The future of the former Rhode Island National Guard Armory on Market Street was up for discussion at the council's November 10 meeting, members urging the town to consider matching an offer on the property coming from the private sector.

Town Council President Joseph DePasquale provided an update on the matter, stating a bid of $610,000 was made during an auction held by the state properties commission to purchase the building and parcel by Bristol resident Andrew Tiska.

The commission holds its next meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 24, when the town can make a counter-offer.

"The reason for that is there's a 30 day period for the town to have first rights," DePasquale explained. "We have met on this property, the (Warren Fire) chief (James Sousa) has discussed options with the (town) manager (Brian Sullivan)."

The reason for Sousa's involvement is there's a possibility of using federal grant funding to purchase the land and convert at least some of the structure into a new fire station.

"If the town could figure out a way to buy it for the $610(K), they would have to, I think, put into place a few sales of other property to possibly make that move possible, or at least put together a plan," DePasquale said.

He directed his comments, in part, to the three councilors-elect in attendance at the meeting — Jim Core, Danny Barlow and Rebecca Schmaeling. The trio won at the November 3 election and will be seated on December 10.

"So I'm looking towards this group of benches over here, because the reality isn't going to be this council's decision, it's going to be the next," DePasquale said.

He continued, "The location is right at Jamiel Park, and I believe it would be an asset for the town. So if we could figure out a way to squeak that money out and put a plan together, I think it would be a smart move.

"If not, it's going to go to Mr. Tiska, and he is prepared to give the town overall plan, but not exactly...He doesn't want to be, uh, confined to, uh, anything of his possible uses because it probably is going be a working progress. And that's his right."

Like DePasquale, Councilor John Hanley, who along with Kerui Cronin is a departing member of the council, agreed.

"I want to say, I think that would be a huge asset, but I don't know if we could figure out something to do with it," said Hanley. "Possibly one thought I had was if we get that with the gym and all of that, we could possibly look into selling Mary V. Quirk as a way of offsetting the cost of getting the armory, which, I don't know, maybe it'd be half of it. I just think that's a great asset to let slip through our fingers."

DePasquale said he and State Senator Walter Felag (D-Dist. 10, Warren, Bristol Tiverton) first proposed the town purchase the armory, which housed the 169th Regiment and Military Police, some 15 years ago.

DePasquale rued the fact the building itself has fallen into some disrepair.

"The sad reality is that there's nothing on the books for how the state or the national federal government takes care of buildings," he said. 

"For 10 years, they just let it sit there," he added. "It's just unfortunate that it was allowed to just get closed, and the pipes burst, and things happened, where they should have been held accountable. They haven't paid a penny in taxes and we, of course, appreciate the 169th, that the military police.

Besides the Quirk building, DePasquale mentioned the possibility of the town selling a parcel on Croade Street to pay for the armory purchase.

He said the East Bay Community Action Program (EBCAP) has intimated it would like to purchase Quirk and convert some of the former school into residential units as part of its Head Start program, which would continue to serve some 300 children from around the region.

Sullivan said he intends to attend the state properties commission meeting on November 24. The manager explained the process of how the town could respond to the bid, as he understood it, would begin upon receipt of formal notification of the Tiska bid via certified mail.

Councilor Louis Rego, he and peer Derrik Trombley the remaining members of the body, asked Town Solicitor Anthony DeSisto if it were possible to have some sort of joint meeting to discuss the matter with his incoming colleagues prior to their official seating.

DeSisto said it could be done by calling a special session of the existing body.

"So I would think as soon as we know is when we should probably start talking, we can't wait till December 10th to start having this discussion," Rego said.

Rego asked about the potential grant money referred to previously, asking if the potential to receive up to $2 million was correct.

Sullivan said it was, but it was actually in the form of reimbursement, meaning the town would have to come up with the seed money for any potential purchase and project.

Sullivan cautioned, however, the reimbursement was specifically for a rescue station.

DePasquale said if the fire department angle was followed, the town could also consider selling the Miller Street Station as another way of meeting the cost of the armory purchase.

"But again, you'd have to have someplace for the rescue unit to go. So it kind of turns into that plan again," DePasquale concluded. "I mean, there's opportunity, but it's going to need a plan, big time."