Article 6 at TM on December 2...in search of a level playing field

We think that just about everyone in Weston would like to see the Josiah Smith Tavern renovated and the Old Library serve a useful purpose for the Town again. At the meeting of the Board of Selectmen earlier this week members of the  new “Working Group” were named to advise on proposals for the redevelopment of these historic structures at the center of  Town. It is also very likely that the Letter of Intent granting exclusivity to Urbanica will be amended and extended for 6 months to allow consideration of alternative proposals.

 That looks like a step forward, until you look at the details….

 Under the proposed amendment to the letter of intent between the Town and Urbanica, Urbanica remains as the “preferred developer”, with direct access for their proposal to the “Working Group”,  who will evaluate it and advise the Selectmen on putting it forward as an article for Town Meeting next May.

 Anyone else – like some non-profit group important to the Town – needs to submit its proposal to the “Working Group” who, if they consider it worth pursuing, must 1) abrogate the LOI giving Urbanica exclusivity, 2) issue a new RFP (Request for proposals), 3) circulate this RFP and await responses 4) then re-evaluate the proposal they already evaluated 3 steps previously and if they still think it worthwhile, advise the Selectmen accordingly. That’s a lot more cumbersome and complicated and expensive and takes longer to do. It also means that for an alternative to the Urbanica proposal to be considered, a new RFP has to be issued.

 It’s feasible, but hardly a level playing field.

 For that reason, we think the Town and its elected officials will be much better served by just starting over with a new RFP which, this time around, will certainly receive more than the single proposal that came in last year from Urbanica. Urbanica should participate, and given the effort they have already put in, it should be very easy for them to do so.

But it also provides a fair and even-handed way for other viable proposals to be considered on an equal footing, and at the same time.

 That is what Article 6 recommends be done, and while a YES vote is only advisory under Town Meeting rules, we think it could send an important message to our elected officials. We hope they will listen to it.

 Tom Selldorff

Jack Deary

John Sallay