STURBRIDGE - Selectmen heard a construction update for the Town Hall and Center Office project, bid farewell to interim Town Administrator Michael Racicot and discussed taking a stance on gambling legislation at their April 13 meeting.

Construction updates

Members of the Town Hall/Center Office Construction Committee met with the board to report on progress at the site. Tom Kondel, project manager of the reconstruction effort, offered a full update. “The work is well underway,” he said.
Windows at both buildings are nearly complete, as is the elevator at Town Hall. Oil tanks and boilers in both buildings are installed. He said the center office’s slate roof should have been completed last Friday.
The next three weeks will see a final coat of paint applied and the Town Hall wall plastered and primed. Site work at Town Hall is close to 85 percent completed, Kondel said.
Prompted by resident queries, selectmen asked what would become of the Veteran memorials in front of Town Hall.
Architect Phil O’Brien said the plaques were refurbished. They will be moved inside and hung in Veteran’s Hall once construction is finished because the front of the building is being redesigned. The driveway that formed a semi-circle in front will no longer be there, he said.
The large granite memorial to Joseph Julian, a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, will remain in front.
The work is scheduled to be completed by June 29.

“Free at last”

Before saying farewell to Sturbridge and hello to retirement, Racicot offered his final town administrator’s update as incoming Town Administrator Shaun Suhoski sat by his side.
Racicot had praise for Finance Director Barbara Barry and her staff. He thanked them for the hard work of the past few month’s leading up to the annual town meeting.
“Sturbridge is in good shape because of them,” he said.
Racicot reported Town Planner Jean Bubon resigned from the Cable Advisory Committee. Resident Donald Fairbrother tendered an application to the board. Fairbrother had provided extensive volunteer work and assistance to committee members in the months preceding the town signing a renewal contract with Comcast. Selectmen approved his appointment.
“He’s a great asset for the town,” Racicot said.
According to Racicot, Selectman Scott Garieri met with him to review town policy on sexual harassment in compliance with a board directive to do so in the wake of controversial remarks made during a Town Administrator Search Committee meeting. Racicot noted Garieri expressed remorse during the session. He also said a number of residents had contacted him last week to express dismay at the situation.
Also, the board voted to approve another temporary entertainment license for “Special Magic Celebration” set for Saturday, April 24 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on the town common. The event was originally dubbed “March Maple Madness” scheduled to occur last month. It was rescheduled due to weather. Live music can be heard from 1 – 3 p.m. Rain date is May 1.
Racicot ended his report with a quote cribbed from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and said “Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty we are free at last,” he said. “Thank you for the unforgettable memories.”

Casino debate

Broaching the subject of pending casino legislation Selectwoman Mary Blanchard asked board members if they wanted to take a formal stance on the issue.
“I’d like to say I know Sturbridge, in the past, has never supported a casino because of the effect it would have on tourism,” she said.
Selectman Edward “Ted” Goodwin said he believed casinos were not a sustainable way to grow the local and state economy.
Former board member Arnold Wilson, who was still in the audience from the Town Hall/Center Office Construction Committee discussion, noted that about 6 years ago his board took an official stance and mailed the result to state leaders after much discussion.
Selectman Thomas Creamer said he was not comfortable making a vote at that time. “We really haven’t discussed this as a board,” he said. “I don’t feel that as a board we’ve done that kind of leg work…they did due diligence,” Creamer said, referring to Wilson and the other board members who voted 6 years ago.
On Wednesday, April 14 the state House of Representatives voted to approve two casinos for the state and slot machines for racetracks. As of press time the legislation had gone to the state senate for debate and possible approval.