LIVERMORE FALLS — Selectmen decided Tuesday to tour the former Livermore Falls High School with an eye toward possibly turning it into a community center.
Regional School Unit 73 Superintendent Kenneth Healey officially offered the former high school and the former Livermore Falls Middle School to the town.
The town has 30 days to decide whether to accept one, both or neither of the buildings.
Although no interest was shown for the much older middle school, except to possibly have it torn down and the land made into a parking lot, all selectmen and some in the crowd saw great potential in the former high school.
“I can’t say enough about the number of people who have said it would be nice to have a community center,” Town Manager Kristal Flagg said.
She said the board could vote to accept the building, but if something was to be made from it, the question would have to go to the voters.
Board of Selectmen Chairwoman Louise Chabot said the gymnasium and cafeteria would be of the greatest interest.
Healey pointed out that the building would likely have to be managed because of the variety of uses it could serve.
Ideas from the board and the audience included allowing its use by Area Youth Sports, the local food bank, the free clothing store and a teen center.
The board will likely take a vote at its March 3 meeting.
Healey said the town has 30 days to decide. If the town decides not to assume ownership, he said he would contact a realtor to learn the market value of the building. He said the district has two years to determine the fate of the building.
He said funds from the 2014-15 school budget are available for the building’s upkeep until the end of June. He also estimated heat and electricity to maintain the building would cost about $78,000 a year.
The former high school graduated its last class in 2012. Now, all high school students from Livermore, Livermore Falls and Jay attend Spruce Mountain High School in Jay.
Selectmen plan to tour the building within the next few days to assess any repairs or renovations that should be made.
The district ended all use of the building, except for the locker rooms, in December 2014.
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