer said. “The Ashland Recreation Department would also utilize the facility for its recreation program, allowing the town to close the old facility currently in use on Station Hill.”
With the Sept. 15 vote behind them, Dwyer said Ashland can apply for funds.
“We’re in the process now of applying for a CDBG grant,” he said. “Prior to that we’re doing a low- and moderate-income survey through Northern Maine Development Commission to see if we qualify for the grant. We need people to send the survey back to NMDC.”
Dwyer said details such as how much the town would need to complete the renovations, the timetable to complete the work, and if organizations would pay a rental fee to use the facility have yet to be determined.
“Our Community Development Advisory Committee, which is comprised of people from Ashland, Portage Lake, Oxbow, Masardis, Garfield and Nashville Plantation, will continue to meet,” he said. “Probably in a couple more months we’ll have answers to those questions.”
The section of the former school the town will keep was completed in 1984 and served as a multipurpose building, with a combined stage area and gymnasium.
“It’s very functional and could be used for whatever we need,” said Dwyer. “It’s also already ADA accessible.”
Older portions of the building would be torn down, said the town manager.
“There’s a lot of asbestos in the older sections; it would cost too much to remove,” Dwyer said. “We’d like to add a few rooms to the multipurpose building instead — perhaps a kitchen area and/or some type of room that could be used for classes, a meeting room or whatever’s needed.”
Centrally located, the building is easily accessible from downtown and includes plenty of parking.
“There’s also a playground already in place and fencing separating it from some other properties,” said Dwyer. “It’s also off the main roads, so it’s a safe environment for children.
“By voting to accept the building, it will allow our rec director to have a superior facility for his kids — especially during the winter when there’s not much to do outside,” he said. “That’s the big thing. It increases the opportunities for our area youth.”
The CDBG grant application is due the first of the year.
“I would like something to happen next year,” said Dwyer, “but I’m not overly optimistic about it. This process could take a while.”
The town manager said the asbestos issues will have to be abated.
“We’re looking into federal grants to do the removal — brownfield and other grants,” he said. “That would be handled during the demolition of the wings we won’t be using. There’s no asbestos in the newest section we’re looking to use as a community center.”
If developed, the center would be used by surrounding towns.
“There are a lot of towns that don’t have a quality community center,” said Dwyer. “Ours would be available.”
