Selectmen debate a return to the ballot box
By Danielle LeBlanc JOURNAL CORRESPONDENT

Ashburnham Selectmen met last week to begin a discussion on the failed capital and debt exclusion questions in June's Special election.

The Board's special meeting on Wednesday, June 25, focused on fixing the town's roads repair plan, which failed by 16 votes, and the John R. Briggs Elementary School building project, which failed by only seven votes. The Briggs Building Committee met after the failed vote and requested the question of funding a feasibility study, which would start the building project process with the state, return to the ballot.

Selectman Jonathan Dennehy noted that it "is a necessary duty to keep the roads in good shape. For this to happen we must invest money."

Dennehy also began the discussion about the failure of the ballot questions by questioning the reasons why the town voted them down.

"Why did they vote no? I don't think anyone can answer these questions right now. That's the troublesome part of all this. Were they in favor but didn't want the bill? Were they against them in principle? Were they overwhelmed by the number of questions? It's difficult to tell why people voted no."

The major question was when, if at all, to put this question back on the ballot. The possibility of a September vote was discussed.

Dennehy had concerns with going back for another vote: "Historically going back for another vote has not been good. We have to take a stand and stick to it. This is the one utmost priority."

Dennehy proposed that the Selectmen find some way to reach out to the community, possibly in the form of questionnaires, to find out exactly why the questions were voted down.

Selectman Margaret Whitney read from a prepared statement.

"I believe that the high price of fuel oil, gasoline, food, and the unstable economy is why the majority voted no … I believe there was a sound message that I heard loud and clear: 'No new taxes' because there is no extra money in our households to spare."

Selectman Chris Gagnon's main concern was for the Briggs repairs that need to be done.

"We have to ask ourselves do we want an elementary school in this town? The school, as it is, is cramped and crowded. Without an elementary school we cannot inform."

Gagnon also pointed out that the state put Briggs at the top of the list for repairs needed. The program through the Massachusetts School Building Authority means that the town will share the expense of either repairing or rebuilding the school with the state, with the town being responsible for 47 percent of the $400,000 feasibility study. The town would be reimbursed by the state for the remaining percentage of 53 percent.

Dennehy agreed with Gagnon, stating that "[this program] is not a once in a lifetime opportunity but it's pretty darn close to it. We should take every means necessary to jump through this window of opportunity."

"The Feasibility Study will provide potential solutions for those identified problems as well as give a much clearer understanding of the project scope, cost and schedule of a possible project," according to MSBA spokesperson Carolyn Walsh. "The majority of the $400,000 will be spent on creating the design for the most cost effective alternative for the school district."

There is no word as to whether or not the MSBA will accept an election for the funding of the feasibility study in 2009, if the election were held in January rather than September.

The Selectman noted that they would have two more meetings to discuss this issue on Mondays, July 7 and 24.