York Town News
Budget discussions continue, with hearing tonight on two capital projects
By Jennifer L. Saunders
YORK - From work on a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant to help fund the cost of drainage improvements in York Beach to a downsized plan to address performing arts needs at York High School, much of the discussions among local officials in the past week has centered on budget issues.Within the past eight days, the School Committee, Budget Committee and Board of Selectmen have all held meetings focused, at least in part, on key budget decisions for the May referendum.
Tonight, Wednesday, Jan 24, the School Committee will hold a public hearing in advance of its decision on whether to include two capital projects - a scaled-back arts wing proposal and replacement of the York High School bleachers and tower at the football field - as part of its fiscal 2008 proposal for the Budget Committee's review.
York High School Principal Bob Stevens presented the recommendations of the School Building Committee for an almost 11,000-squre-foot addition that would not include renovation or expansion of the auditorium itself.
Instead, Stevens said, the plan calls for classroom and storage space, with the opportunity to add on the auditorium aspect of the project at a later date.
Since the arts wing proposal was defeated at the polls back in May, the building committee, which includes School Committee and Budget Committee representatives among others, has been at work looking at ways to meet the needs while honoring the will of the voters.
"What surprised us all is that when we really delved … the priority need was not performance; it was instructional space for both chorus and for band," Stevens said. "… The so-called performing arts wing was a facility that not only included a larger auditorium, but it included classroom space. … The need didn't go away, but we also knew we couldn't go back before the voters with an identical proposal."
The current plan calls for a phased approach consistent with the original proposal in that it will allow for future expansion on the current site.
"It would be connected to the existing auditorium by portico. … If in the future, and we hope this would happen, the community would support the building of a new auditorium facility, it would be connected directly … and fulfill the plan the building committee presented a year ago," Stevens said.
Performances would still need to be done off campus, Stevens said, but the music department's instructional needs would be met.
The estimated cost of the project is $2.14 million.
Assistant Superintendent Jim Amoroso explained that the committee looked at other options, but the project cost did not decrease significantly.
If the School Committee, Budget Committee and, ultimately, the voters, approve the use of a combination of fund balance and interest earned income toward funding the project, it could move forward with minimal tax impact, he said.
"Everyone knows the magic or Rob Westerberg," Stevens said of the success of the choral music program, adding, "And our band is growing every year."
The performance component is just a fraction of the whole, Stevens said, and the work of Westerberg and instrumental music director Dan Sovetsky behind the scenes - even in the current inadequate classroom rehearsal space - is key to the overall success of their programs.
The School Committee is in the process of considering the phased option and has scheduled tonight's public hearing to gather input from the community on the plan, as well as on new bleachers for 800 people and a broadcast tower at the football field to replace those structures deemed unsafe and removed last year.
The Budget Committee discussed the arts wing plan at its meeting last Thursday, Jan. 18.
With the focus on the instructional space first, committee member David Lincoln said, "The whole flavor of that project has changed dramatically, and I think in a very favorable dimension."
Mike Quinn noted, however, that there may be some residents who were looking at the auditorium as a benefit to the entire community, and may be less likely to support the new approach.
As the town and schools continue to prepare their operating and capital budgets, the School Committee held a public hearing on the operating portion of its budget last Wednesday, and the Board of Selectmen gave preliminary endorsement to the proposed municipal budget on Monday.
As part of the budget for the year ahead, the town is applying for a FEMA grant to begin addressing freshwater drainage issues in York Beach that were most dramatically brought to light in the May storm of 2006. The local match, if the grant is approved, would be about $465,000.
Selectman Torbert Macdonald, Jr., praised Director of Public Works Bill Bray for his work on the effort.
Town Manager Rob Yandow also updated the board on ongoing work on the operating budget to meet the guidelines of the Property Tax Task Force with regard to taxpayer impact. The municipal budget is expected to be endorsed by the selectmen when they meet again on Monday, Jan. 29.
