Kathy Sylvester: Preserve Deerfield history, upgrade town offices

I am writing to encourage all Deerfield residents to attend the Oct. 7 Town Meeting at 6 p.m. and vote “yes” to approve spending CPA funding to restore and rehabilitate the historic 1888 Building into town offices. As chair of the Community Preservation Committee, I, along with the other eight members of the committee, studied this project in detail, and the committee voted unanimously to recommend it.

There are several reasons to approve this project: This building has historic significance in Deerfield; residents have voiced a strong desire to preserve it and its memories; the CPA money is already set aside for a project like this; and along with the $4 million federal grant, as well as ARPA money, it can be done without raising new taxes.

There are only three choices: 1) Do nothing and the building will continue to deteriorate and become another eyesore in the center of town (much like the old Cumberland Farms site); 2) Demolish it, which will require tax dollars to tear it down and pay to dispose of the hazardous waste; 3) Approve CPA funds to restore it and keep a historic building residents desire to save. In addition, should we forfeit all the funding for the 1888 building, we would have to rehabilitate the current Town Hall, and it would not qualify for CPA funds. That money would come from our taxes.

I urge all Deerfield residents to attend the next informational session on Oct. 1 at Town Hall to learn more, and please vote “yes” for this project on Oct. 7.

Kathy Sylvester

South Deerfield