Town Committees Begin Discussion Of Facilities Master Plan

WILMINGTON, MA — The Wilmington select board, joined by the school, finance, and facilities master plan committees opened deliberations Monday on the town's facilities master plan. The report was years in the works, going back to a request for proposals sent out in 2015. The master plan committee examined the condition of the town's facilities, including the schools, and created recommendations for how to deal with them moving forward.

The facilities master plan committee summarized the report to the select board, which they created with the engineering, architecture and plan firm Harriman. They looked at the current condition of the town's facilities, highlighting ones in particularly poor conditions, like the Wildwood and Boutwell schools, and in need of major upgrades or replacement, like the town hall and Buzzell Senior Center. Some core recommendations included: consolidating the elementary schools from six to four, eliminating Wildwood and Boutwell, building a new town hall and school administrative building at the Swain School site, and building a new senior center at the current town hall site.

"This not written in stone. It's just meant to be a guide," said George Hooper, chair of the facilities master plan committee. It will be used as "a road map for the select board, the finance committee, the school committee ... Each one of these items will be brought to the town meeting and voted upon."

The school committee, finance committee and select board then gave comments in turn, outlining their priorities for implementing the plan.

Jennifer Bryson, the school committee chair, said she supported the plan but called for an "interim plan" for the Wildwood School, ticking off problems with the aging school including asbestos insulation and inefficient single-pane windows.

"The school committee is not taking sides — nobody here is opposed to a new senior center," said Vice Chair Steve Bjork.

Finance Committee Chair John Doherty said his committee had not taken a comprehensive look at the plan, but said his priority is a new fire substation in north Wilmington, followed by the Town Hall/school admin building, then the senior center.

"Do it so it's not a huge burden on the taxpayers," Doherty said.

Select board members also wanted to prioritize the substation, which makes only a brief appearance in the report. Jomarie O'Mahoney also emphasized the most pressing school need.

"Wildwood School can't wait. Everyone agrees with that," O'Mahoney said. "I don't think we need a $19 million Town Hall right now when there are so many other needs.

Town Manager Jeffrey Hull urged those in attendance to stay away from the town's "free cash" for the building projects envisioned in the plan, arguing it could soon be needed.

"We've been riding a good wave of economic prosperity," Hull said. "When the economy starts to go south, and the revenue we've been able to generate with it, that's when, as in the past, we have used some of that free cash to keep our operations, our core operations, going."

In the public comment period, residents called for the senior center, as well as senior housing, to be prioritized. Senior housing is discussed in the plan but had not been a focus at the meeting.

"We paid for so many things," said one senior resident urging the building of a new senior center. "It's our time. I don't care where you build it. Build it now!"

The selectmen also approved a request by Teresa Hsu-Smith and Girl Scout Troop 62457 for open space for a community garden, and called for people to donate the needed $471 for its creation. Selectman Michael McCoy pledged a $50 donation to get it started.

Christopher Huffaker: 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.