Concord Mayor: No-Go To City Council Middle School Project Public Hearing

CONCORD, NH — Despite a request from a resident and growing concern about a proposed new middle school that could ultimately cost close to a quarter of a billion dollars, Concord’s mayor is declining to schedule a public hearing about the project by the city council.

Dan Williams of Concord raised the issue of the middle school at the council’s July meeting and “got shut down.” But after reading former City Councilor Bob Washburn’s post on Patch, who was bewildered as to why the council was not getting involved since the new building would affect traffic, sewer, water, and other issues in East Concord, which all falls on the council to remedy, he suggested Williams request a public hearing.

So Williams did and was shut down by Mayor Byron Champlin, who sets meetings and agendas.

On Thursday, Champlin told Williams the council had no oversight of the middle school project and no pending item of business relating to it that would justify a hearing.

“I can’t even …” Williams wrote of the reply on NextDoor.

Champlin, on Friday, said he understood the concerns of a certain segment of the population who were worried about the cost and siting of a new middle school and the potential ramifications it might have “in a variety of ways.” But, he added, by virtue of the fact that the school and city charters had their own policies, he would respect their process.

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“We don’t have say over what they do,” Champlin said. “They are an autonomous political organization.”

Champlin said he believed there was a separation of powers between the Concord City Council and the city government and the Concord and Merrimack Valley school district and their boards. There were “lanes that overlap” and “we try to collaborate.” However, in the case of a new middle school, “we don’t have any more information about the project than the general public does.”

Champlin said when it is brought to the planning board to review, “that is where the city gets to touch this plan.” He said he and the councilors need to “respect” the SAU 8 board of education’s “process” and “let them do their job,” and he hopes and trusts they will do their due diligence and listen to constituents.

Champlin said some community members were “trying to blur the line” between the school district and city council despite their separations. He said trying to get the council to exert some kind of oversight or authority over the project was not allowed.

“I would not want the Concord School District or Merrimack Valley School District weighing in on (city) projects,” he said. “That is why I respectfully declined (Williams’) request.”

After its July meeting, School Superintendent Kathleen Murphy sent a letter to the council stating “many common questions” could be answered via a “comprehensive FAQ” on the district’s website. She suggested councilors sign up for the project’s newsletter updates or review the documents online. Murphy said Jay Richard, the middle school principal, would give any councilors a tour of the current building or contact him with any questions, too. In the letter, Murphy posted an incomplete phone number for Richard.

The project was “briefly discussed” at the joint school board and council meeting in June, during which the board agreed to give councilors an overview of the project, “hopefully in the fall.” Project designers, she added, would also present plans to the planning board.

During the $90.8 million elementary school process, the city also had little involvement.

Two of the buildings were built on parcels that already had schools of similar sizes. One, Mill Brook Primary School, was built next to the Broken Ground Elementary School, about a mile and a half away from the Dame Elementary School, which is now the citywide community center. There were no extensive traffic, water, or sewer studies performed before Mill Brook was built. Officials were briefed about the buildings and planning and zoning meetings were held. But none of the elected officials on the council at the time bothered to sound any alarms publicly. The planning board held a hearing when hundreds of residents, at the very last minute, attempted to keep the historic Kimball Elementary School from being knocked down. Despite the testimony of many people, the planning board said there was no reason to stop the demolition of the building. At the time, Barbara Higgins, a high school teacher, testified against the demolition and was later railroaded and forced to resign from her job. She would later be elected to the school board.

Earlier this month, SAU 8 released answers to several questions raised by the community. New schematic designs were also issued — including a proposal for a smaller theatre.

The board also capped the school at around $152 million. About 40 percent of the project will be funded with state aid. The district’s business administrator, Jack Dunn, believes financing will be around 4.5 percent. This makes the final school cost around $230 million.

The last estimated cost to repair the current Rundlett Middle School was in the $8 million to $10 million range.

Opponents who are primarily concerned with siting the middle school in East Concord, not against building a new middle school on the current site, are circulating an initiative petition to add a voting provision for “mandatory voter approval for school relocation” and “voter oversight on property transactions.” The group, Concord Concerned Citizens, is gathering signatures to place the referendum on the November ballot.

Activists proposing a vote to rescind the location vote gathered more than 1,600 signatures via Change.org.

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