Stoneham One Giant Step Closer To New High School

STONEHAM, Ma. - Ignore the squabbles about Select Board terms and townhouses at Rockville Park and a four-hour Town Meeting produced one exciting result. Stoneham is one giant step closer to a new high school.

"I want to thank the town. It was great for us to move forward tonight," said Stoneham Superintendent John Macero. "We were extremely excited to now move ahead with the feasibility funding."

Macero was talking about Article 6, a motion to see if the town's residents would agree to pay $750,000 for the purpose of a Feasibility Study for a new Stoneham High. Before a shovel is put in the ground, the Massachusetts School Building Authority has a long list of requirements for each community it's helping and none is bigger than what Stoneham voted on Monday night. The Article passed almost unanimously with no debate.

As soon as the Article passed, many in the town hall auditorium got up and left. Was it because their mission was accomplished or because they were Bruins/Celtics fans racing home for a playoff doubleheader.

"I think a little bit of both," said Macero. "I think people are really serious about working toward this high school goal."

Stoneham is in the eligibility period now. After the successful vote Monday, Macero and the School Building Committee will get to work on other "deliverables," a shopping list of requirements set up by the MSBA. The town expects to have those deliverables finished by the end of the year. At that point the MSBA would put Stoneham into the Feasibility Period. That's when Stoneham can hire an architect and an Operations Program Manager and get to work on a Feasibility Study. Until then, Stoneham won't touch the $750,000. It can be confusing but the point is that a major hurdle was cleared Monday with little resistance.

And why $750,000? The figure is based to a great extent on Stoneham's enrollment numbers as well as guidance from the MSBA. Voters should also know that the MSBA will reimburse Stoneham for much of the $750,000.

With many residents leaving after the school vote, it was up to moderator Jeanne Craigie to remind residents what was next.

"If you want to see how your tax dollars are spent you might want to stick around," said Craigie, who earlier called the meeting to a start using a new gavel fashioned out of an old beech wood tree at Gould Farm and given to her hours earlier.

Article 5 involved approval of $625,000 for capital projects, ranging from $30,000 for new portable radios for the fire department to $25,000 for a net installed at the third hole at Unicorn. More drives down the middle of the fairway would have saved the town $25,000 but there was no debate and the article passed.

Article 7 passed after a brief discussion. It focused on the town's General Fund Operating Budget of $69,391,599, which included two new town departments, brought about through reorganization. The Facilities Department will consolidate maintenance of town properties, including schools and other town buildings. The Purchasing and Procurement Department will consolidate purchases and contracting opportunities. In addition, the Elections Department and the Town Clerk's Office will be consolidated.

Article 8 and 9 involved the town's Sewer and Water Enterprise funds and each passed unanimously. Articles 10 and 11 passed, meaning increased funding for the Council on Aging Revolving Fund both for the remainder of 2019 as well as FY 2020. Articles 12 and 13 passed with each removing the title Selectmen and replacing it with Select Board in various town documents. Article 14 was tabled until November.

Article 15 asked residents for permission to amend zoning by-laws for proposed residences at Rockville Park, where 16 townhouse units had been proposed. But the article needed a 2/3rds majority and after a number of residents and abutters protested the development it failed despite a 120-83 vote in favor.

Article 16 was another zoning request but this one pertained to a veterinary hospital and was easily passed. Articles 17 and 18 passed, meaning Stoneham Arena will soon have solar panels. Article 19 also passed. That article will allow veterans to volunteer time to the town in exchange for a reduction in their property taxes. Article 20 was a simple change in wording in the town code and it passed. Article 21 added $175,000 to supplement the snow and ice budget for FY 2019 and it passed. Article 22 dealt with cable-related revenue and it passed.

Articles 23-25 focused on the Select Board and as often happens, personalities played into a sometimes spirited debate. Article 23 was about creating a way to recall elected town officials. Board member Raymie Parker said it,"was not directed at anyone currently on the board" and added the need for such a policy was based on incidents in other communities. After much discussion and an amendment, it passed 80-66 but needing a 2/3rds majority it ultimately failed.

Article 24 was proposed by Select Board member Caroline Colarusso and would have cut Select Board terms from three to two years. It failed with Craigie counting 76 opposed, 26 in favor. On the final article of the night, resident Chris Whitney proposed that no person elected to the office of Select Board can also be a Stoneham employee. Whitney said his goal was to "insure the integrity of the board and avoid conflicts of interest." Many felt the article directly targeted Parker, who works for the town. The motion failed 70-28.