HomeMy WebLinkAbout1966-12-21-STG-min.pdf `.
Structure of Town Government
December 21, 1966
Present. Adams, Battin, Bryson, Russian; Austin Fisher, Irving
Mabee, Bob Hargrove, MaryLou Touart, Erik Lund, Vin
Hayes, Ruth Morey, Bob Bond
Mabee repeated the Selectmen's concern that the proposed
permanent building committee (PBC) would not report to any respon-
sible town group between annual town meetings The Selectmen
presently have a sub-committee working on specifications for an
addition to the town office building, and would like to see the
sub-committee continue as a building committee (Other persons
present questioned the legality of this, since two members of the
sub-committee are town employees and two are also members of the
Appropriations Committee )
Hargrove stated that the Standing School Building Committee
(SSBC) favored' the idea of a PBC starting in March 1967 provided
at least two of the members of the present SSBC are appointed to
the new PBC The latter is important to maintain school building
"know-how" for the new junior high school and to carry out financial
responsibilities for construction recently completed They feel
that seven members would be better than five (quorum of four) ; they
suggest that the wording not require but instead recommend that
members of the PBC include an engineer, a contractor, and a lawyer
(Fisher strongly recommended omitting architect) They feel that
requirement of approval of plans and specifications by the principal
users would slow down procedures greatly; they feel that PBC should
report to the twon, not to the principal users
Fisher stated that the School Committee would like the
majority of the present SSBC to be on the new PBC since they want
an experienced committee to build the new $2 1/2 million junior high
• school
Hayes stated that the Recreation Committee strongly endorsed
the idea of a PLC since this would provide an implementation agency
for building tennis courts, swimming pools, possibly a community
recreation center, and recreation facilities for teen-agers and
senior citizens However, the Recreation Committee is recommending
only a few tennis courts and an extension of the wading pool at
the center playground for the March 1967 meeting
Mabee stated that the Library Committee is in favor of a
PBC since they are planning additions in the near future He, himself,
strongly supports the PBC concept but feels majority of Selectmen
wish to retain more direct control of any non-school building programs
He suggested that the two members of the PBC should be appointed by
the principal user of any proposed new building (e g , School Committee,
Selectmen, Library Board, Recreation Committee) and be legal, voting
members If present jurisdictional disputes prevent backing of PBC
•
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idea at the March 1967 town meeting, he proposed incorporating the
idea into the March 1968 report of the Structure of Government
Committee, so that any new construction started after that date
would be given to the PBC This would leave the new junior high
to the SSBC which would then continue to about 1972, and leave the
town office building to a special building committee
Lund urged formation of the PEC in March 1967 even if the
junior high and town Office were not given to it, since/they could
work on recreation and library facilities
Battin and Bryson favored formation of PBC in March 1967
and favored giving it the junior high and town office building
Russian and Adams cautioned against battling Selectmen this
year if we wanted them to support our SGC report next year
At Mabee's suggestion, planned to meet with Selectmen and
School Committee next Tuesday, December 27, to see if a compromise
can be reached on a PBC that would gain support of both of these
ar bods Also Bryson is to get Whalon's help to draft article on
mandatory referral to present to Selectmen on December 27
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