Group Recommends Bonding for Several Capital Projects

A study group is recommending the town move forward with several projects as part of a bonding package, currently estimated at $17.9 million. The Capital Projects Study Group, which has met since May of 2011 to prioritize municipal and school capital projects, presented its recommendations to the Boards of Education and Selectmen Tuesday night. The group’s hope is that the boards agree to recommend to the Board of Finance that a package be prepared for a referendum question at the November elections. The finance board would not be obligated to pass them all to voters but the idea of the committee was to prioritize the town's capital needs.  On Tuesday, the school board voted in favor of bringing it to the Board of Finance while the Board of Selectmen decided to take it up at its meeting tonight after some members questioned the inclusion of partial funding for a proposed track and multi-use field at the high school. Officials involved in the capital group said it is a good time for bonding — essentially the town’s way to borrow money through the sale of municipal bonds — because of low interest rates and a favorable construction climate.   “It does make sense to go out to bond now,” Chief Administrative Officer Robert Skinner said. While some projects need further cost refinement the recommendations at current estimated funding, include: $7.5 million for “pavement management,” including major projects on several town roads and the Canton High School and Cherry Brook Primary School parking lots $2.2 million for major roof repairs and partial replacement at the community center and all three schools. $7 million for a new highway garage, including construction and property acquisition $1.2 million toward a $2.2 million track and multi-use synthetic field at Canton High School. ($1 million to be raised through other means) Members of the committee, including school district business administrator Ed Hoyt, Skinner and town project administrator Jeff Shea, spoke about the study group and how it prioritized the projects. Using safety, asset preservation, service delivery, financial benefits, conservation, legal requirements and other criteria the group considered several potential projects that selectmen and the school board had identified. The projects were then prioritized into three “tiers,” the first two being the ones recommended for bonding. The third tier priorities included American with Disability Act compliance issues at the schools and town hall at a cost of $2.2 million, full funding of the track and field project at $2.2 million and sight line improvements to Powder Mill Road at $750,000. If the town chose to include the third tier and went for “maximum bonding” it would bring the total to $21.9 million, a number the study group said is likely unrealistic. Some selectmen have expressed skepticism that the track and field project be a priority for the town and several questions Tuesday revolved around the issue. Selectman Steve Roberto said he loves the idea of a track but asked it came in above the ADA compliance issues, safety on Powder Mill and improvements to services the town already offers.  Hoyt said the track and field would address some of the ADA-field access issues and gave several reasons he felt it was beneficial, including recreation opportunities for residents of all ages. The report states that the bulk of the funding for compliance issues would be at town hall and further study of its future and other improvements should be completed first. Selectmen Lowell Humphrey expressed concern that the commitment to raise $1 million for the balance of the track project was unrealistic and would hold up the project. Hoyt and former school board member Jon Webb said the money would include sponsorships, grants and in-kind services and not only traditional donations and fundraising events. Hoyt also said basic elements of the track could be started before the additional $1 million was raised. At the beginning of the meeting, one resident spoke in favor of the track and later another questioned why it was getting so much scrutiny at the meeting while the garage project wasn't.  Impact to taxpayers depends on a number of factors such as length of the payback period but Skinner did give one example. If done over 15-year period, and assuming many variables, the recommended capital project funding level would result in an estimated average tax-rate increase of 1.9 percent per year, Skinner said. To see the full report, refer to the attached PDF.