Meetings on Year-Round Pool Study, Track and Field Site Plan Set for This Week

Over the next two nights, residents will have the chance to weigh in on two projects that have garnered much attention as of late. 

First is tonight's Special Town Meeting at which electors can decide whether the town should spend as much as $12,500 for an independent study on the feasibility of enclosing Mills Pond Pool. The funds would come from the Mills Pond Pool Evaluation and Improvements Account.

Advocates of the idea recently filed a petition to bring the issue to electors at a special town meeting and feel an enclosure could potentially bring in more programs and generate enough revenue to take the pool from an operation that loses money each year to one that is self sustaining and even generates revenue. 

It has generated some controversy, with some being skeptical of the idea itself, the timing and/or spending the money. Others said the funds should be kept in the account in case already planned pool improvements cost more than the $400,000 allotted. 

The meeting takes place Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at 7 p.m. in the Canton High School Auditorium, 76 Simonds Ave.

To take effect, the measure needs to pass with at least 75 affirmative votes.

Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. residents have the chance to comment on the site plan for the proposed Canton High School Track, Field and Parking lot improvement project. 

In November, residents voted to bond $3.615 million for the project. (Bonding is essentially the town's way to borrow money and pay back over time with interest.) The plan calls for a multi-sport synthetic playing field, surrounded by 6-lane track with 8-lane sprinting section. The plan also calls for redoing the parking lot in a plan officials say will greatly improve traffic flow and safety. A planned secondary access would provide access for emergency vehicles. 

The zoning commission is the final regulatory approval needed and at Wednesday's public hearing residents will have the chance to hear the details of the site plan and comment on it. 

The town is not seeking field lighting at this time as funding for the lights, bleachers and scoreboard was not including in the vote. 

The public hearing is set to open early in the meeting, which takes place at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013 in the Library/Community Center, Room F, 40 Dyer Ave. 

Also Wednesday, the Zoning Commission could potentially take action on a proposed plan for youth fields and a portion of the Farmington River Trail on town-owned property at 55 Lawton Road. There is currently no funding for the plan.