NEWPORT — Voters at Tuesday night’s Town Meeting deliberative session approved two amendments to the proposed $9.7 million budget and spent about two hours discussing a proposed $6.5 million community center.
Both appropriations will now be decided with the rest of the warrant at the annual Town Meeting on May 14.
The 20,000-square-foot community center, which requires a 60 percent majority to pass, would be constructed on Meadow Road next to the Little League Field. It would be paid for with a $3.5 million bond and $3 million in donations and grants, which the Selectboard and Town Manager Hunter Rieseberg said have to be in hand before construction would start.
“Not a shovel full of dirt will be turned until every penny is in the bank,” Rieseberg said.
As of now, the town has $1.4 million, which includes a $1 million anonymous donation. The donation requires a match from the town of $2 million.
The article wording says no bonds will be issued “until and unless such funds are obtained,” meaning the $3 million.
“If we don’t raise the $3 million, we don’t build it,” Selectboard member Todd Fratzel said.
But School Board member Linda Wadensten did not think the article was cle ar enough on that point and proposed an amendment, which was easily defeated, that added wording stating no construction would start until the money is received.
“Let’s make sure we have the money in hand and not put the community at risk,” Wadensten said.
A few residents spoke against the article for different reasons.
“I could support this, but I cannot support it this year,” said Tom Gallagher, who thought the increases in school taxes and water and sewer rates were too much of a burden.
Town officials explained that if the $3 million is raised and the center built, repayment of the bond would not begin until the 2020-21 budget year at the earliest.
Resident Kurt Minich was one of a few residents who said they opposed the center and thought the school district needed the money more. In March, voters defeated nearly all of the appropriations on the school district warrant.
“I’m really heartbroken the schools take a backseat to the rec center,” Minich said.
But Lisa Ferrigno, a teacher in the district, did not like hearing that it was the town against the school.
“They are all the same kids,” Ferrigno said. “Please support the community center just as you support the schools.”
Ferrigno and others noted the recreation center on Belknap Avenue hosts an after-school program for about 60 children and holds summer camps, but because of the center’s lack of space, the programs often turn away children or end early.
“They have to leave at 5 because we change activities,” Recreation Director P.J. Lovely said about the after-school program.
The proposed $9.8 million budget first was reduced by $68,800 then increased by $5,000 with the passage of two amendments. The first amendment removed money that was going to be used to fill a vacant police officer position, but Selectboard Chairman Jeff Kessler said it was decided the position did not need to be filled.
After that amendment was approved, Dr. Larry Schissel proposed adding $5,000 for West Central Services, which provides mental health services to children and adults. Normally the proposal is in a separate petition article, but it was not filed in time to be on the warrant.
A few asked if the Selectboard would guarantee the money went to West Central. Kessler explained that under state law, the board is not required to use the money in the budget for any specific purpose, but he and board members Todd Fratzel and Barry Connell said they would vote to donate the money to West Central given voters’ support of the amendment, which passed easily. The proposed budget now stands at $9.69 million.
Also on the warrant is a $4.5 million bond to make federally mandated upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant and several articles that appropriate money to capital reserve funds.
Patrick O’Grady can be reached a pogclmt@gmail.com.
Correction
The proposed budget is about $9.7 million. An earlier version of this story used an incorrect dollar figure.
