HomeMy WebLinkAbout1988-03-29 Board of Selectmen Minutes456 March 29, 198..____..___.[8 Con't
S upi. of School Blaisdell reported that the $764,000 being requested this year will fund 2 new
elementary schools through the bidding process. Much discussion took place regarding concerns
that funds may be appropriated this year to commence a project which has not been approved by the
voters through an override question. Mr. Chmileeki of the Advisory Board added that many people
are making assumptions which the Advisory Board does not necessarily agree with, such as depleting
the stabilization fund to hellJ fund the CIP. Francia Lindon added that her Board views both the CIP
and the feasibility study as wish lists at this point in time without any prioritizing. Town Manager
Paul Sharon agreed that the CIP is in part a wish list, but some areas have been identified as needy.
Mr. Crouch questioned the School Committee's plans to proceed with addressing needy maintenance
areas spelled out in the architect's preliminary report, while moving forward with the master plan.
Ms. Smith asked what the School Committee proposes to do if the override question doesn't pass/.
Supt. Blaisdel stated that he would rent additional temporary classrooms and increase class sizes,
while special education programs would suffer/
The effect of a new school on the tax rate for average homeowner was discussed and Mr. Gaffny
reported it would be about $59 additional each for a home assessedat $100,000. This considers
reimbursement, he added. Mr. Ercolini added that it; should not be hard to sell once you realize
that property values will increase, and the Selectmen have the opportunity to recapture revenues
through revaluation and could rearrange the bucket so that the burden would not be on homeowners.
Relative to cost estimates, Mr. Sheehan reported that the architect would be responsible to redesign
if the bids come in over 10% over the original estimate.
At this point, Francia Lindon reported that she developed some questions, which she distributed,
emphasizing that it is not anticipated that they would be answered at this meeting. Supt. Blaisdell
expressed his concern that others were aware of the questions well before members of the School
Committee were, but welcomed the opportunity to answer them. Those present then went through
the list of questions with considerable discussion.
It was agreed to conduct a similar meeting of the fo~
Catherine ~r. Hicks, Adm. *********************~ Clerk
The Board held a special meeting on this date with three members present: Kenneth Crouch,
Chairman pro rem, Christine Smith, Francis Dugan,, -Rober'~ Ercoltni; Paul D. Sharon~, ,Town
Ma~a~e~. , T~? %minutes 0f':March128.;.and.March 29.were approved a~;~presente.~;
G.L.S.D. Ad Hoc Committee
Jim MaAloon reported that they have not had a response from town counsel to questions addressed
to them in December. Town Manager Paul Sharon responded that he would expect their response
shortly.
New Elementary School @ Town Farm- Preferred Parcel
Members of the School Building Committee met with the Board to review three-proposed parcels
at Town Farm for the eonstrue~ion of a new elementary school. Seledtman'Crouchreported that
after having walked the site recently, he recommends site..f!C". Motion by Dugan, seconded by
Smith to recommend a por~i0n' of~'Town'Farm be-used~to construct a new elementary school, bounded
on the northeast by Coventry I subdivision, on the North by Dale Street, on the South by the
centerline of a presently existing fire road as extended to meet Mass. Electric utility pole
' #1449 (approximately 1/2 of the Dale St. frontage), and extending esaterly to a line parallel to
the right of way of Dale St. sufficient to enclose 15 acres +-, hereinafter referred to a parcel
"C", and that the site be constructed in such a way as to produce minimal impact to existing
topography and wetlands; voted 3-0.
Placement of News B~xes
Selectman Smith raised'the issue of placing newspaper boxes tncontroversial locations in Town,
and what,-if anything can be done to curtail~.this activity. Town Manager Paul Sharon reported
that only moral pursuasion could be used to bring about cooperation with the newspapers, in
that a supreme court ruled that such activity was apart of their constitutional rights.
Joint Meeting. With School Committee, School Bld. Committee and Advisory. Board
A Joint meeting was conducted to continue discussion on the feasibility plan for the school
system. Supt. Blaisdell continued to regpond to written questions of the Advisory Bd. presented
at the last Joint session~ and alluded to the rating system he used to narrow down the process.
He reported that the new school at Town Farm, if approved, would optimistically be opened 'in the
fall of 1990, when the school population is projected at in excess of 1400. There was some dis-
cussion concerning the architect's cost estimates, to which Mr. Blaisdell responded that DiNisco
Kretsch has been asked to look at the numbers ageing because there was a sense that they may be
high. Eric Bakerman of the Adv. Bd. suggested that a 5 yr. cost p~oJection be done on operating
costs involved in 2 new schools. Bill Brush, member of the School Building Committee stated
the whole plan will be re-evaluated phase-by-phase. As far as a special town meeting is con- '
cerned, Mr. Gaffny of the School Committee said that .this.wOuld.probably not.happen sooner than
September of '89. In response to a question raised by Er{~' Bakerman, S~pt. ~laisdell responded
that if the SBAB did not come through this year, the project would be carried over to the nex~
year. John Simons'of the Planning Bd. reported that Conservation Commission has included an