MIS-TRUST, INCOMPETENCY, TAJ MAHAL DESIGN ARE REASONS FOR VOTING NO

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MIS-TRUST, INCOMPETENCY, TAJ MAHAL DESIGN ARE REASONS FOR VOTING NO
It’s obvious the Town Council, Town Manager and School Committee (BIG 3) was hedging, gambling like playing poker. There was no way the BIG 3 was going to risk asking for a Debt Exclusion for Tri-County New Construction in October 2023 and then ask the Town taxpayers to approve another Deby exclusion for a New High School in June 2025.
The plan was to use Free Cash, convince the Taxpayers no new taxes needed for Tri-County and sneak in the NAHS vote. NOTE, they didn’t know they had enough free cash until later as it wasn’t certified yet. Then the big hammer, blindsided by the 10% to 18% increase in Health Insurance, 10% increase in Liability Insurance, Municipal borrowing rates climb to 4% and count on new growth which has been flat and is projected to remain FLAT (FY 2026 Budget Report). It seems the Taxpayers are heading to being asked to add a Debt Exclusion for Tri-County or another request for a 2 ½ Override or Layoffs.
The Town Finances are not just about the Debt Exclusion(s), the rest of the Town needs to continue to operate, right now on the Town Website there are approximately 100 jobs posted for hire, plus what is the number of new employees needed to run the new larger High School. Add all these new salaries, which include Health Insurance at 10% increase ($$$), which is added to the Town Budget. Let’s not forget the same questions related to Tri-County running its larger New School which will be added to the Per Student cost that’s added to the Town Budget. What is this going to add to our Property Taxes. Funny thing, they seem to be always touting how all this is a “GOOD THING” having our Property Values increase, (YES IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO SELL) but then explain Property Appreciation causes FLUCTUATIONS. I don’t know about your property, but my property Appreciation has increased approximately $40,000.00 each year for the past 6 years, I haven’t seen that up & down Fluctuations and haven’t seen my taxes go down.
The mistrust is constantly getting multiple answers to questions, telling groups they are going to help them, then nothing happens, just keep sliding along past June 3rd and then finally the admission of complete incompetence.
The latest issue, one of many, was a Council Member stating the Town didn’t use Free Cash to pay Towns Tri-County Construction share, then another Council member saying the Town did, all awhile it is in the newspaper and minutes of the meeting they did. I believe the Seniors are still waiting for an answer on whether they are getting a school tax break.
And out of complete shock at the May 8th presentation, School Superintendent Antonucci admitted that the Town HAS NOT DONE ANY MAJOR UPGRADES on the high school since it was built 1972, over 50 yrs. As they point out the old out of date inadequate Electric Panel, and the 50 years old dysfunctional broken producing bad air quality HVAC system, windows and portable classrooms. Learned that night that the locker-rooms showers haven’t worked in over 3 years as explained by a student. Don’t we have a MUNICIPAL BUILDING COMMISSION and in-house school plumber?
But School Superintendent Antonucci is not completely accurate, they didn’t fix any of the important issues, like upgrading the Electrical Panel say 20 to 30 yrs ago or installing a new HVAC unit say 20 to 30 yrs ago, same holds true for windows or bringing forward a design and cost for an addition for class rooms which the high school was designed for, when portable classrooms were installed 20 years ago and really it takes over 3 years to fix the showers.
Am surprise the Federal and /or State haven’t fined the Town for not meeting ADA Requirements, as the ADA Regulations had been approved in 1990 and enforced in 1991. Don’t we have a MUNICIPAL COMMISSION ON DISABILITY? What about the other schools in town, are they in compliance with ADA?
What School Superintendent Antonucci is confused about is the money that should have been used to upgrade the HVAC, Electric Panel, Windows, Roof and Design Plans for an addition was used for New Turf Football Field cost $ ?, New Designed Retaining Wall cost ?, New Track cost ?, New Bleachers cost ?, New Press Box w/ Elevator cost ?, New Concession Stand cost ?, New Restrooms cost ? and a New Electronic Scoreboard cost ?
Security - A question/statement was shared at the meeting, Major concerns for glass, between classrooms, cafeteria, library and other areas regarding safety that someone from the outside could do much harm, no safe spaces to hide, the answer was drapes, curtains & blinds. I didn’t know they made bullet proof window dressings.
They specifically pointed out that the distance between the office and the entrance was 85 feet, but when you view the walk thru video, there is no office shown at the entrance, what you did see is a stairway to second floor right as you walk in. How does this provide more security?
As for my Taj Mahal comment, that walk thru video that was presented reminded me of walking around the mall looking at the railings down to the other floors and seeing which store I want to go to next. Thinking about all that unusable space is wasted, the extra building materials to build it comes down to, too much wasted space only means wasted taxpayers’ money.
As for the Turf Fields, maybe someone might want to do some research, Google what NFL teams have gone back to grass, which states have banned, and which ones have been considering banning turf. This is happening in Massachusetts. Maybe the Town should be transparent on the lifespan of turf, project cost to replace and dispose as it is considered Haz/Mat when removed.
I can’t believe a lot of the “YES” individuals” are so mean, condescending and downright rude. They can’t respect the opposed ideas unless they support their agenda.
Too some of these individuals who deleted their comments regarding the bad manners listed above, you may have deleted on Facebook, but you forgot about “screen shot” which saves them and can be printed