Possible Expansions to Window Project Examined By Selectmen, Non-Window Money Appropriation Up To School Committee

7:30- Arleene Martino spoke to the board requesting they ask Congresswoman Niki Tsongas sign onto legislation renewing Glass-Steagal legislation.

7:35 – A hearing on whether the Selectmen regarding the town’s tax classification was initiated.

The town saw significant growth in tax valuation, with $20 million coming from Cornerstone as well as large projects at Graniteville Woods and the refurbishment of Abbot Mills concluding.

Commercial and Industrial industries remained stable, although some areas remain vacant.

7:40 – The recommended tax rate is $16.60 per thousand dollars for all classes, $0.47 higher than last year.  

The average assessed value of family homes in town was $440,735, slightly higher than $440,011 in FY’13

The median assessed value is $424,450; with an associated tax of $7,045.87 in FY’ 14.

7:47 p.m. – The question before the board is whether there will be a uniform tax rate, a split tax rate between residential and commercial/industrial properties or whether there will be three tax rates.

Also on the floor is whether to extend the small commercial extension enacted ten years ago, which applies to parcels with assessments of less than $1,000,000 or less.

7:49 p.m. – Selectman Kelly Ross says that the town has a very successful formula in place, mentioning Red Hat and new growth by Cynosure. “It’s a formula that’s working.”

He makes a motion for continuing a single tax rate.

The motion is passed unanimously.

7:51 p.m. – Continuing the small commercial exemption is approved unanimously, putting the rate there at $16.82.

7:52 p.m. – First responders representing the Westford Ambulance Fund came before the board, giving the town equipment worth approximately $60,000, with the money coming from residents.

Board of Selectmen chairwoman Andrea Peraner-Sweet thanked the first  responders for the donation and a vote accepting the equipment was unanimously approved.

7:57 p.m. – Tom Mahanna and Tom Ellis from the Permanent Town Building Committee came before the board on the window replacement at the Day and Robinson Schools with an update and a request that the project be expanded.

Mahanna said it’s been a very hectic schedule in and discussed canopies and other cost saving items as part of the expansion.

The Finance Committee talked about the project at their last meeting and the town will get a chance to look at the additions and see if they are eligible for Massachusetts School Building Authority funding.

The previous deadline for submissions to the MSBA were Dec. 4, but now the submission will be in February to get on the March submission timeline for more time to look at the overall project scope and its costs.

8:01 p.m. – Ellis talked about the specific wording of the warrant at town meeting talking about the windows.

He said that the MSBA expects window projects to include some other things like doors, and that doors are windows are tied together in preventing heat loss and energy efficiency issues.

Ellis continued that canopies are also part of the energy efficiency initiative.

His board will come back with a more complete scope explaining what any costs are from the town side and any other things that can be included into the project in a cost efficient manner.

He noted that the Permanent Building Committee did not intend to expand the scope of the project.

8:04 p.m. – Selectman Ross asked about MSBA reimbursement, with Ellis saying the doors would definitely get reimbursement and said other parts of the project may be approved with MSBA support depending on handicap accessibility and meeting energy codes.

Ross asked if the town could revisit if the town wanted to proceed if the MSBA did not reimburse portions of the improvements, with Ellis saying yes, elaborating on possible repercussions.

Ellis indicated that the MSBA will treat Westford fairly.

Selectman Val Wormell asked whether funds appropriated at Town Meeting would be used on this project, as the town meeting warrant approved was very narrow in specifying what was approved in the project.

Mahanna deferred the topic to Town Manager Jodi Ross, who said that the money can only go toward window replacements, although Superintendent Bill Olsen can use operating costs toward the project, although there would need to be an estimate what would be strictly window and what would be other things.

The Department of Revenue requires the town to be very strict, with the Town Manager saying the town accountant was not comfortable with non-window items currently going out to bid.

8:10 p.m. – Mahanna said that the March MSBA meeting would be on March 26, which would be after March Town Meeting, and that the MSBA has a different definition of window replacement than what might be requested.

Ross replied urging caution and Wormell indicated that door replacements were on the school department’s replacement list, but they were not a high priority before the MSBA money became potentially available.

Mahanna said that the town has already gotten 46 percent reimbursement and that the town should attempt to get the maximum allowable reimbursement rate.

Peraner-Sweet asked Mahanna and Ellis to keep the Selectmen in the loop so there are no surprises. The package that would have been submitted on Dec. 4 will now be coming in February.

Ross asked the board to vote to ask the School Committee if they will spend their money on canopies, security and non-window items, which could potentially be reimbursed in March.

Selectman Ross moved to expand the application for non-window items contingent on the school department providing funding for all items other than the design and bidding for windows.