Concerns about clutter left inside Memorial Hall by the Monson Arts Council also were voiced 2 years ago by selectmen.
Memorial Hall, Monson.
MONSON — The Monson Arts Council came under fire at Tuesday’s selectmen’s meeting over the condition of historic Memorial Hall.
This wasn’t the first time the council drew the ire of the selectboard. Two years ago, concerns about the cluttered interior also were voiced to the council, and an agreement was supposed to be drawn up by the selectmen regarding usage, but that never happened, according to Richard E. Guertin, the arts council’s treasurer.
“I think some of the criticism was valid. I just think it was overblown and overstated,” Guertin said on Wednesday.
Guertin said the problem, in his view, is that officials observed the building as the arts council prepares for its production of “The Secret Garden,” set to run this weekend and next.
Guertin also is responsible for booking events at the hall, which was built in 1885 as a memorial to veterans. The arts council pays $3,000 annually to use it, he said.
Selectmen gave the arts council two weeks after the conclusion of “The Secret Garden” to clean up the first floor, and then an additional two weeks to clean out the basement. Selectmen said Town Administrator Gretchen E. Neggers also will identify specific space inside the hall for the arts council to use, as the council has expanded beyond its designated office and storage closet.
Guertin said there are “things the arts council can do” to improve the situation, and suggested that someone be named to take responsibility for the hall when a set is being built.
Neggers explained at the meeting that it’s not only the arts council that is responsible for the problem, but the Parks and Recreation Department as well. She said the department has agreed to remove the costumes it has from the hall, and is bringing a Dumpster there for that purpose. Selectmen gave parks and recreation the same timeline as the arts council to remove items.
Selectman Edward S. Harrison said the hall “is a God awful mess” and suggested that the council builds its sets somewhere else, instead of inside the hall.
Selectmen Chairman Edward A. Maia said the building is being used as a storage unit, and it shouldn’t be. Maia said there is no sprinkler system, and “we’re begging for that poor, old building to burn down” as the basement is filled with combustibles. Maia said the building belongs to all the residents of Monson, and how it is being left is just “disgraceful.”
“In my opinion it seems like the building is really being abused,” Maia said.
Officials complained about clutter, sawdust, and the arts council taking over almost every usable space. They said numerous paint cans are in the basement, and must be removed.
Neggers also voiced concerns about fire hazards. She said a certain amount of the building is dedicated to veterans of the community, something that is “near and dear” to her heart.
“It’s a respect issue for me, too,” Neggers said.
She said she is a strong advocate for use of the building, and wants to see a long-term fix. Arts Council President Tod Beall said the arts council is not trying to disrespect anyone, and is trying to promote its cultural program.
The clutter issues, said Harrison, are the “unintended consequences of your good intentions.”