McAuliffe Library Project Gets Extension; Town Seeking Buyers for Nobscot Chapel

Selectmen Tuesday bought the town more time to acquire land for a new McAuliffe Branch Library in Nobscot and also laid out a plan to accept bids for the sale of the Nobscot Chapel. 

The board signed a third extension of the purchase-and-sale agreement on the library land to May of 2013, adding another six months to the agreement, which was set to expire this month. The would-be seller, the AJ Rousseau Nobscot Trust, had already agreed to the extension. 

Selectmen Chairman Charles Sisitsky said the library branch project, for which the town has received a $4 million state grant, remains on track for the property, which is across from the Hemenway Elementary School and not far from the mostly vacant Nobscot Shopping Plaza, but that additional time is needed to finalize the sale.

The existing McAuliffe library is one of the busiest branch libraries in the state. 

Meanwhile, Town Manager Bob Halpin said officials are working on crafting a request for proposals for the sale of the Nobscot Chapel. While the town is required to put the property - it was taken over for non-payment of taxes - up for auction, Halpin said having a set of clear conditions on the sale would help ensure the property is being utilized.  

"What we don't want is for someone to buy it and sit on it," he said."There is a lot of interest in the neighborhood to put it back into productive use. This will allow Town Meeting to evaluate any sale on general economic viability."

Halpin hopes to have an requst for proposals in place so Town Meeting can take up the sale in the spring. 

Also Tuesday night, Framingham Selectmen:  

• Approved a waiver to allow Toys R Us on Worcester Rd. to remain open 24-hours a day starting on Dec. 21 and running until 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Store spokesperson Jennifer Burke acknowledged that the store, which received the same waiver last year, expects few shoppers  during the overnight hours, but said having the waiver allows it to advertise nationally that all stores are open around-the-clock. Selectman Dennis Giombetti made the motion to approve, saying he was doing so on behalf of his three-year-old granddaughter, "who favors any opportunity that makes it easier for me to get to the toy store." 
• Issued a proclamation noting Working through the MBTA, the service provided more than 80,000 rides to disabled local residents in 2011. 
• Accepted a $3,000 donation from the owners of Dunkin' Donuts on Cochituate Rd. that will be placed in the town's Veterans Services and Benefits gift account.