Town Meeting approves Newman School project

Selectman Gerald Wasserman said the Newman project is one of the most urgent the town has seen and the state has agreed by approving a reimbursement of $8.6 million.

The school’s heating and ventilation system failed nearly two years ago and a temporary system was put in place while the town evaluated long term remedies. In addition to a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, the project calls for a new roof, as well as improvements to the kitchen, auditorium, and nurse’s office.

Wasserman said the reason the town is taking on more than the HVAC system is because code issues are triggered by the renovation, and other problems are best addressed in conjunction with the required work.

The measure will now go before all voters Dec. 8.

Town Meeting approved $49,000 to fund a feasibility study for a new senior center. Although there was a lengthy discussion, disagreement centered not on whether to fund the study but on which locations to study. There was wide consensus that the town had finally agreed that a senior center must be built.

Selectman Denise Garlick, who is also co-chair of the Senior Center Exploratory Committee, introduced the article by saying that the town has been struggling with the senior center question for more than 11 years.

The current senior center, in the basement of an apartment building, lacks parking, adequate accessibility, and space for exercise, she said.

Garlick said the three sites now being considered are Rosemary Hill, Greene’s Field, and Ridge Hill . Because the town has already considered and rejected several other sites, she said, it’s unlikely any new sites will pop up now but they will be considered if they do.

Town Meeting Member Paul Siegenthaler proposed an amendment, which ultimately failed, to use the money to study only Rosemary Hill. The other two sites have too much opposition, he said.

Indeed, opponents to the plan to use Greene’s Field posted signs outside Town Meeting. Siegenthaler said replacing playing fields there with a senior center would be a “slap in the face” to the many donors like himself who helped get fields built there.

His fellow Town Meeting members rejected his amendment after some pointed out that a study of Rosemary Hill could end up with rejection of that location, which would throw the project off the schedule. Town leaders want to open a new senior center in 2013.

Town Meeting approved $920,000 for two open lots totaling about 4.8 acres, currently owned by Standish Farm Realty Lands. Both lots, between Central and Great Plain avenues , were enrolled in a state program to preserve agricultural land, which gave the owners property tax breaks, so the town has the right of first refusal on both.

Jane Howard, a member of the Community Preservation Committee, spoke in favor of the purchases, pointing out they are next to other town-owned land.

There were several questions and concerns voiced.

“It’s not the most beautiful land in town,” said Town Meeting member Deborah Winnick, who also asked what it could be used for.

Howard said it could be used for trails, for example, or some other type of recreation or conservation.

“The possibilities are endless,” she said.

The funding will come from the Community Preservation Fund Open Space Reserve.

Town meeting also approved a local meals tax of .75 percent.

“No one likes to raise taxes,” said Selectman Dan Matthews . “But this is what the Legislature has provided us in lieu of local aid.”

Local businesses have said it’s not a problem, he said, and for consumers it will only add 75 cents onto a $100 tab. But it is also likely to generate as much as $200,000 in much needed revenue annually for the town, said Matthews.

Without discussion, Town Meeting passed an increase in the room occupancy tax from the current 4 percent to 6 percent.

Both new taxes will go into effect January 1.