November referendum

Wed, 01/24/2018 - 9:00pm

Lynda Clancy

ROCKPORT — Voting 5 to 2, the School Administrative District 28 (Camden-Rockport K-8) School Board voted to put the question of whether to repurpose the Mary E. Taylor school building out to voters in a November 2018 referendum.

The referendum would be presented as an amendment to the current middle school project, as a multipurpose building project.

The vote followed a 30-minute discussion at the Jan. 24 board meeting held in the Geoffrey C. Parker Community Room at Rockport Opera House. Watch the meeting here.

The motion was long and represented pre-meeting consultation with the school board attorneys at Drummond Woodsum in Portland, who crafted it after conversation with administrators about the growing board sentiment to keeping MET standing and perhaps lease portions of the building to private entities.

Voting against the motion were Chairman Matt Dailey and Becky Flanagan. Voting in favor were Vice Chairwoman Lynda Chilton, Marcia Dietrich, Pete Orne, Elizabeth Noble and Carol Gartley. Sarah Bradley Prindiville was absent from the meeting.

The motion, as made by SAD 28 board member Marcia Dietrich, of Rockport, read:

“Motion to provide for the preservation of the MET building as a multipurpose building if approved by district voters.

“I move that the superintendent instruct Oak Point Associates to proceed with a zoning change and a bid alternate for the current middle school project that would secure the MET building and allow the district to proceed with an MET multipurpose building project, if approved by the district voters as an amendment to the current middle school project; that the superintendent be instructed to request from Oak Point Associates a design budget for the concept work, including independent cost estimation, necessary to submit the MET multipurpose building project to the voters; that the superintendent be authorized to select, subject to approval of this board, an independent cost estimation firm to prepare an estimate of costs to design and construct renovations and improvements to the MET building for use as a multipurpose building by the district and possible other occupants; and that the superintendent be authorized to initiate and RFP process to seek an architectural firm for the MET multipurpose building project.”

The majority of the school board members stated at the Jan. 24 meeting that it was necessary for Camden and Rockport voters to determine the fate of the MET building, instead of them.

“I am ultimately in favor of letting the voters decide,” said Dietrich. “It is a big decision for the board to make in isolation. Let the voters have their say.”

The vote followed months of debate over the future of the 1925-built brick school building, which is the oldest part of the existing middle school complex.

That complex is due for demolition to make way for the construction of a new middle school; however, public outcry over the demolition of MET has convinced the school board to place MET’s fate back in the hands of the public.

Before voting, the board discussed among itself the merits and drawbacks of repurposing MET.

Board member Pete Orne, of Camden, said that while he held no emotional attachment to the building, he questioned whether it could be used for other purposes, including administrative offices for SAD 28, the Five Town CSD, even Union 69 (Appleton, Hope and Lincolnville). He also suggested other uses, such as pre-kindergarten, child development services, distance learning and UMaine classes.

“Right now, I am inclined to incorporate MET into current designs,” he said.

Board member Carole Gartley, of Rockport, said she was fully aware of the building’s deterioration over the past decades. A former teacher in that school, Gartley is familiar with its maintenance issues; e.g., windows that do not open, and cracks in the foundation.

“There is a lot to consider monetarily in refurbishing this old building,” she said, adding that the board’s role is to manage all the taxpayers’ obligations.

But, she said, it would behoove the district to look at the finances of renovating MET as well as the finances involved with building new administrative offices and space for the alternative high school Zenith program at the Camden Hills Regional High School campus. The latter has been floated as an idea for 2021, after the high school bond is retired.

“I feel we haven’t fully vetted creative ways to use MET,” she said. “We need space for Zenith and offices and this is an opportunity to use space in the center of town.”

Board Chairman Matt Dailey opposed the idea of continuing the dialog about repurposing MET, and listed off the current and anticipated debt load that the two communities will share in shouldering. They include the current high school bond, the Camden-Rockport Elementary School bond, which is due to retire in 2031, the new $26 million middle school bond, whose fiscal effect will begin to be felt by taxpayers this year and for 20 more years, the new $25 million Midcoast School of Technology school building, of which the Five Town CSD taxpayers are to assume 35 percent of the annual debt payments, he said.

Then, Dailey added, Rockport is due to build a new $3 million library, of which taxpayers are to finance $1.5 million, and Camden is due to address $10 million worth of sewer upgrades.

“We’re looking at some considerable expenses,” said Dailey.

Board member Becky Flanagan, of Camden, also expressed concern about costs and the physical deterioration of MET. While she said she carries sentimental feelings for MET, the fiscal costs would be high.

“This would absolutely be a labor of love,” said Flanagan. “Is this the best thing fro the kids in this community. I don't know if it really is.”

She added: “I’d love to see the building saved But on the other hand I don’t want have to pay for it.”

Orne responded: “I’m all about finances and we don’t know yet.”

He said it was too early to shut the door, and “the public needs to weigh in in a more formal way.”

Orne shifted the language from “saving” MET to “incorporating it,” and said the referendum before voters would have a number on it.

Lynda Chilton supported the move to “go ask the voters again.”

“It’s a ton of work to put it out to vote but necessary,” she said.

Camden-Rockport School board opposes selling MET, warms to leasing the building

Camden-Rockport School Board to discuss MET repurposing proposal Jan. 10

Camden-Rockport School Board faces full January agenda: site plan review, construction cash flow, MET ideas (REMOVES ROCKPORT SELECT BOARD LIAISON, NOW WHAT NEXT?)

Real estate developer submits proposal to repurpose Camden's Mary E. Taylor school

SAD 28 chairman tells Rockport Select Board member to step off school Building Committee