Article 48 - Feasibility Study

Center / Sylvester Building Project

Hanover Town Meeting May 5 at 8 pm
Questions & Answers

What is a Feasibility Study and why is it so important?
The Center / Sylvester building project was just one of a handful of statewide projects recently
approved to enter the Massachusetts State Building Authoritys eligibility period. The Feasibility Study
is a required step in any renovation or construction project and also secures Hanovers ability to partner
with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), which provides state funds for school
renovation and construction projects. The Feasibility Study documents the educational program,
generates an initial space summary, documents existing conditions, establishes design parameters,
develops and evaluates alternatives and recommends the most cost effective and educationally
appropriate preferred solution of the MSBA Board of Directors for their consideration, then proceeding
to development of a schematic design of sufcient detail to establish the scope, budget and schedule.
How did you arrive at the $500,000 gure?
The $500,000 amount referenced in the article covers the estimated cost of the Feasibility Study,
including schematics and project manager costs. The MSBA provided us with this gure as a reasonable
estimate of what a project our size would require. In our independent review of other communities we
have found this gure to be aligned with costs of feasibility studies conducted in those communities.
Why is Sylvester no longer t for educational purposes?
No Handicap Accessibility - Sylvester School has no handicap accessibility. Students, staff, teachers
and/or family members with physical handicaps cannot enter the building. The last cost estimate to
make the outside of the building handicap accessible exceeded 1 million dollars, further, installation
of an elevator would result in the elimination of two classrooms creating more overcrowding. This
estimate did not include the inside of the building (i.e., bathrooms, doorways, drinking fountains).
Overcrowding - Sylvester School is overcrowded with insufcient classroom space, little room for
storage of educational materials and no classroom space for music, art, special education classes,
small group instruction, and library. Students are required to walk 500 feet outside to Center in all
weather, which exposes students to unsafe weather conditions and worse, safety threats. This also
results in loss of precious instructional time.
Obsolete - Critical building systems (heating, plumbing, electrical) are original or obsolete.
Poor Ventilation - Lack of proper ventilation in many rooms creates poor air quality issues.


Questions & Answers Continued

The Town did a study in 2002 - can we use that one?
The MSBA regulations are very specic. The Regulations provide that studies conducted unilaterally
or without prior written acknowledgement and concurrence of the Authority do not have to be
accepted by the MSBA, and can disqualify the Town from any reimbursement of the study. Since
2002 the Regulations (found in 963 CMR 2.00 et seq.) have been amended and include very strict
specications that the 2002 study does not meet. In simple terms, the 2002 study is insufcient and
does not meet the level of detail now required by the MSBA.
The Town has completed improvements to Sylvester - why arent those sufcient?
While some work was completed, the renovations did not bring Sylvester to current standards of an
educational facility. To bring Sylvester up to code and address safety issues is extensive and costly
(i.e., installation of a complete HVAC system, replacing the electrical wiring, handicap accessibility,
replacing the oors). More importantly, there are safety and overcrowding concerns that only new
construction can address. We also have the additional complexities of lead paint and asbestos that
make any extensive renovation complicated and costly. It is signicant to note, however, that the
feasibility study will examine the possibility of renovating Sylvester as well as a no build / status quo
option. As stated in the MSBA Regulations, one goal of the Feasibility Study is that it must include
an analysis of a no-build or status quo option, to be used as a benchmark for comparative analysis of
all other alternatives. 963 CMR. 2.10(8)(e).
How will this project be nanced?
We are moving slowly and using careful planning strategies to ensure that any tax increase is modest.
Supporting the $500,000 requested for the Feasibility Study is absolutely necessary to ensure that
Town expenditures are kept to a minimum. Without the Feasibility Study we will not move forward
in the State grant process. We recognize that even State funding will not cover 100% of the expense.
The Town is working with our nance consultant to schedule the debt to coincide with some retiring
debt to mitigate the impact on taxpayers. In addition, revenue from adaptive re-use of both the
Sylvester and Salmond Schools could further reduce the net impact on property taxes.
How do we preserve Sylvester Schools role in the Hanover Community?
We share your love of Sylvester and desire to see Sylvester remain a vital part of our community.
Our rst priority is exploring through the Feasibility Study, what costs are involved in preserving
Sylvester as a Town building. Once we understand the nancial investment, we will solicit
community input through forums. Even if the Town determines that it is not nancially feasible to
keep Sylvester as a Town building, we can explore other options that will benet the Hanover
Community, such as affordable housing units for our senior population. Signicantly, Town Meeting
will have the nal decision regarding the use of Sylvester School.
For more information regarding this project, please contact the Center / Sylvester School Building Committee:
Libby Corbo, Chairperson Matthew Ferron, Superintendent
lcorbo@hanoverschools.org mferron@hanoverschools.org