Getting later

Okay, the opening act for tomorrow night's selectmen meeting appears in today's Standard Times.  Starting at 7:15 P.M., assuming an on time schedule, which is iffy given the appointments prior to that, until 7:45 P.M. there are two appointments to discuss the former Rogers/Oxford schools.  

I hate to say I told you so in advance, so I won't, but my crystal ball predicts nothing gets resolved. More time to study, develop and ascertain. I will bet my dollar against your dime (subject to a limitation of the number of takers of the bet. Talk to me for more details), that a whole lot of more dollars are going to have to be sought to study, develop and ascertain; and, eventually implement. Whether those dollars have to be appropriated or lost from any eventual "net" remains to be seen.

Taking into account the cost to develop, this will be one of those situations where the seller is going to walk away with a wash at best; and, that assumes you don't count all the money dumped in in the recent past and for the next solid year or longer.

Develop an RFP using only 1/2 of the conditions being bandied about which contains only half of the conditions that should be in such an RFP (solid performance bonds,, deadlines, a PIOLT for any non-profit), you will get less than two qualified proposal that are submitted in accordance with the RFP.

If you restrict either site to the just 1/2 the extent being bandied about, just how much are you going to get?

The answer is probably next to nothing.

You know what.  At this point nothing is a profit, if you can get the rest of it to work.  Strict performance bonds, stuff with real teeth in it to make a buyer who makes a promise live up to their promise. No excuses, no extensions, no seven plus years to make a vision work. You buy it. You own it. You deal with it or you lose.

Granted, there may be some entity or person out there willing to make the investment for purely altruistic motives. We may find yet another benefactor who will not look at cost.  Heck, I am more than willing to give the darn things away to anyone willing AND able to take these buildings over and restore them to the neighborhood's wishes within a reasonable time frame.  

Yes you hear me right.  I am willing to give them away as long as the recipient is willing AND able to abide by any and all the terms and conditions desired within that reasonable time period.

And before everyone rush, rush, rushes about any method of disposal, hopefully some individual involved in this process is going to remember the procedures, protocols and the little sticking points of the actual law relative to disposing of town owned land. the failures on that point up till this point guaranty throwing good money after bad until those who are suppose to figure out what has to be done actually figure it out. 

Be safe.  That is the best you can hope for with this topic.