FREEPORT
Chuck Lawton and Jack Turcotte spoke so much about how well they work together, the Town Council thinks it’s a good idea the two men collaborate on the town’s study to withdraw from Regional School Unit 5.
Lawton, chief economist for Planning Decisions Inc., and Turcotte, a retired superintendent who has experience in the RSU withdrawal process, made presentations to the Town Council last week. Separately, councilors interviewed them at length in executive session.
Once out of executive session, the council directed Town Manager Peter Joseph to ask Lawton and Turcotte if they would work jointly on the study. The pay would be the same: up to $9,500. The consultants will issue a preliminary report on the efficacy of leaving RSU 5.
“They made a point of saying how comfortable they are with each other,” Councilor Melanie Sachs said Friday. “The council has asked (Joseph) to speak to both of them. They are friends. The council thought they both brought a wealth of experience, but in different areas. It would be like a hybrid.”
Lawton said Friday that Joseph has called him. Though no contract has been signed, it appears the two will be working on the study, he said.
The first thing he will do, Lawton said, is an enrollment projection at Freeport schools.
Some Freeport residents have spoken out against continuing in RSU 5 since residents of Durham and Pownal outweighed Freeport in defeating a $17 million bond in June to renovate and enlarge Freeport High School. The town is growing and the school is overcrowded, they say.
Turcotte has been involved in his hometown of Arundel’s attempt to leave RSU 21. The town has voted against the withdrawal.
No withdrawal petition has been circulated in Freeport. The Town Council has responded to residents’ requests in funding the study.
“It’s literally supposed to be a preliminary analysis — to provide data to the community, to help them make an informed decision, to move forward or to not move forward,”
Sachs said.
RSU 5, meanwhile, has commissioned a survey of residents of the three towns, asking them why they voted down the renovation bond. Results are expected by Sept. 5.
Depending upon the survey results, a new renovation bond could go before RSU 5 residents in November.
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