Town will accept park gift

The town of Springfield has agreed to assume ownership of the downtown pocket park owned by Springfield On The Move.
http://rutlandherald.com/article/20140816/NEWS02/708169963

The town of Springfield has agreed to take ownership of the Comtu Cascade Park. Photo: PHOTO BY LEN EMERYPublished August 16, 2014 in the Rutland Herald Town will accept park gift By SUSAN SMALLHEER Staff Writer SPRINGFIELD — The town of Springfield has agreed to assume ownership of the downtown pocket park owned by Springfield On The Move, the downtown redevelopment organization. The board on a 4-1 vote agreed to the request from SOM, which in its request said the property transfer would save the nonprofit organization from paying taxes and insurance on the small park on the banks of the Black River. The park, which is called Comtu Cascade Park, was built on the site of two dilapidated buildings, which were torn down about 10 years ago and the park built in their stead. The park has extensive plantings, walkways and park benches, and has been used for weddings in the past. Town Manager Robert Forguites said that the late Springfield lawyer William Moeser had funded a great deal of the park purchase and renovations, as well as other individuals. “Bill Moeser was interested in the downtown,” said Forguites, who added that Moeser was interested in rebuilding or taking down dilapidated buildings in Springfield to improve the town. He said there is a plaque at the park thanking Moeser and others for their donations. Moeser was the longtime patent attorney for the Jones & Lamson Machine Tool Co. in Springfield, and later went into private practice in his adopted hometown. He was a native of Wisconsin. Moeser died at the age of 89 in 2009. Forguites said that Moeser’s gift did not carry restrictions that would have prohibited the transfer to the town. Only Selectman David Yesman voted against accepting the park, saying the town should not be in the practice of accepting tax-paying properties and that it would set a dangerous precedent for other vacant lots in town. Yesman said SOM received $25,000 a year from the town to support its activities. The park is assessed at $14,900. But others defended accepting the park, noting that Springfield On The Move had done the town a favor by tearing down two dilapidated buildings that were health hazards and creating a public window on the picturesque Black River. “It’s a very nice riverfront park,” said Selectwoman Stephanie Gibson Thompson. Selectman George McNaughton said SOM was not a private individual trying to evade paying taxes. “They really did the town a favor,” McNaughton said. “We’d be remiss if we didn’t.” “They bought it and they should maintain it,” Yesman answered. Town Attorney Stephen Ankuda said a property boundary dispute between SOM and landowners on the south end of the property had been resolved.