Voters must reaffirm the use of money to repair Forbush Library
By Karen Mann Journal Correspondent

Residents will be asked to reaffirm their vote appropriating $670,000 for a library repair project at the upcoming special town meeting.

Board of Selectmen Chairwoman Lorraine Emerson started the board's meeting on Oct. 30 by reading a letter penned by bond counsel citing a procedural problem.

The town has a bylaw which states the capital planning board must give a written opinion on capital expenditure projects over $25,000, said Treasure Melody Gallant.

A vote taken at annual town meeting in May 2006 to appropriate $670,000 for repairs to the Forbush Memorial Library through a capital override is no good because this procedure was not followed.

The money is designated to repair the exterior of the building to stop the water problems that have plagued the building for years. The design for the project was completed but was supposed to undergo a peer review, but that process has been put on hold because the money can't be used until, and unless, voters reaffirm their May 2006 to appropriate the money.

To correct this problem, the Capital Planning Commission must now submit a letter to town officials saying why they did not weigh in on the project in the first place, and the proceed to give their opinion on the project.

Emerson said that committee did not submit anything before the article was presented at town meeting because of time constraints. She said the article was submitted at the last minute.

Emerson said because the capital planning board is a fairly new board, town officials are still learning all of the procedures that need to be followed.

"It's a learning curve," said Emerson. "We made a mistake."

Unless the town's legal counsel states otherwise, Emerson said, the opinion that the capital planning committee renders would be just that, an opinion. It will have no official bearing on the decision that was already made to spend the money.

If voters approve the article at the special town meeting after the capital planning board has submitted all the necessary documents then the money can be borrowed. The ballot-question vote for the override does not have to be taken again.

The capital planning board is meeting after press time on Wednesday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. to write their opinion so the vote can be taken at special town meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 14.

In other business:

+ Police Chief Salvatore Albert is asking for money to pay a stipend to the assistant animal control officer the department has been using. Albert said the assistant fills in when the full-time animal control officer cannot respond to a call.

The total requested stipend is $5,000 for a full year. Albert took money from the department's contractual funds account to pay the first half, but said he will not have enough money to cover the stipend for the rest of the fiscal year.

Albert submitted an article for special town meeting asking for $2,400 to pay this. He is also asking the $5,000 be added into the police budget for future years.

+ Another article being proposed for the town meeting would pay for insulation to be put in the police side of the public safety building. Albert said he received bids ranging from $4,700 to $7,500. He is asking for $5,500 to fund the project.

+ Selectmen also met with members of the Parks and Recreation Commission to discuss safety issues at the baseball playing fields. The commission is asking for $15,000 to make repairs to the two fields along the road. Commissioners said where the dirt meets the grass at the infield line, the land slopes upward causing baseballs to launch into the air towards players faces.

The commissioners said it is a major safety and liability issue that needs to be fixed immediately. Selectman Thomas O'Toole agreed saying he has witnessed it happen.

Emerson wanted to know if the work could be done before next spring. She said if it couldn't, the group should wait until annual town meeting to ask for the money.

The members of the parks and recreation commission agreed they wanted to have the work done before the start of the next baseball season because it is that much of a safety concern.