The proposal to swap an acre of land that is currently part of the MMS property for an acre of land now owned by an adjacent property owner and located to the rear of the MMS property is heading to a referendum vote.
The swap was approved by a narrow margin at a Town Meeting in June, but petitioners have forced the issue to referendum. No date has yet been set for the referendum, but it will likely be some time in August.
The Board of Education deliberated on this issue over several months in 2009 and ultimately decided to not take a stand on it. However, at a recent public hearing and the Town Meeting, new information has come to light about the proposal and the potential for development near MMS.
Because of the Board’s responsibility for the safety and welfare of students and the school community, the Board is now further studying this issue, has requested some legal counsel about it and will likely discuss it further at a special meeting scheduled for July 29.
I am very interested to hear what the “new” information was that the Brd of Ed learned at the town meeting that they didn’t know after studying the issue for “months.”
I attended both the town meeting and last BOE meeting when you sent the issue back to the town (deciding to take no formal position – this is very puzzling to me), yet heard nothing new. My age must be catching up to me… I just don’t see what’s so complicated about this issue.
Even more so, I’m eager to learn from the BOE how development of the Putnam property could in any way have a negative impact on the safety of students at MMS. Logic would seem to dictate that removing a private right-of-way from town/MMS property would be a good thing, not only returning complete control of the property to the town but also reducing the liability to the town/MMS, wouldn’t it?
And why are we spending money on more lawyers?
With an open mind I look forward to my enlightenment at your special meeting.
Among the new information the BOE learned is that: first, the town has been looking at the possibility of combining the land that it stands to gain in the swap with land already part of the MMS parcel and use it for possible development. One possible type of development would be housing for senior citizens, but it was also made clear at the town meeting that the town could use the land for other potential development. Another piece of information that was learned at town meeting is that if the land swap is approved this does not guarantee the current right of way (over MMS driveway) will cease to exist. There is a second property owner that holds a right of way and they can continue to use the current right of way regardless.
During the months the BOE studied this issue, the land swap was presented only as a manner for securing more land for parking for the school.
Also, although it continues to be said that this was “Mike McKee’s vision” for more parking, one of the stipulations the BOE had asked be met when it was deliberating this issue is a statement from the supt. that the parcel gained in the swap was actually considered needed and a better parcel for parking. Before he retired, Mr. McKee did not provide this assurance to the BOE.
As far as safety of students goes, the main question there is if the swap is not approved — could construction vehicles be run through the MMS driveway (current right of way). The BOE decided it was only through a reading by an attorney that it could conclusively make that determination and, indeed, the BOE attorney has said that YES – construction vehicles could be run over the school property under the existing right of way.