March 28, 2024

Municipal complex on Ballot: Vote NO

Posted

The 200 or so people at the Special Town Meeting voted to put the municipal complex on the April ballot, although it was not a unanimous decision. The ballot question will allow the Town to borrow the $9.3 million for the project. I don’t dispute the need, and I am not faulting the design for the buildings’ interior plan, but the overall plan remains, in my opinion, incomplete and shortsighted.

The police/fire facility should absolutely be upgraded as soon as possible. I endorse that part of the plan, but I don’t want to see future expansion at Town Hall limited to trailers behind the proposed complex. The Town Hall needs to be a stand-alone building on its own site. The “bookend” design of the proposed Town Hall building prevents expansion of any part of the complex.

If we bring these facilities up to modern standards, let’s make sure they will provide for future growth. Mr. Ashton could give us some information now about possible well and septic placement and the limitations that would place on land use. There is a brook on the back part of the property which may cause setbacks. It doesn’t make good sense to simply reference the land “out back.” Rough sketches could block out parking areas and access roads as well as other parts central to the development. If you want to see the possible limitations, take a drive now through the access road behind the current complex.

Vote NO until the plan is more fully developed.

Carol Williams, resident

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