Signed Petition Delays Decision for a Special Town Meeting

Hingham Selectmen have decided to hold off their vote for a special town meeting after they received a petition signed by 250 residents who oppose plans to build a new Middle School building.

The Selectmen have pushed their vote off until next Tuesday, September 6 at their Selectmen Meeting.  The meeting will be held in the Central Meeting room on the second floor of the Town Hall to make room for the many Hingham residents expected to attend.

Residents and school committee members in favor of the proposed Middle School Project filled the East Hearing Room Tuesday night, only to be disappointed by the news.  Those in favor of the project are requesting that the Board of Selectmen convene a Special Town Meeting and ballot vote this fall to consider a warrant article requesting a debt exclusion override to fund construction of the middle school project. 

According to Selectmen Laura Burns, the 250 residents who signed the petition want to renovate the existing building using available funds.  Their plan for a renovation includes window and wall replacements, a roof repair, and a repair of all structural damage. They do not feel that the proposed new building is necessary.

School committee chair Linda Hill  was upset by the decision from the selectmen to postpone the vote. She was unaware that the vote was not  on the selectmen’s agenda and she asked the selectmen why the petitioners did not attend Tuesdays meeting.

Hill was mainly concerned that Middle School Project supporters would not attend next Tuesday’s meeting because it is the first day of classes for Hingham public Schools. But Raymond Estes confidently ensured the residents in attendance that there will be a special town meeting.

“Don’t worry about next Tuesday,” Estes told those in attendance. “Worry about coming out for the Special town meeting.”

According to discussions at Monday night's School Building Committee, the final reimbursement figure for the Middle School Project will be decided upon when the MSBA board meets in September and could cost the town of Hingham $35,867,232.

Before reimbursement from the MSBA, the estimated total project budget for the Model Middle School could be $61,749,189. This cost is not confirmed yet  and would include a maximum reimbursement to the Town by the MSBA of 44.42 percent (excluding $2,113,500 for non-reimbursable items such as storage, sewage system and field toilet).   To achieve this total, the committee has asked designer Ai3 to consider Value Engineering, in other words to look at the Schematic Design already submitted to the MSBA on August 19 and see where savings or amendments can be made without compromising the educational program required.

Jim Jordan of designer Ai3 called it “a balancing act” and will be looking at options such as reducing the finished carpentry in the lobby areas and auditorium, installing temperate air systems, removing the dishwashing facility for student utensils and not building an outdoor basketball court.