Committee backs Mann Chemical purchase
Published on October 14th, 1998
STONEHAM, MA - The School Building Committee reaffirmed its position regarding sponsorship of the warrant article to acquire the former Mann Chemical property last Wednesday night.
While the committee still considers it a worthwhile move for the town, and will co-sponsor the article with the School Committee, the avenue for funding continues to be an open issue.
Finance Board member John Warren advised the committee that one year ago, when Town Meeting was initially presented with the article by the Board of Selectmen, the cost to purchase the property was estimated at $350,000. With the remediation work since completed on the property, along with the closing of the state's case, another $750,000 has been put into the property. The current owners of the property, according to Warren, have addressed both of these issues.
"Everything hinges on where the money is coming from...With the reduced risk, the price has increased considerably," stated Warren.
Current plans for the property include a 4-story building, 165 parking spaces and additional curb cuts. This property is adjacent to the Middle School on the heavily trafficked Central Street.
There is currently no money in the town's 1999 budget for such a purchase. According to Warren, some people are concerned about the town's borrowing liability and about the depletion of the town's stabilization account.
The Finance Board had not addressed the issue as of last Wednesday, but speaking as a resident, Warren expressed his appreciation to the committee for putting the article on the Town Meeting warrant for this month.
"Even though it will be difficult to fund, ten years from now, it's going to be the absolutely right thing to do," he said. "It's not going to be easy, but I encourage the board to keep plugging."
School Superintendent Dr. Joseph Connelly advised the board that, once informed of the increased value of the property, the School Committee had the opportunity to reconsider their co-sponsorship of the article. It chose not to, reported Connelly.
"Their stand has not changed, but they are also concerned with the difficulty in raising the money," stated Connelly.
Stoneham Schools Business Manager Donald Simpson attended meetings last week with the current property owners who suggested that the town might consider accessing part of their land, rather than the whole footprint, for better access to the Middle School and the future Central Elementary School. Discussions with the owners are continuing.
School Building Committee Chairman Dan Hogan stated that in the town's last attempt to purchase the land through Town Meeting approval, it had no sense of what it would do with it. The committee maintains that the primary purpose for acquisition is open space for the town. This open space would also improve the school site without the increased traffic potential that the current plan holds.
"Part of the problem is that it looks like a school issue, but it's not. It's a town issue," stated Hogan. "It's good, sound logic for the town to look at it."
Connelly stated that, as sponsors of the article, both the SchooI Committee and the School Building Committee must come up with potential costs and estimates of the tax impact on residents.
"That's an absolute necessity," stated Connelly.
The committee will request such an analysis of Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting. In addition, drawings of what the site could look like, if the town purchase is approved by Town Meeting, will be on hand for the October 26 Town Meeting.
The Board of Selectmen are scheduled to review designs for the proposed four-story building with the prospective owners on Wednesday night.
Subscribe and get Home Delivery of The Independent
Save 36% off the newstand price — that's like 18 FREE issues!