Mansfield Approves School Security Upgrades In Town Meeting

MANSFIELD, MA — Residents came out to support several costly projects at Tuesday night's special town meeting, approving security upgrades for schools, extensive water main work along major roads and repairs at Mansfield High School.

Voters approved Article 6, which appropriated $320,000 for district-wide security upgrades. Costs included $100,000 for door security, $70,000 for security cameras, $100,000 for a new public announcement system for the high school and $50,000 to implement a district-wide visitor system.

“A large percentage of the building cannot hear the announcements, which would be especially concerning in an emergency,” School Superintendent Teresa Murphy told residents.

The schools' public announcement systems are over 50 years old.

Parents had some questions before the vote, but approved the article shortly afterward. Some questions concerned the new visitor system.

Murphy told residents that parents would not need a visitors badge to drop things off for their kids, for example. Badges would be needed for people volunteering in the schools and for vendors entering school buildings.

School and town officials believe the lack of school security needed to be addressed immediately.

"We have to secure the building better," select board Chairman Michael Trowbridge told the Sun Chronicle.

Residents also approved Article 8, which appropriated $800,000 for a new back wall, doors and windows at Mansfield High School. The state said it will reimburse the town for half the cost.

The project was originally approved for $1.3 million at the annual town meeting in May 2017, but Town Manager Kevin Dumas told Patch that after consultation with architects the cost was revised to $2.1 million.

Voters also approved water main repair projects, including $1.1 million for water main repair work along Route 106 and on the South Main Street bridge that crosses over I-495.

Most of the appropriation will go to replace Route 1o6 water mains from the intersection at Route 140 up to North Main Street. Town officials said that the South Main Street bridge frequently ices up during the winter, so the project was important for motorists' safety.

Residents also approved:

• Spending $350,000 for a new ambulance. $100,000 of the cost will come from existing funds, but the rest must be borrowed.
• Appropriating $460,000 for a financial software system at the town hall. The new system is expected to streamline town payroll and budget information. The schools will also have access to this system.
• Allocating $100,000 for the town's master plan, which Planning Board Chairman Don Cleary told voters should be updated every 10 years.

Voters rejected two articles, both of which were submitted via citizen petition. Resident Bill Clemmey submitted both warrant articles.

The first proposal would have rezoned land between Walnut Street and Shaw's from residential to industrial. It had the support of the planning board.

Clemmey's other proposal would have rezoned four lots on West Street from residential to industrial. The planning board did not support that proposal.

Neighbors at the meeting complained that the same proposals have been submitted repeatedly at town meetings over the last 20 years.

Photo via Dan Libon