Possible assessment reduction on hold as School Committee reviews other budget concerns
By Caitlyn Kelleher

School Committee members tabled a proposal during their Wednesday, June 13, meeting to reduce the assessment to both Ashburnham and Westminster by the proportional share of the rent Ashburnham is paying the district.

The motion and unanimous vote to table the proposal came up for discussion after a short executive session by the committee.

"In light of the fact that we have a signed lease (and now a failed override) I would like to make a motion to table this discussion," said Gwen Farley, a committee member.

In an executive session meeting with Ashburnham selectmen on June 7, members of the executive committee of the Regional School Committee - Chairman David Christianson and Secretary Keith Glenny - discussed the issue of the rent being charged to the town for the use of two classrooms as office space for the temporary town hall.

Officials from the town and the school district met publicly on Friday, June 8, to say that the School Committee would be reviewing a possible agreement during their next meeting on what to do with the rental income.

"The discussion was lower the assessments for both towns proportionally based on the rental amount," Christianson said.

But School Committee members appeared to be concerned about the results of removing the money from the budget after the failure of the $1.2 million override request.

"This district negotiated in good faith with the town of Ashburnham," Glenny said. "As far as I'm concerned this is done in good faith."

He expressed concerns about private e-mails and discussions that were taking place around the town.

Ashburnham Selectman Christopher Gagnon attended the School Committee meeting and spoke for himself, not the board, on the matter.

"I think Ashburnham should just continue to pay the rent that was proposed because that is half of a FTE (a full-time position)," he said.

He acknowledged that it wasn't going to solve the district's budget problems but that every little bit might help.

The town is facing another problem in regards to the temporary offices.

The Westminster Fire Department is telling the town to install a fire alarm pull station in those offices now. The area of the building being used is in Westminster so the Westminster Building Department and Fire Department regulate the building.

Ashburnham Town Administrator Kevin Paicos said the money is not there to install the pull station, which is estimated to cost $1,200. The information had not been brought to Paicos' attention until last week, he said.

Paicos said if the law requires the apparatus, then the station will be installed. But if the town is going to pay for the station, a Town Meeting vote will be required to appropriate the money.

If the station is not required legally, he said, there will have to be a conversation about why the fire department wants it installed.