HADLEY — Voters at Town Meeting this spring will get their say on the future of the historic Russell School building in the town center.

The Community Preservation Committee voted 5-1 on March 27 to recommend that the town spend $1.25 million from the CPA account to pursue a plan developed by the Russell School Committee for the 1894 building.

With some amendments to the initial request, the committee’s proposal, to be on the Town Meeting warrant, includes stabilizing the building at the southwest corner of Route 9 and Middle Street, updating an existing preservation study completed by Olde Mohawk Historic Preservation, and hiring Architectural Heritage Foundation to undertake a comprehensive feasibility study.

CPA Committee members praised the diligence of the Russell School Committee volunteers, including Chairwoman Courtney Meyer and member Dan Regish.

“I think you’ve done an amazing amount of work,” said CPA Committee Chairwoman Mary Thayer.

But Thayer said she is nervous about asking Town Meeting to draw the account down to $767,227, the amount that would be left when $2.65 million is reserved for projects. Her concern comes as there are possible needs at the former Goodwin Library building and the Town Hall building.

CPA Committee member Mark Dunn said he worries the proposal could be defeated at Town Meeting because it’s too much money, suggesting alternatives might be presented.

“I just would hate to see this go down in flames if there’s another option,” Dunn said.

“I think it’s high time we stabilize this so we have some options,” responded committee member Rise Smythe-Freed.

It’s only right for voters to weigh in, said member Edwin Matuszko. “Let’s let the people decide,” he said.

Only Andy Klepacki opposed the proposal, though didn’t offer an explanation for his vote.

Meyer said the study committee found the spending would give the town the ability to plan for future use of the Russell School later.

“We’ve been stuck in a cycle of people saying we need a plan to secure the money, but we also need money to secure the plan,” Meyer said.

“We’ll not be able to complete a bunch of the projects, but we will be able to complete a bunch of the planning over the next couple of years,” Regish said.

He added that “the sky is the limit” for what the building can be used for, including possibly moving town offices from the older, and cramped, Town Hall building.

“I want to afford the town the option to use that building in the future,” Regish said.

The project has support from Historical Commission Chairwoman Diana West, who said the full town needs to vote on what happens with Russell School, after residents previously saw Hooker School demolished and North Hadley Village Hall sold to private developers.

“There are really big concerns if we let this go on, then it will be a pile of rubble in the next couple of years,” West said.

Carolyn Holstein, a member of the Russell School Committee, said the building is beautiful, sturdy and unlike any other in town.

“It would just be a shame to let this unique, gorgeous building go,” Holstein said.

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