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NORTHBRIDGE, Mass. – The Board of Selectmen stressed at a meeting last night the importance of the upcoming Annual Town Election which will be held next Tuesday, May 15 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Northbridge High School, 427 Linwood Ave.
Though there is only one contested race on the ballot – Selectman James Marzec and former Selectman Joseph Montecalvo competing for one available position on the Board of Selectmen – there are six important ballot questions.
The first three suggest changes in the Town Charter, one of which reduces the School Committee from nine to five members; the last three ask voters to exclude from the confines of Proposition 2 ½ the expenditure of $2,160,000 for three separate projects - $635,000 for Town hall repair and renovation, $625,000 for a five-year road maintenance program, and $900,000 to install artificial turf on Lasell Field.
All the debt exclusion questions passed at Spring Annual Town Meeting last week, two of them approved unanimously. The Lasell Field project passed on a secret ballot vote, 127 to 92. Debt exclusion questions must be approved at Town Meeting and Town Election.
The town is in a “unique situation’’ this year, Town Manager Theodore Kozak said, because of early payment of the high school by the state and a debt reduction of $436,000 which could result in a $480 tax savings for the average homeowner.
If all three debt exclusion questions are approved, the one-year cost will be $409 on the average tax bill. With the allowed tax increase of 2.5 percent allowed under Proposition 2 ½ raising the average tax bill by about $100, Kozak said, tax bills would remain about the same.
Christopher Thompson, who chaired the Charter Review Committee, said it was a two-year process for its nine members. The proposed changes were approved by voters at last fall’s Annual Town Meeting. The Town Charter must be review every 10 years.
The Charter, though 20 years old, needed few changes, Thompson noted. “It is a living document that has passed the test of time,’’ he said.
In addition to reducing members of the school board, the changes reword some terms in the Charter and make the final step in the process of replacement, revision or amendment of the Charter be a ballot vote at town election.
It is a three-year process to reduce the School Committee members from nine to five, and currently there are vacancies on that board with only three candidates for five available positions.
Town Planner R. Gary Bechtholdt II and Wendall Kalsow of McGinley Kalsow & Associates, Inc. outlined again the Town Hall repair and renovation plan.
Kaslow said he wanted to answer some questions raised at the Spring Town Meeting last week. The town received a grant from the Massachusetts Historical Commission to replace the slate roof about 12 years ago and in return agreed to have all repairs reviewed and approved by the Commission. He also noted the plan includes a detailed maintenance plan.
The $635,000 repairs every window in Town Hall in addition to making several other exterior repairs. Bechtholdt said he has applied for a grant of up to $100,000 from the Massachusetts Historical Society to offset the cost of the project.
A PDF of the Town Hall renovation plan is attached.
Department of Public Works Director James Shuris outlined his $2.85 million five-year road maintenance program, $625,000 of that contributed by the town. The plan is to look at every road and make repair using several new processes before the roads fail.
Shuris plans to spend $125,000 of town money each year along with $485,000 of state Chapter 90 funding to achieve his road maintenance goal which he said will be an ongoing process. “Each dollar spent now saves $6 in the future,’’ he said.
“I’m hoping for a favorable ballot vote next week,’’ he said.
Brian Burke, co-chair of Friends of Lasell Field, outlined the $900,000 project. “We had hoped to raise the funds privately,’’ Burke said, but weren’t able to do that.
Turf is easier and cheaper now, Burke said, “and much safer for the athlete.’’
“We can understand that it’s their money,’’ Burke said of taxpayers. “If anything, the proposal raises some eyebrows and gets people to the polls.
“People in this town are willing to do what it takes to make this a better place to live,’’ said Selectman James Marzec.
Attached: (town_hall_exterior_assessment.pdf)
Comments (8)
juggy, how much Preservation money did the town take
and what was done with it?
there are a number of windows bricked up. are those to
be restored as well?
frog pond,
Not sure about the amount, but I think the Preservation Money was maybe used for the Slate Roof repairs, if correct.
Cannot recall the exact amount of Windows but it was a good amount, if I recall.
I would like to see high speed low drag, open and close, replacement Windows, but the expert talking on the Town Hall advised we couldn't because of some Catch-22. We have to go by the Preservation Commission because we took those earlier repair Grants if correct, and if i heard correct?
frog pond,
The Town cannot do Replacement Windows because it took Preservation Grants to repair the Town Hall years ago. It now has to go by Preservation requirements according to the Town Hall preservation presentation at Town Meeting.
Disagree on Voting NO for Marzec, he supported on letting the Voters decide on the proposed Turf Field. Is that not Democracy In Action, and what America is all about?
Plus he supported a $2.1 Million Dollar New DPW at the WWTPlant Fall 2010, plus our two other Senior BOS and Town manager, supported it also. It may be interesting to see what site is more economical, the WWTPlant site or the present DPW site?
Roads, yes.
Town Hall, no. I don't think the windows need to be period
to keep the character. Efficient replacement windows I'd
go for.
Lasell Field, no. Should be part of the school budget.
Marzec, no. Finds it too easy to spend our money.
School Committee size reduction, no. More voices and
discussion to counteract the rubber stamp attitude.
Deborah, you left out a 0 on the total Prop 2.5
expenditure.
'Town Roads'
If for some reason the $625,000 for a five-year road maintenance program, Debt Exclusion potentially fails by the Voters. May the DPW Annual Budget be increased by $125,000 to move on with the DPW Director Road Maint Plan, over that five year period?
If the five year plan passes, does it make sense to just add approx $130,000 to the DPW's annual Budget after the five years? So conjecturally the DPW Director may not have to go through the potential 'Puzzle Palace' Debt Exclusion process, until we are able catch up with the Towns Road Repairs?
Yes on all 3. These are all good projects. There is no way we could create another field for $900,000 that has ample parking, bleachers, press box, restrooms, etc. How would the schools transport kids to a new, off site field if one were built. Lasell is accessible to all students in the MS and HS.
Lasell field is a great venue and providing a safe playing surface will benefit all the youth programs as well as the HS...I can see a benefit to the Parks and Rec offerings outside sports too if wanted.
It can make money if managed the correct way and that should go into an account that allows the field to be managed, maintained and replaced when it become necessary.
Public buildings need windows that are safe and conserve energy, I cant believe these repair wouldn't help with heating costs.
Roads, take a drive down Quaker, goldwaithe or hill street and tell me we don't need repairs...
YES, YES and YES
I'm voting YES on everything. Let's get it done and paid for before we face expenses for new buildings and new fire trucks in coming years.
As for Lasell Field, I've never used it personally and never will. But it is great that so many kids are participating in activities that the field is, irrefutably, worn out. With obesity and diabetes on the rise among our youth, I'm willing to pay my share to provide a nice, safe field so they can continue their athletic pursuits, and hopefully more kids will want to participate.
Roads YES Town Hall windows and fiels turf NO NO NO what a joke windows and grass