OLD TOWN – City council members voted Thursday to delay putting the Helen Hunt School up for sale until a bid proposal package could be assembled. The council has voted not to use the downtown school site for new municipal offices, despite public sentiment strongly in favor of that idea.

Council members maintain that it would cost less to tear down the H.E. Sargent School in Stillwater and rebuild there than it would to renovate the Helen Hunt School. Repairing the Helen Hunt School would cost $1.3 million more than originally anticipated, not including the cost of maintenance, the council said.

Some residents oppose a move to Stillwater, citing a stronger sense of community and the need to keep services close by as reasons for keeping City Hall downtown.

No matter where the new offices are built, most agree it’s time to move.

“We’re at risk now. We’ve been at risk for years,” Council Chairman Alan Stormann said about the city’s current municipal building. “We’ve got to move on.”

The city has about $2 million in bond and grant money allocated for new office space and council members have indicated a certain amount of urgency in getting a new address.

Residents, however, say not so fast. Oak Street resident Carol May pointed out that because the council members underestimated the cost of renovating the Helen Hunt School, it’s possible the costs for the Stillwater site could be over their estimate as well.

“It’s fair to guess they may come in less,” Stormann said, adding that the council would wait until it had firm numbers before choosing a permanent site.

One resident expressed concern for the Old Town Senior Club, which could meet in the new location. The council has voted to proceed with the preliminary design of the H.E. Sargent School to use as a community center and to house the Parks and Recreation Department.

“To put a senior citizen place in Stillwater – it just doesn’t jive,” Marlene Spellman said.

May suggested selling the H.E. Sargent School site and use the revenue to offset the added costs of renovating the Helen Hunt School. Council members rejected the idea of selling the site because of its potential for use later on and the city’s lack of space.

“We have no land,” council member Cates said.

“We have no money,” May replied.

Tearing down the Herbert Gray School building and using that site will be looked into as well.