LISBON – With the new elementary school set to open in September many community groups are eyeing the soon-to-be empty school buildings for their activities.

Town officials are looking into new uses for the two schools that will be closed – Lisbon elementary in Lisbon Village and Marion T. Morse elementary in Lisbon Falls.

In a report to selectmen, Town Manager Curtis Lunt is recommending that the town move slowly “as this is a momentous discussion.”

Either way, he says it’s not a bond issue at this point, but rather a $60,000-plus decision with “long-term implications, whatever decision is made it will be hard to reverse course,” he cautioned.

Lunt recommends that selectmen appoint a sub-group to review information and options, and to include community members in the group who will not be users. The group would be required to present selectmen with a written report by April.

The school administration intends to wait until at least 2005 to decide the ultimate fate of LES, so Lunt said the question now is “whether to lease a portion of LES for a year until we are more sure of the school administration siting; (B) accept MTM to be used as a community center, or (C) do nothing.”

Lunt, along with town engineer Ryan Leighton and recreation Director Mark Stevens have toured and inspected both buildings and have concluded that neither would require substantial renovation in the near-term in order to be used as a community center.

The biggest concern at MTM is the roof, which is gravel, placed in 1971 with regular maintenance required, which could cost between $90,000 and $100,000.

At LES, he described the boiler as questionable. He said maintenance costs are higher in both buildings because of their age and inefficient heating systems.

In 2001, former school finance Director Ray Hardy listed utilities costs for MTM at $18,000; electricity at $20,400; sewer and water at $2,900 for a total of $41,300. Add to that mechanical systems maintenance/repairs, supplies, mowing, etc, and cleaning at $1 per square foot, $18,000, for a grand total of $59,800.

At LES: heat costs $14,000; electricity, $18,000; sewer and water, $3,600. Add $24,000 for other maintenance and cleaning to bring that total to $59,600.

Either way, Lunt said, at least $60,000 would need to be budgeted in 2004. Some savings could be achieved by moving the Teen Center and the Lisbon Library and some revenues may be produced, but they are “a fraction of the cost.”

An appraisal by Amerifirst valued MTM at $180,000 and LES at $240,000. “LES is clearly in better condition, although either school would do fine,” Lunt said. LES has adjacent ballfields, but is “too much space, so the question is can the system be shut down effectively to some classrooms to reduce heating costs or sublet, for example,” he wondered.

In 2000, a $2.6 million bond issue to build a 17,500-square-foot community center was defeated.

Lunt said the gymnasium at the new elementary school will be busier than either of the others were but “will offer much less winter recreation access.”

A September 2003 Recreation Department report outlined its space problems, and a number of community groups such as Boy Scouts are looking for temporary meeting space. Based on the following information, Lunt calculates the following needs: Recreation Department, 10,000 feet; Library Department, 1,100 feet; Senior Citizens, 1,000 feet; LACO/food and clothing bank, 1,000 feet, Historical Society, 2,500 feet; Head Start, 1,000 feet; and Adult Education, 1,000 feet, for a total of 17,600 square feet. “There may be more or less demand or need, but clearly there is a substantial need,” Lunt concluded.