Does Camden want the Mary E. Taylor school building?
CAMDEN — The Select Board in Camden will consider Tuesday evening, when it convenes for a regularly scheduled meeting, a proposal from the Camden-Rockport school district that the town takes ownership of the Mary E. Taylor middle school building on Knowlton Street.
School Administrative District 28, which oversees Camden and Rockport K-8 elementary and middle schools, has been mulling over next steps to overhaul its the middle school campus on Knowlton Street. That includes the former Camden-Rockport High School, which has been used for seventh and eighth grades since the new high school was built in 2000 on Route 90 in Rockport, as well as the older Mary E. Taylor brick school building, where the fifth and sixth grade classrooms are.
Last year, voters turned down a proposal to spend $28 million on a campus overhaul, and the school board retrenched to consider different options for optimizing the middle school facility. Now, SAD 28 is posing to Camden a new idea. In a Jan. 27 letter to the Select Board, Superintendent Maria Libby wrote:
CRMS campus history
The original structure, the Mary E. Taylor Elementary School, was constructed in 1925. It is a 28,200 square-foot three-story (plus a fourth-story penthouse) academic facility.
In 1950, a 15,900 square-foot two-story building was constructed. This facility was constructed as a stand-alone building with a gymnasium and stage on the ground level, with locker rooms and a boiler room on the below grade level. It is located to the north of the MET building. This section is currently referred to as the Gym.
In 1955, a 16,200 square-foot section was added north of and connected to the gymnasium. This facility contains several classrooms and science labs. It is currently referred to as the Seventh Grade wing.
In 1962, a 13,600 square-foot stand-alone building was constructed. It is located between the MET building and the gymnasium. It contains a cafeteria and kitchen, a library, main administrative offices, and other instructional spaces. This is the Andrews Wing.
In 1965, a 5,400 square-foot wing was connected to the west side of the 1955 section. This facility contains five classrooms and a consumer science classroom. This section is currently referred to as to as the 1965 Wing (Freshman or K-wing).
In 1980, a 20,400 square-foot section was connected to the west side of the gym and the Seventh Grade wing.
This space has a wrestling room, classroom spaces, a courtyard, and support spaces. A portion of this facility is below sloping grade (on the same level as the lower level of the 1950 gym containing approximately 3,600 square-foot providing space for a mini theater and music room.
This space is currently referred to as the Eighth Grade wing.
In 2000, four major projects were completed: A 1,000 square-foot covered enclosure was constructed to connect the MET School and the Andrews Wing.
A second 2,400 square-foot connector between the Andrews Wing and the gymnasium was constructed, creating another continuous covered space.
An elevator was installed in this connector, rising to the gym floor level; and locker rooms originally in the basement level were converted to storage spaces and replaced by new locker rooms on the gym floor level in the space originally occupied by the stage.
In 2000, voters in Camden and Rockport also approved a $1.8 million to upgrade the boiler and mechanical systems in the old high school building.
“SAD 28 will consider all possible options for the future use of the MET building on its middle school campus as we plan for another project. We recognize that a likely scenario is that we determine it is too expensive to renovate that building and bring it up to code. We understand there may be community interest in preserving the building for historic value, however. Therefore, we wanted to explore whether the town was interested in taking ownership of the building in order to preserve it if the district determines it will not be part of a middle school project. So the question is this: If the district does not intend to continue use of MET as an educational facility, would the town be interested in the school district transferring ownership (and preservation) of the building to the town? We ask out of an appreciation for potential community interest in preserving the building. Knowing whether the town ownership is a viable option to consider as we move forward will be important in our planning process.”
The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Washington Street Meeting Room, will be televised on Channel 22, and streamed online at townhallstreams.com/locations/camden-me
IN OTHER TOWN BUSINESS
The board will also consider
Approval of applications from Joe Goudreau, d/b/a KNSM Camden LLC at 39 Washington Street for a victualers and a lodging license.
This business has submitted completed applications that are ready for Select Board review. 
Approval of CMP Pole Relocation Permits
In mid-October 2016 (after Columbus Day), the DOT will start its project to replace the Bakery Bridge which is located on Washington St at the intersection with Mechanic Street. As part of that project a couple of utility poles will need to be relocated from that intersection. 
Approval of Agreement with the DOT that the town will relocate the sewer line that runs through the State's Right of Way (Bakery Bridge)
The town has a sewer line which runs underneath Bakery Bridge. The pipe is encased in concrete, which in turn is incorporated in the concrete bridge abutments. MDOT has informed us that we will be required to replace the pipe under the bridge. The estimated cost to the Town for the sewer work is $96,150. This item will need to be funded in the 2017 budget. 
Approval of Amendment to the Customer Net Energy Billing Agreement between the Town and Central Maine Power for Power Generated by the Seabright Hydroelectric Dam
Power generated by the Seabright Dam offsets the cost of the electricity at the Wastewater Treatment plant. Formerly, the contract with CMP had to be renewed every five years. These contracts are now ongoing unless either party terminates the agreement. 
Appointment of a member to the Conservation Commission
This appointment is to fill the unexpired term of Timothy Wooster whose term expires June 30, 2016. F. Consideration of the request from the Conservation Commission to use $500 from the Conservation Commission's reserve account One of the activities of the Conservation Commission is to offer educational nature walks to the public. To help pay for specialists who lead these walks, the Commission would like to use $500 from its reserve account to pay the speaker’s mileage and or a small honorarium. The reserve account is funded by donations to the Conservation Commission.
Related stories:
Camden, Rockport voters defeat $28 million middle school campus project
$28 million Camden-Rockport Middle School project proceeds to vote
Opinion: Camden Rockport Middle School project examined
Letter to the editor: School board responds to Camden Planning Board project concerns
Camden Planning concerns about middle school project
Camden-Rockport leaders skeptical of $28 million middle school project
Read about the March 20 forum: Camden-Rockport board endorses public straw vote: Tear down, rebuild middle school
What to do with Camden-Rockport Middle School: Tear down, renovate, rebuild?
Camden-Rockport Middle School concepts floated: ‘Everything in pencil’
