The Mattacheese Utilization Committee (MUK) moved to fast-track the redevelopment planning for the former middle school site on Monday, choosing to bypass a traditional Request for Proposals (RFP) process in favor of an immediate contract with BSC Group. The decision followed a pointed debate over committee oversight and staff capacity as the town races to define a future for the property before project budgets are exhausted.

Staff lead Bill Scott recommended hiring BSC Group—a firm already familiar with the town’s master plan—over alternative consultants like ICON. Scott argued that the move was necessary to stay on schedule and preserve the remaining project budget. Usually when committees control consultants, costs go up because committees ask for things we can’t pay for, Scott said, adding that the formal RFP process has become a drain on town resources. We’re dropping the RFP because it’s too time-intensive. We found during the team's process that staff is doing most of the work. Staff is in the trenches and the trenches are telling us the RFP is a waste of time because the committees are not going to fill it out.

The departure from the established process drew sharp criticism from committee member Sharon Wymer, who argued that the committee was being sidelined from its intended role. I have some issues with it because it’s not part of our scope. The particular scope says we interview and then we hire. We’ve been taken out of that process. I’m not happy about it, Wymer stated. She questioned the new approach where staff would serve as a steering committee, asking, Where is MUK in that? Scott countered that the committee would still receive all reports and that the consultant would meet with the group to refine singular ideas rather than wading through administrative paperwork.

The timeline for public engagement also sparked disagreement. Member Barbara Levoy advocated for a community survey to be launched immediately to capture broad public sentiment, noting that the Select Board really wanted to know from the public if they had any interests for any particular use of the land. However, Scott and other members favored waiting until specific proposals are drafted. You don't do a survey unless you have product, Scott argued. Once we have product, we'll ask the people.

Member John Anderson agreed that providing context is essential for useful feedback. You have to give the public something to reference, Anderson said. If you just do an open survey, you’re going to get a lot of really bad ideas. Member Lindsay Pietro echoed this sentiment, suggesting that an open-ended survey might invite unrealistic expectations. Having every person in Yarmouth contributing ideas like a 'Six Flags' is not realistic, Pietro noted. Under the approved plan, BSC Group will begin developing a structured survey in April to test specific concepts with residents.

The committee’s sub-teams presented a wide range of preliminary visions for the site, highlighting the potential for high-impact regional development. John Anderson reported that his economic development group discussed a municipal campus, medical centers, or a trade school to address local space shortages. Healthcare is interesting because the location is right off Route 6, Anderson noted. Staff liaison Kathy Williams reported that local business leaders are leaning toward a regional indoor sports and tournament complex. The business and chamber were very much on a recreational complex, Williams said. We’ve been looking for ways to have a year-round draw for a long time... tournaments would draw thousands of people to our restaurants and hotels.

On the housing front, Barbara Levoy shared that her group is investigating a mix of single-family homes designated for municipal workers and larger rental complexes. For the site’s open space, a member identified as Andrew reported a focus on preserving the rear of the property as a buffer for the nearby pond while adding parking for trail access. They wanted to shove everything up front and keep the back open to provide a bumper to the pond, Andrew explained.

The discussion turned toward significant financial and environmental hurdles facing the site. Levoy raised concerns about technical discrepancies in the current building reports, noting a 40,000-square-foot difference in recorded building size and the presence of a double-walled underground oil tank. She questioned why the town hasn't already removed the oil to prevent future leaks. Scott estimated that hazardous waste testing and removal, known as 21E waste, could cost the town significantly. A million dollars would probably do it for testing and removal of anticipated waste, Scott estimated. He also noted that future phases of the project, including sewer design and financial implementation, would likely be funded through MassWorks or MassDevelopment planning grants rather than the current project budget.

To prepare for the arrival of the new consultants, committee members were assigned "benchmarking" tasks to find successful examples of similar projects across the country. Anderson will research national sports and recreation models, while Pietro will look at regional economic development. Levoy and Roby Whitehouse will split national and regional housing research, and Andrew will investigate community gardening and open space models.

Despite the earlier friction regarding the hiring process, the committee moved to formalize the consultant selection to keep the project moving. Motion Made by B. Levoy to approve the selection of BSC Group as the project consultant. Motion Passed (Unanimous). The BSC Group is expected to begin its work on April 1st, with the next committee meeting scheduled for April 14th.