February 9, 2001

School rehab plan could go to voters:
Councilors plan to vote next week to place issue on ballot
Amesbury News. By Joel Beck

Members of the Municipal Council want to put the fate of the high school renovation project into the hands of the voters.

An ordinance sponsored by At-large Councilor Tom Iacobucci, District 3 Councilor Tracey Brown and District 5 Councilor Debra Dow to be proposed next week will place the $23.8 million high school renovation project on the ballot for a townwide vote. The vote would determine whether the town should finance the proposed project.

" Itís been claimed that there is a time to do an election, " Iacobucci said. " Thatís not true. According to the Secretary of Stateís Office, we can call and schedule an election in as little as 35 days.

" What we have proposed in the ordinance is a 49-day schedule, just to give a little extra time. "

Since the town is not legally able to impose taxes above the levy limit proposed by Proposition 2 1/2, voters would likely need to approve a debt exclusion under Prop. 2 1/2 to finance the high school renovation project. Any financing for the project would be in addition to the $70,000 that the council has already approved.

The proposed ordinance points out that the council already has previously authorized other bonds, which have not yet been issued totaling more than $7.5 million, and expects to authorize the cost of improving the townís Wastewater Treatment Plant. Thatís expected to costs upwards of $17 million.

" This (potential vote) is an option and it shouldnít be shrugged off, " Iacobucci said. " I think the taxpayers should clearly play a significant role in this, and thatís why Deb, Tracey and I have sponsored this to put it on the ballot. "

Dow said she definitely sees a need to rehabilitate the high school, but said that given the state of the townís financial situation, $23.8 million may be too expensive. She said the people should decide.

" Iím not sure that we would be best off doing the whole project at this point, " Dow said. " From my perspective, I see doing perhaps a scaled-back project and then having some sort of a plan set out as to when weíre going to accomplish this.

" I think this is something that every person needs to voice their opinion on. "

The council plans to propose the ordinance at its monthly meeting at Town Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 13.