Begin your PR recruiting at Oak Point where few have historical community ties and a gated community where individual residents don't pay real estate property taxes.
A dependable voting block that turns out to vote....because the polling place is on the property....
Convince yourselves that a shiny new building will compensate for poor performance scores and a failed administration.
Convince yourselves that a shiny new building will compensate for parental involvement.
Convince yourselves that a shiney new building will compensate for demographics.
Convince yourselves that the COSTLY OVERRIDES won't scare away potential businesses.
Convince yourselves that the COSTLY OVERRIDES won't force many out of the community
Does anyone remember when Lincoln Andrews stood up and opposed the COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ACT because he argued that folks in Middleboro couldn't afford the projected $18 to $25 annual cost even as the Town was investing MILLIONS in LOTTERY PRODUCTS?
Middleboro students deserve a high school that will prepare them properly for the future....
YES! Cost needs to be considered since ....is the Nichols Middle School override paid for?
And how much is the new Police Station override costing?
The Town was aware for many years of these needs.
Did the Town plan or save?
And a triumvirate including Wayne Perkins included ringers in Town Contracts that built in staggering costs.
And a triumvirate including Wayne Perkins included ringers in Town Contracts that built in staggering costs.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR and gather your FACTS about the costs.
A special town election will be held on November 4 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., asking voters to approve a proposition 2-1/2 debt exclusion ballot question to fund the new high school and to demolish and remove the existing high school.
MIDDLEBORO – Selectmen held a joint meeting with the school committee this week and learned the cost of the proposed new high school is $103,571,622 and the town’s share of $60 million would cost an additional $533.18 a year in taxes for the average Middleboro home assessed at $297,300.
The state is paying about 42 percent of the project or $42,677,512.
After a power-point presentation on the design plans for the new high school and a breakdown of the costs, the selectmen and school committee voted unanimously Wednesday to support the new high school building project to be located adjacent to the current high school, 71 East Grove Street.
Features of the 165,000 square-foot building include two separate wings, one wing includes two, three-story buildings referred to as the ‘academic wing’ and the second referred to as the “athletic and performing arts side” that includes a gymnasium, fitness and weight room, and an auditorium which will have a separate entrance for town functions.
“I feel this is the best project we can put forward,” said Robert Desrosiers, chairman of the School Building Committee, who noted that the committee had voted prior to the selectmen’s meeting to unanimously support the design plans.
The new high school will address the town’s needs for the next 50-plus years, said Desrosiers.
Asked by Selectman Leilani Dalpe how many students the school will accommodate, Desrosiers said it will accommodate the current student population of 720 which was the amount authorized by the Massachusetts School Building Authority. According to MSBA projections, the town’s student population will shrink to 688 over the next 10 years.
According to the power-point presentation, a home valued at $200,000 would pay an additional $261 a year; a home valued at $300,000 would pay an additional $392 a year; and a home valued at $400,000 would pay an additional $522 a year. These figures are based on a yearly average for borrowing $60 million over a 30-year loan at 4 percent.
Tim Bonfatti, President and CEO of Compass Project Management, said the funding would be based on a declining debt schedule with the initial tax increase declining over the 30-year period.
The Special Town Meeting on October 2 will be asked to vote to approve article 7 authorizing the town to raise money to fund the new high school including demolition of the old high school.
A special town election will be held on November 4 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., asking voters to approve a proposition 2-1/2 debt exclusion ballot question to fund the new high school and to demolish and remove the existing high school.
If the taxpayers approve the project, it would take a year to finish the schematic drawings which would include working with the Massachusetts School Building Authority. Once the plans are finalized the project would go out to bid in October 2018; Construction would begin in January 2019 and take two years to complete; the new high school would open in January 2021; demolition of the old high school would take place from January 2021 to July 2021.
Selectmen Chairman Allin Frawley commended the committee for their work. “The committee did a very good job at getting the public involved,” said Frawley in reference to the three public forums held by the school building committee.
“This is a lot of work, you did a great job,” said selectmen vice-chairman Stephen McKinnon, adding “I am on a fixed income, and it doesn’t bother me at all.”
“I think this would be a great thing for the town,” said McKinnon adding that a new school increases the real estate values, makes homes more saleable, and encourages people to move into the town.
HUH?
HUH?
“There’s not a member on the school committee that does not view it as a high price tag but we are willing to do everything we possibly can to drop that number down even further if we can find ways to do that. That’s our mission but we want to make it an excellent school for the town,” School Committee Chairman Rich Young told selectmen.
5 comments:
Your analysis of the 'Destruction of Middleboro' is completely inaccurate. No one said a new school would solve issues in test scores, parental involvement or demographics. The building is one piece of the puzzle.
Check out the election results. The vote was approved in ALL precincts. Take Oak Point out entirely and it still; passed.
Not my words!
“I think this would be a great thing for the town,” said McKinnon adding that a new school increases the real estate values, makes homes more saleable, and encourages people to move into the town.
https://middlebororeview.blogspot.com/2017/09/one-must-wonder.html
Justin,
Allow me to offer:
1. Lots of people spent a great deal time, effort and energy on this project.
It is clear that a new facility made greater sense financially than repairs of the existing structure [although it might be hoped that use could me made of the existing structure if only for storage, not public use or some such]
2. Under the circumstances, voter turnout was a DISGRACE!
Excluding Oak Point, do you mean that both parents of kids in school couldn't get off their couches? The vote was on a Saturday. How truly pathetic is that?
3. Lots of people spent a great deal time, effort and energy on this project. Will those same people pay attention to town government and other issues going on in town?
Like Stone St?
4. The issue has been raised to me repeatedly by others that if Middleboro had not chased business and commercial development away, the impact on residential home owners would not be as great.
5. Banks have 'red lined' Middleboro, refusing to lend because of the conduct of the Planning Department. Are you aware? Did you follow?
6. Approach a developer and they quickly respond that they will not build in Middleboro! They will not speak out publicly for fear of retaliation. Who needs that? And retaliation has been displayed.
Look around at the business/commercial development in surrounding communities.
There's a small business park in Plymouth - I've done business with several of the small businesses within the park. It's isolated from residential properties, so no truck traffic with kids. The traffic flows are impressive, no congestion.
Look at Colony Place. Malling over the town might not be my preference, but TAX BASE?
I am familiar with several small businesses that attempted to locate within Middleboro and the Town Planner was such an obstacle, they went elsewhere.
This is not solely about a school and its poor performance. It's also about the failure of residents to pay attention, ask questions and participate.
There are several other town departments needing public attention.
No one has noticed.
Unrelated, but the historical definition of Middleborough:
For years, the same person was elected as state representative.
Middleborough voted year after year after year for this REPUBLICAN who subsequently received a generous pension.
Problem? He only found his way to Beacon Hill 2 or 3 times each year, but faithful REPUBLICANS continued to support him.
There is a great deal of information available on the internet without relying on Party definition or phony rhetoric to continue to vote for Dead Heads, just as there is a great deal of information to inform you about town government and those who fail their duties.
The question is: will town residents inform themselves?
Mr. Pittsley:
Bloggers receive a massive volume of SPAM, especially with the large volume of readers received, hence the comment moderation.
I am not in this World to live up to your expectations and would recommend that you temper your comments before criticizing others.
Middleborough is not on my priority list since Brain Dead Voters couldn't even get off their couches to VOTE.
Before defending the voting results, you might consider the voter turnout in other municipalities - they're not as poor.
In addition, there are other town departments that demand your attention as well. Since the Middleboro Gazette was gobbled up, the reporting has been pathetic.
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