by Frank Schroth

The Board of Selectmen approved $3, 076,605 in capital improvements as recommended by the Capital Improvement Committee chaired by Amy Dexter, Town Accountant. Ms. Dexter. Joe Lynch, Director of the DPW, joined Ms. Dexter to present the recommendations. This is likely because the DPW will receive almost 70% of the $3 million. Lynch spoke to that issue.

The schools are the next major beneficiary, receiving 20%. The remaining ~10% went to Consolidated Facilities (2 trucks), the Parks (tennis court reconstruction), the Town Clerk (voting booths), and Cemetery (road work).

The committee had requested department heads to submit capital improvement requests and rank them. They received ~$12 million in requests.  2% of the amount goes to the Town Clerk. A goal of the committee was to keep the total amount within 1.9% of the tax levy.

A third of the capital improvement is going to repaving of Central Avenue which Mr. Lynch said “is in dire need of attention.” If left unattended the cost of the repair will only increase. Member Keohane pressed Lynch on whether the work could be done for the budgeted $1 million. He asked this three times and three times received the same answer from Mr. Lynch, “I believe we can do this for a million.”

Road repairs are paid in large part from Chapter 90 state funding. However, as Senator Joyce noted later in the session, Chapter 90 was intended as one time funding. Municipalities have come to rely heavily on it;  but it is not nearly enough. Officials noted that the roads are deteriorating faster than they can be repaired. The Central Avenue paving will add pedestrian safety measures at Valley Road and the vicinity of Turners. There will be sidewalks where there are currently sidewalks but there will not be any granite edging. Roadway lacking sidewalks will remain that way. Lynch said granite and additional sidewalks could be added later.

Note that the items identified in parentheses above are not all the improvements for those departments but among the improvements. Here is the complete list of improvements:

The Selectmen also voted to increase fees at the Ulin Rink based on a recommendation from Bill Clark, Town Planner. Fees for non-profits will be increased 8.6% and for profits by 10%. The town has retained Curry College to operate the rink. Curry is doing this at a loss. They have lost approximately $400,000 to date. The rink is currently charing $175 an hour compared to other rinks which are in the $250 range.Member Sweeney asked “Why am I just seeing this now?” He argued that vested interests should have been informed and their comfort with the increase assessed. Mr. Sweeney is involved with the Learn to Skate program, a client of the rink. Chair Hurley cautioned him that as such, “You should not be discussing this. You are on thin ice.” Mr. Sweeney did not vote on the motion but did remain at the table for the discussion. The motion passed.

In other business the selectmen agreed to ask the Town Administrator search committee to provide another candidate. Richard Lafond, one of the finalists, withdrew from consideration.