Overview:
Phillipston's Special Town Meeting has voted almost unanimously to borrow $10.8m to replace the roof of Narragansett Regional High School and part of the roof of Narragansett Middle School. The new high school roof will cost close to $9.2m, while the middle school project is estimated at $1.7m. The Massachusetts School Building Authority has committed to reimbursing the towns for 59% of the total cost, with Phillipston covering 15% of the remaining cost. The town plans to use just over $1 million from the stabilization fund to cover its share of the cost.
PHILLIPSTON – Wednesday’s Special Town Meeting saw an almost unanimous vote in support of borrowing $10.8 million to replace the roof of Narragansett Regional High School and part of the roof of Narragansett Middle School.
Thirty-nine voters attended the meeting, with only one voting against the borrowing. The new high school roof will cost close to $9.2 million, while the middle school project is estimated at $1.7 million. The school sees students from Phillipston and Templeton.
Voters at a Nov. 24 Special Town Meeting in Templeton approved the borrowing. A special election to consider a Proposition 2 ½ debt exclusion for the project is set for Monday, Jan. 6.
With the approval from Phillipston’s Special Town Meeting secured, a special election will be held on the matter within 35 days of Wednesday’s vote. The Selectboard will set a date for the election at its meeting next Wednesday, Dec. 10.
The Massachusetts School Building Authority has committed to reimbursing the towns for 59% of the total. That will leave Templeton to cover 85% of the remaining cost, with Phillipston picking up 15%.
Phillipston officials are planning on covering the town’s share by using just over $1 million from the stabilization fund. By meeting its obligation in one payment, Phillipston Chief Administrative Officer Adam Lamontagne said the town could possibly avoid additional interest payments.
Phillipston Selectboard Chair Bernie Malouin expressed some concern during Wednesday’s Special Town Meeting regarding liability, in the event there are problems with the new roofs before the loan for the work is paid off.
Narragansett Regional School District Superintendent Chris Casavant said there will be a warranty between 20 and 30 years.
“I’ve been in construction a long time,” said Malouin. “There are very few roofing companies that were around 20 years ago that are still in business….So, five years from now, if ‘ABC Roofing’ is out of business, what protection does the town have? We’re paying a lot of money here.”
Project manager John Cutler of SMMA Architects of Cambridge pointed out that there is still an active insurance policy covering roof work done at Narragansett in 2011. He said the companies that did that work are out of business, but the insurance policy was turned over to the towns and remains active.
As for the likelihood of a failed roof in 15 or 20 years, Cutler said, “We’re here to make sure that doesn’t happen. The [MSBA] program has changed a lot over the last 15 years to make sure there’s a lot more accountability.”
Phillipston resident Linda Langevin asked what percentage of the Narragansett high and middle school student body is from Phillipston, to which Finance Committee member Ruth French replied 15%.
“So, it’s equal to our share of the cost,” Langevin reiterated.
Langevin also asked how long the town would have to wait before being reimbursed by the MSBA.
“Once we hit a threshold of $50,000 spent, we can start submitting reimbursement requests,” Casavant said. “So, we’ll be submitting requests throughout the life of the project.”