Officials seek town approval for a Capital Planning Committee
Published on February 7th, 2007
STONEHAM, MA - The town's Board of Selectmen unanimously agreed to co-sponsor a capital planning warrant article with the Finance Board at this May's Town Meeting.
According to Finance Board member Shawn McCarthy, the Town Meeting measure would seek to create a Capital Planning Committee that would draft a five-year plan for such appropriations.
The group, which would report directly to the Selectmen, would present its proposals at each Annual Town Meeting and consider all requests for capital needs that have a life of over five years and also cost more than $5,000.
As currently worded, the Board of Selectmen would designate one of its members and three local residents to the new committee.
A Finance Board member, the Superintendent or his/her appointee, the Town Administrator, and the Town Accountant would also participate in the group's regular deliberations.
Lobbying the Selectmen to adopt the warrant article as its own, Finance Board member Richard Gregorio suggested that members shouldn't get hung-up on the wording of the measure as its currently written, as Town Counsel Bill Solomon would be able to change the language.
"What we're trying to do is to implement a Capital Planning Committee that will report to the Board of Selectmen and then a report would be made at Town Meeting," said Gregorio.
"When we do have capital planning articles, it will become something that's more efficient. Then it becomes something that people can be more confident in," the Finance Board member added, referring to some confusion at recent Town Meetings over capital spending proposals.
According to Selectman Tony Kennedy, he was a little worried about some language that appeared to indicate that Town Meeting would have to accept the five-year budget forecasts.
However, after being assured that such was not the case - the annual citizen assembly would still have to authorize such expenditures - Kennedy backed the proposal.
"I think the single biggest benefit is that you eliminate surprises," the veteran Selectman said.
"Quite frankly, I think it's long overdue and I think we ought to have a long-term capital plan," Selectman Paul Rotondi said in agreement.
Land Use Committee
For the first time since its inception last year, the town's Land Use Committee issued a report on its activities to the Selectmen.
According to advisory board member Catherine Moore, the town committee is currently doing a detailed write-up on over 315 private and town-owned parcels across Stoneham.
Considering what types of development or reuses would be appropriate in each instance, the Land Use Committee hopes to ultimately offer a comprehensive vision for the future of the town's commercial, residential, and open-space potential.
"We want to make sure there is an equitable distribution of things like parks and green spaces so that the town is looked at as a whole," said Moore, who added that affordable housing, revenue utilization, mcmansions, and brownfield developments were all topics being considered.
Although Kennedy wanted the group to identify a town-owned parcel that could be sold immediately at the upcoming spring Town Meeting, the group claimed that they hadn't had adequate time to make such a recommendation at this point.
Subscribe and get Home Delivery of The Independent
Save 36% off the newstand price — that's like 18 FREE issues!