BRUNSWICK

The Brunswick Town Council will hold a hearing at 7 p.m tonight on a proposed halfmillion dollar bond to pay for repairs to the junior high school’s ventilation system.

The $454,080 cost is based on an estimate by Siemens Industry, Inc., which is contracted by the school department.

The project will include replacing heaters, pipes, fans and other equipment in the school’s gymnasium, in the science wing, in a second-floor closet and a classroom.

The repairs, to be done this summer, are the fourth phase of a multi-year project that will bring the ventilation and air exchange rates up to appropriate standards, according to Paul Caron, the school district’s facilities director.

Upgrades at the junior high school are part of an overall multi-year HVAC upgrade at Brunswick schools, according to council Chairman Benet Pols.

Many capital improvement projects are funded through bonds, due to the amount of money in question, said Pols.

BJHS is due for a renovation, and some on the council previously questioned whether such a renovation would mitigate the proposed project.

However, Caron noted that any renovations wouldn’t begin for another 10 years.

“That’s not going to be for a long time coming,” Caron said.

Also tonight, the council will hold a hearing on changing the town ordinance to strike language limiting the time political signs can be displayed on private property.

According to the current zoning, “Political campaign signs are permitted on private property no sooner than 60 days before an election, primary or referendum and must be removed no later than five days after the same election, primary or referendum.”

The planning board recommended that the town council delete the time frame from which the signs must be removed. The signs would still be limited to 8 square feet in size.

The planning board began reviewing the policy after a request by the town council and its chairman, who had previously said the policy wasn’t constitutional.

Town attorney Stephen Langsdorf previously cited precedent which shows that “a political sign which relates to a general election, primary election or referendum would be considered ‘core political speech.’”

Langsdorf also noted that a number of federal courts have struck down similar restrictions as a First Amendment violation.

THE PROJECT in Brunswick will include replacing heaters, pipes, fans and other equipment in the junior high school’s gymnasium, in the science wing, in a secondfloor closet and a classroom.

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