—Bob O’Shea
Voters at the polls Tuesday gave their seal of approval to warrant Article 17 by way of a 820–381 affirmative vote on a $185,000 debt exclusion to cover the cost of schematic plans for the renovation of Town Hall and Hildreth House. At Saturday’s Annual Town Meeting, voters approved the measure by a nearly unanimous vote.
The article voters approved at ATM was based on a compromise brokered over the last days before ATM by Town Administrator Tim Bragan, which resulted in a modification to the language in Article 17. The compromise was agreed to by both the Municipal Buildings Committee, whose research and analysis was the basis for Article 17, and the proponents of Article 18, which was added to the warrant by a citizens’ petition initiated by selectmen Bill Johnson and Ron Ricci, proposing alternate plans for renovations and use of Town Hall, Hildreth House, and the old library. After more than an hour of presentation and discussion at ATM, the article passed with the required two-thirds vote. (No count was taken, as there was only a scattering of “no” votes.) After passage of Article 17, Johnson moved to take no action on Article 18.
First up to the microphone to discuss Article 17 was Don Boyce who requested the original Article 17 be voted on. “You’re taking away our right to choose.” (Photos by Ellen Harasimowicz)
The Article 17 language presented at ATM differed from that printed in the warrant in that it did not call for a second set of schematic design plans covering expansion of Town Hall. Because the second set of plans was not included, the funding request, which by Finance Committee recommendation was to come from a Proposition 2½ debt exclusion, was reduced from $225,000 to $185,000.
Behind the small change in Article 17 were many hours of mediation, with Bragan acting as mediator, Doug Coots representing the MBC’s interests, and Johnson representing the Article 18 petitioners. At issue was the question of whether the town should address deferred maintenance and code compliance for three buildings (Town Hall, Hildreth House, and the old library), while also planning for significant expansion of two of the buildings (Town Hall and Hildreth House). Article 18 had called for a more limited approach, addressing Town Hall needs within its existing footprint (except for necessary expansion for an elevator), and renovating the old library for temporary town offices during Town Hall reconstruction and for some Council on Aging functions and offices. Article 18 specified continued use of Hildreth House as is, with no expansion or renovation.
In a kind of “shuttle diplomacy,” Bragan elicited from Coots and Johnson a set of understandings that could allow renovation (but not expansion, except for access) of Town Hall, and renovation and expansion of Hildreth House to remain the center for COA, a.k.a. the senior center.
Key to the compromise was the principle that expansion (other than for access) of Hildreth House would be funded by private donations. The same would be true for any fit-up of upper Town Hall for performing arts—funding from private sources. The future of the old library would not be as a town building; there is talk of leasing it to a nonprofit.
Paul Green expressed his dismay that members of the press were asked to leave an open meeting recently. “This is supposed to be an open, transparent, and deliberative process.”
Late last Friday, Bragan produced a document, entitled Statement of Intent, Town Center Municipal Buildings Strategy, which included the Article 17 motion and bullet points of understanding about the three buildings. Saturday, before the beginning of ATM, the Board of Selectmen unanimously endorsed the document, and in turn, the Finance Committee and the Capital Planning and Investment Committee voted to recommend Article 17, funded by debt exclusion. However, voters were not given a copy of the statement, or a copy of the reworked Article 17.
Some voters objected to the behind-the-scenes negotiation that left many confused about what they were actually voting on. Alluding to the controversy that has surrounded articles 17 and 18 for the last several weeks, Stow Road resident Don Boyce said, “Isn’t this nice—and I say that sarcastically—that we all agree.” He added, “What just happened took away our right to choose.”
Boyce proposed a motion that would have Article 17 revert to the original language as printed in the warrant, but it was rejected by voters.
Bob O’Shea, of Old Littleton Road, acknowledged the work of town officials in reaching an agreement. “I want to give you guys a lot of credit for this compromise,” he said, but added, “I’d like to see the end result … earlier, and not a last-minute scramble.”
Old Littleton Road resident Paul Green objected to the process by which the article was changed, and expressed concern that the chairman of the Board of Selectmen had asked two reporters to leave a meeting at which some of the negotiations had taken place. He said, “The press represents us as citizens. It greatly troubles me that any elected official would ask the press or the public to leave a public meeting.” He went on, “I think this was brinksmanship and a failure of leadership. There was nothing agreed to today that couldn’t have been agreed to earlier. Let’s do better.”
The full text of the Statement of Intent can be found here.
