By Joan F. Simoneau, Community Reporter
Marlborough-The City Council voted at its April 25 meeting to request Mayor Arthur Vigeant to provide a transfer for $75,000 to fund a feasibility study of the Walker building located at 255 Main St.
The Operations and Oversight Committee recently met with Tim Cummings, executive director of the Marlborough Economic Development Corporation to gain information on the proposal which he presented to the mayor several months ago. Cummings confirmed that exploring the best use of the building would be a benefit to the downtown area.
Half of the building’s 60,000 square feet of space is currently vacant, according to Vigeant. He also stated that future use of the building would be predicated upon its exterior not being altered. City departments currently located there include Veterans Services, United Way Food Pantry, Human Services, and the Retirement Board. State Sen. Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton) also has an office in the building.
In other business, councilors approved the mayor’s request for $1 million in free cash to conduct a feasibility study of the Richer Elementary School. The Massachusetts School Building Authority has placed the school in an eligibility phase to receive funding to construct a new elementary school or proceed with renovations to the building. School officials have stated that classrooms in all the elementary schools in the city are overcrowded, singling out Richer specifically.