BRUNSWICK
The Brunswick Town Council this week voted unanimously to host a Sept. 21 hearing on proposed bonds for replacing the high school’s boiler and for a town-wide property tax revaluation.
The Brunswick School Department wants to replace the boiler before it fails due to corrosion issues flagged by recent inspections.
Town Manager John Eldridge said boiler replacement has been in the town’s capital improvement program for a couple of years.
The bond for the upgrade to the boiler and domestic hot water system at the 20-yearold
Brunswick High School would not exceed $575,000. The savings from the new system should pay for the purchase over 25 years, at about $22,000 a year. The natural gas-fueled system has a 30- year life expectancy. Efficiency would increase from 83 to 93 percent.
Councilor John Perreault said 25 years was a long time to pay back the bond, especially given a 10 percent efficiency level increase.
Councilor Dan Harris asked if a competitive bid process was used to select Siemens for the project.
Paul Caron, the facilities director for Brunswick School Department, said the low bid process, in his opinion, isn’t as effective as finding a reputable contractor to design a system that will work for the department.
Harris suggested staff investigate whether a competitive bid process is required before the hearing.
Resident James Trusiani, a former Topsham selectman, criticized the town of Brunswick for not having money set aside for maintenance of its buildings.
Earlier in its meeting, the council acknowledged a letter received from Superintendent Paul Perzanoski on Aug. 24 regarding the repair project for Coffin Elementary and Brunswick Junior High School.
The letter contained a list of questions following the council’s decision not to move forward with the school board’s proposed $12.5 million repair project.
Town Council Chairwoman Sarah Brayman read a statement to update the council and public about the letter, which she said received significant local press and commentary on social media.
Town leadership has reached out to the school board leadership in response to the letter, with plans to meet later this week or possibly next week to discuss the agenda for a joint workshop later this month, Brayman said.
The council’s finance committee also met last Thursday, she said, noting that more discussion will take place regarding the financing of various options for school facility repair or upgrades. Town and school department staff have begun discussion of a smaller set of possible immediate repairs through the capital improvement process.
Brayman said the council supports school board’s efforts to address its longstanding facilities issues.
“I believe I am safe in saying we agree with the sense of urgency that something must be done to address facilities issues soon,” she said. “At the same time, the town council understands that school facilities and the delivery of educational programs are school board responsibilities. However, since there is little disagreement on the goal and the task at hand is not small, there’s plenty of work to go around. The town council asks that the two bodies come together to work cooperatively and collaboratively for the best interest of our students and taxpayers.”
The council also voted unanimously to hold a public hearing on Sept. 21 on a proposed bond for a property tax revaluation, not to exceed $400,000.
The town last had a revaluation in 2000. According to Assessor Cathy Jamison, the town’s assessment ratio is at 70 percent for the 2015 tax year and many properties are selling at 60 percent of fair market value or lower. She noted the ratios show there is a lot of inequity among different types of properties.
The complete revaluation would include residential properties, commercial properties with an interior inspection and listing of all properties. New cost tables for land and buildings would be developed to reflect the current market, Jamison noted in a memo about the project.
“An equalization project is the reappraisal of all real estate to bring about uniformity in property valuations,” Jamison wrote. “The purpose is to value all properties by the same standard so that each property owner is paying only their fair share of the cost of essential community services.”
dmoore@timesrecord.com
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