Woburn's Clapp School: Live Feed of Monday's Meeting Starting shortly

UPDATE: Technical difficulties have made live tweeting the meeting impossible. 

WOBURN, MA—City officials will hold a special meeting of City Council that will determine the immediate fate of the Clapp School building, in regards to the potential use of the facility as temporary locations for the Woburn Boys & Girls Club and the Woburn Public Library.

The facility was originally designated to be transferred over to the city's Recreation Commission, but after indication from Mayor Scott Galvin regarding plans to pitch a proposal that would allow for the joint use of the facility for both the Library and Boys & Girls Club, the School Committee voted to delay the property transfer until April 1.

"We've seen a lot of passion on both sides of this issue," Alderman At-Large Richard Haggerty told Patch."We've certainly seen a lot of folks advocating for the use of the facility. We've also received a great deal of input from residents who feel they were promised a park. They feel strongly on their end as well."

A change.org petition in support of the Boys and Girls Club's use of the facility already has 932 signatures.

"It's the most suitable option for us," Woburn Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Julie Gage told Patch."We've done our homework and we've looked at a lot of different spaces throughout the city. All we really want to do is provide a safe space for kids who really need it the most."

Gage also said that the club will not relocate its swimming programs or athletic leagues to the facility. If the proposal is not supported, the club will have to close for the year.

Library officials also feel that moving to the Clapp School facility will be beneficial to all involved.

"It would save money," Library Director Kathleen O'Doherty told Patch."From what I've seen, it looks as if it will suit our purposes. It certainly looks as if it would accommodate what we need to do."

O'Doherty also told Patch that the library would welcome the partnership with the Boys & Girls Club.

Some of those opposed feel that the Clapp School should be torn down and turned into a park, including Hudson Street resident Peter Apesi who recently penned his thoughts in a letter to the Daily Times Chronicle.

“I believed my government and never thought I would live to see the day that my government would lie to us without remorse and then refuse to stand by us when we need them. This is bad business and a stain on the integrity of our city,” wrote Apesi in his Letter-to-the-Editor in the Daily Times Chronicle.

Haggerty closed by saying City Council will do its best to represent residents on both sides of the issue.

"For me, I think it's important to keep in perspective that we're all one community regardless of what happens tonight," Haggerty said."This is a great place to live and to raise a family, and as City Council we have to do our best to represent all residents."

Patch will be providing a live blog of Monday's special meeting of City Council. You can view the most recent updates of the meeting by refreshing the page.

Photo via Google Earth Screenshot