‘Sanctuary’ discussion possible
UPDATED, May 7: Town Meeting on Wednesday, May 3, approved spending millions for the good of Arlington in near-unanimous votes, including:
— $24,450,000 to renovate the former Gibbs School, plus a plan to cover a $2 million expected overrun;
— $3.5 million to add six classrooms to the Hardy School plus an expanded cafeteria; and
— $11.5 million for the fiscal 2018 capital budget.
Discussed and still to be approved were the town and school budgets. (Discussion of the “sanctuary” resolution is possible later Monday.) Those and other factors in Arlington’s fiscal 2018 equation come to $153.8 million, as the Finance Committee reports.
But wait? More numbers are on the horizon. Looking ahead, Fincom Chair Allan Tosti said that in three years, fiscal 2021, residents will face an override of about $17 million, or an increase of about 16.5 percent. He said town officials have never asked taxpayers for more than 10 percent.
He asked all in the next three years to try to keep spending down and seek further revenues, particularly from the state.
Meeting moments of note
But that’s getting ahead of last Wednesday, when much of the discussion focused on the town and school budgets. Read details about that below. First, consider these moments of note that help you breathe amid the blizzard of dollar signs:
— Expressive song can help anyone endure numbers, and Arlington High School Madrigal Singers, led by Madalyn Kitchen, elevated the mood. Following the “Star-Spangled Banner” and a jazzy “Singin’ in the Rain” came a flow of chorale voices that made you feel like flying: “Sogno di Volare” (“Dream of Flight”). Hear a version of it here >> Last came “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing,” an antidote to local finances.
— Precinct 18 meeting member David Levy, the father of two future Dallin attendees, said he “loves seeing the 25-mph signs,” the town speed limit on designated roads as of May 1 (down from 30 mph). In response, he has designed a bumper sticker that says, “I drive 25 for Arlington Youth.” He is selling it for $5, which goes to the Arlington Youth Counseling Center. Reach him at david.jeffrey.levy[@]gmail.com.
— Consider the standing ovation for John Cole, an architect who has long led the Permanent Town Building Committee. Charlie Foskett, chair of capital planning, noted that Cole had led building-committee efforts resulting in the Stratton School renovation project coming in $1.5 million under budget. The savings has resulted in help for the former Gibbs project, which is expected to cost $2 million more than voters supported last June.
— Then Bill Berkowitz (8) cited a significant unused resource that could aid the public schools — ourselves. “Let’s put our knowledge to use …. Would you share? I think you would.” Saying the schools have “room for improvement” in engaging the community in classrooms, he suggested allocating $25,000 for a volunteer coordinator and “use the resources we already have …. [If we have] anything like low-hanging fruit, we are it.”
Superintendent Kathleen Bodie said some schools do have such community connections, including Dallin’s Bridge Program, but she said she would look at his suggestion for a future budget.
— Finally, Paul Schlichtman (9) had a useful reminder — that the meeting can modify only the school budget’s total, not line items. He pointed out that no one had attended School Committee budget hearings this year, a matter of note in the light of a $66 million budget.
Hardy, Gibbs
During the Special Town Meeting under Article 3 (Hardy), Jeff Thielman (12), School Committee chair, touted excellence of schools as a magnet for burgeoning enrollment. Bodie said the current enrollment of more than 5,600 students could grow to 6,500 in coming years.
That ongoing enrollment spike has led to current plans for Thompson, Hardy, the former Gibbs, Stratton and, off in the distance, the high school. Foskett noted that the projects mean the town in incurring $157 million in debt after adding an estimated $1 million in debt for AHS.
A significant delay in delivering steel has slowed the Thompson project, and officials hope for a possible Sept. 5 opening. Bodie has been asked to devise an alternative plan.
Town Manager Adam Chapdelaine reviewed the work of the School Enrollment Task Force. Among options, they decided for a permanent, six-classroom addition plus cafeteria expansion at Hardy. The final cost of $3.5 million was determined after Shawmut Design checked the estimates of HMFH Architects.
Karl Wagner (11) recalled an earlier Town Meeting declined to sell the Gibbs, suggesting the town should find a way to prevent increasing density.
Kate Leary (4), with two children at Hardy, spoke for several school parents about changes she has seen at the school. She said her third-grade son was in the last class to have three sections. “All have four now … and kids are eating on the stage,” she said.
“Kindergartners miss [some] recess time …. Teachers are working in smaller spaces … and students beginning to feel the strain.”
In addition to these observation, she also had thank-yous for members of the School Enrollment Task Force. “You came to the right recommendations,” she said. She also thanked Town Meeting for supporting education.
Article 3 was approved, 215-1.
As to Article 4 (Gibbs), Chapdelaine reviewed the renovation. The total cost is $2 million higher because officials found all windows must be replaced and further exterior work is needed. Tosti noted the capital budget had changed at the last minute because of the Gibbs budget and the Mystic Street bridge work, and thanked Foskett and others for the last-minute revisions.
William Burke (17) backed the article, but said he thought the Redevelopment Board and others had “let this town down in 25 years …. We’re going to be in this position again. You got to smarten up.”
The article was approved 217-0, and the Special Town Meeting ended.
Capital, town budgets
After an eight-minute break, the regular meeting took up Article 34 (Capital budgets).
Gordon Jamieson (12) said the town should spend more on parks and fields. Foskett responded that capital planning hoped that Community Preservation funds would help pay for that.
Peter Fuller (20) asked about the costs of ventilation at the Dallin School, and the answer — to improve the comfort for all — led him to thank those involved for their work.
A 205-1 vote supported the article.
Under Article 36 (Bond premiums) Foskett said when the town sell bonds, it often get cash payments, or premiums.
The 199-0 vote supported the state’s rules about how the town applies these payments.
Under Article 33 (Budgets), Moderator John Leone listed those budgets held for discussion — 1, 5, 18, 19, 23, 24, 27, water-and-sewer and youth counseling.
Under the Fincom budget, Jamieson asked that meeting notifications be emailed.
Under IT, Fuller asked about budget differences from past year. David Good, the town’s chief tech officer, attributed the cost increases to the town’s new Munis accounting and messaging packages.
Further, Good said he aims for a better focus more security. In addition, he is involved in all of the school-construction projects.
Susan Stamps (3) asked about updates to improve the town website. Chapdelaine said suggestions are always suggested and improvements are made regularly.
John Deyst (13) asked about network security. Good noted that the data center in the basement of Arlington High as well as in the cloud. He said protection included a variety of type of security, including intrusion detection.
Annie LaCourt (15) asked whether there is a plan to raise the data center to a higher floor. Good said he is looking into the issue and decisions were expected at plans for new AHS take shape.
Under the DPW budget, Ed Trembley (19) asked about use of salt during the winter. DPW Director Mike Rademacher said 9,700 pounds were used, at a cost of $750,000, the department was seeking to reduce that.
Trembly said he did not think that town manager should have apologized for the town’s response to an ice storm in January. He said he thinks town drivers should use snow tires.
Under education, John Maher (14) wanted to know the loss to the town because of teachers leave for higher compensation. “Great question,” Bodie said.
Bodie said that compensation here is comparable on a master’s degree level, but not on others. “We’re much closer to the average,” as districts on the so-called “Town Manager 12” list, but “we’re not quite there.”
She added: “Our retention of teachers is quite good …. We still have a ways to go for compensation.”
Frank Ciano (15) wanted to know why budgets for administrators had increased $1 million in three years, but custodian and clerical remained flat.
Bodie said adjustments had been made to administration, because these people lagged behind other comparable districts. “We have not increased our administration’s open positions and are looking to fill some,” she said.
Read Selectman Dan Dunn’s blog about session 4 | Paul Schlichtman’s scorecard | Christian Klein’s blog
Session 3, May 1, 2017: Appointed treasurer, parking district approved
Session No. 2: April 26, 2017: Session 2 OKs recreational marijuana moratorium, plastic-bag limits
Session No. 1, April 24, 2017: Zoning articles pass
Town Meeting is broadcast live on local broadcast and live-streamed on acmi.tv >>
2017 warrant | Substitute motions | Reports to 2017 Town Meeting:
Board of Selectmen | Finance Committee | Redevelopment Board | Capital Planning | Treasurer |
Permanent Town Building Committee | Community Preservation Committee |
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Master Plan Implementation Committee | Vision 2020
2016 Annual Report
April 26, 2017: Report offers way to cover higher cost for former Gibbs renovation
March 28, 2017: AG’s threat on immigration would not affect Arlington
Jan. 29, 2017: Citizen articles: plastic bags, marijuana, surveillance
Election candidates, openings
Statements from candidates posted to the School Enrollment Parent Group (Facebook)
Opinion, March 29, 2017: Rise of local social media driving politics
This news summary was published Wednesday, May 3, 2017, and updated May 6, to add full summary, and May 7, to add “sanctuary” discussion possibility.
