Town Meeting Votes $8.7 Million For New Police Station

by William F. Galvin

            HARWICH – There was little dissent to funding an $8,750,000 police station in the opening night of the annual town meeting on Monday. Even those who were dissatisfied with the size of the proposed new facility agreed something has to be done with the present police station.

            Voters seemed to be focused on a few areas in the opening session: the new police station, Community Preservation Act spending and technology for the school system.

Finance Committee Chairman Robert Tombs during a contemplative moment in town meeting.

They were much less concerned about the $46,494,462 operating budget and approving a capital spending plan for the next seven years. Other than one amendment from the finance committee adjusting the annual debt service in the FY09 budget, there was not a peep about that spending.

At the onset of the meeting both Board of Selectmen Chairman Robin Wilkins and Finance Committee Chairman Robert Tombs warned voters of tough times ahead with a weakening economy, and urged caution with spending. The austere forecast brought selectmen, the finance and school committees together to put forth a consensus budget, Wilkins said. The budget increase over the present year is 4.2 percent, he told voters.

Police Station Building Committee Chairman Ray Jefferson said his committee worked for six years to hone the needs of a new police facility.  This is “the right size, right place and right time,” he said.

The proposal, Jefferson said, is to build a 20,200-square-foot facility adjacent to the fire department with 1,500 square feet of renovation to house a joint dispatch facility. There is less than 400 square feet for growth, Jefferson said of his committee’s efforts to contain the size of the structure. He also said the timing is right because the slowdown in the construction trade has resulted in a $1 million savings over estimates.

Jefferson also said the structure will be “a true green building” that would realize $40,000 a year in utilities and maintenance costs. He said the specifications provide the infrastructure for future solar panels on the station roof.

“Two out of three isn’t bad,” Richard Gunderson said of Jefferson’s three rights. “I can’t support it. The facility is just too big and each square foot increases operation costs. Big is not necessarily better.  Small can work as well.”

Gunderson said the committee has used the construction costs of other police stations in good times to justify the need for this station and he suggested it is not a good guide for the Harwich facility. He said the proposed facility is the same size as the old and new sections of town hall and the combined public safety facilities on Sisson Road would be 37,000 square feet.

“We’re not as fat and happy as we once were,” Gunderson said of the town’s financial position.

He pointed out members of the capital outlay committee only a few months ago were pushing for a reduction in size. Capital Outlay Committee Chairman Pete Watson said they had five meetings with the building committee

“I was the biggest critic,” said Watson, also a member of the finance committee. “I have come to the conclusion in the interest of the town I’m going to support it. More than $1 million in savings in town costs was a driving force.”

Police Chief William Mason said the facility is a little smaller than that of similar size departments in surrounding towns. He said the building committee looked at every square foot to get it down as much as they could. Mason cautioned they do not know what the future demands of the department, but he added “the demand for public service has increased.”

Hingham Police Chief Taylor Mills, a local resident, said in 1998 his department moved from a station constructed in 1936 where they were “stacked like cordwood.” He praised the joint dispatch, but he also cautioned about the size, explaining eight years after moving into their new station, they have outgrown the structure.

“I died on my birthday, Jan. 6, on the operating table,” former dispatch study committee member Barbara Yamamoto said. “And I’m still here because of dispatch. When you call for help you want it right away. You’ll never get a better deal.”      Geoffrey Wiegman, a former member of the building committee, said the committee has worked hard to make it the smallest size possible. But he added selectmen were going to look at regionalizing with surrounding police departments.

“Assuming there is no interest in regionalization,” Wiegman said, “I support the new facility.”

“This has been about dollars, bricks and mortar; a police station is about human beings, men and women,” Constable Oliver Pelton said.

He said Cape Cod is a small place and if Harwich does not approve the project word will get out the town does not care about its police department and law enforcement candidates will not apply for jobs here.

After an hour of debate, Ursula Corbett moved the question and the debate ended. Voters then supported the new police station funding by more than a two to one margin. A debt exclusion ballot question must be approved for the funding in the May 20 election before the project can go forward.

The school department had two articles seeking additional funds beyond requests in the budget, for technology and extraordinary maintenance of school facilities. Selectmen had initially settled on $75,000 for school technology. The school department was looking for $146,073. The schools were looking for $87,150 in additional maintenance funds.

But the school committee ultimately agreed to drop the maintenance funding with the understanding they would receive support for $125,000 for technology. Al Rosenberg said technology is important and he wanted to know why it was not included in the budget. 

School Committee Chairman Thomas Blute said there was technology funding in the budget, but the budget was “extremely strained” this year. They have had to layoff personnel this year and it was felt additional resources would be sought in an article, he added.

Leo Cakounes supported the article approach, explaining that money would be dedicated to technology and not subjected to the autonomy the school committee enjoys in budget spending. 

Corbett wanted to know if the technology was for the classroom. Blute explained the need is driven by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges certification assessment, showing technology as one of the high school’s major deficiencies.

Wilkins said the technology issue goes back a decade when $100,000 was appropriated each year. Then the override caused reductions in school spending. He said the additional request is to meet the needs of students because NEASC requires certain competency and it require technology.

Teacher Richard Houston said the town is losing money to School Choice, and if this is voted down it sends a clear message because Harwich is already behind and needs this technology. Voters approved the technology funding request and postponed the article relating to extraordinary maintenance.

Community Preservation Act spending also drew debate on Monday night. Finance Committee member Dana DeCosta put forth recommendations to slow down CPA funding.

“We want to slow down the CPC (community preservation committee) train because the state funds are slowing down,” DeCosta said. “We want to slow down some of the multi-year projects that have no end in sight.”

DeCosta said some of the projects before town meeting were not complete and are there without bids in hand. He also pointed out the CPA funds are the source for paying off $9.8 million owed by the town for land bank purchases which the town has bonded.

CPC Chairman Jack Brown said his committee was recommending $1,157,600 in CPA funding this year, with half directed toward affordable housing projects. Historic preservation articles also garnered strong support from the committee. Another $860,486 will be used to cover the land bank debt for this year.

Brown also said the town is in a position to receive the maximum amount available from the state for the program. He said the town will get at least 65 percent in matching funds next year, possibly as high as 80 percent.                        

The remaining 12 articles acted upon on Monday night were CPA funding requests. Five of those which were recommended for indefinite postponement by the finance committee received favorable votes. One of the articles recommended by the finance committee for postponement was indefinitely postponed by a three-vote margin.

That article sought $50,000 to assist with development of affordable rental apartments at the former recreation building and the West Harwich school site.

“I need clarity on what we’re doing,” Cakounes said of providing money to a perspective developer to encourage interest in building affordable housing at these locations. He said the RFP has already gone out for developers and they will not know this money is available.

But Brown responded that developers were made aware of the article, which is designed to induce developers to come here and build affordable housing. The article was defeated by a 66 to 63 vote in the waning minutes of the meeting.

However, another CPA funding article seeking $57,500 for restoration of the former recreation building on Sisson Road was supported by voters over the finance committee recommendation for postponement. That article drew focus on the valve of the two former schoolhouses built in 1871.  

“I’m one of those people who would like to see the building collapse,” Finance Committee Peter Watson said. “It’s an endless money pit.”

“Why throw good money after bad?” Planning board member Joseph McParland said.

But Selectman Ed McManus said these are the first public buildings the town contracted to build. He said four schools were built in the centers of the town in 1871 and the question is, should the two remaining be preserved?

The Sisson Road building and the West Harwich school are included in the RFP specifications for affordable housing and have been identified as potential cultural centers as part of those plans.

“I hope each would be preserved and not look like dilapidated buildings,” Carolyn Crowell said.

Voters approved funds for preservation of town clerk and assessing department records, they agreed to inventory and restore 22 Charles D. Cahoon paintings and to digitize microfilm of the Harwich Independent newspaper. They also provided funds to preserve and place a climate control system in Brooks Academy. They further provided $100,000 for restoration work at the South Harwich Meetinghouse.

Voters also approved $300,000 to help the Lower Cape Community Development Corporation with pre-development and construction funds for affordable housing along Main Street Extension and another $25,000 to develop affordable housing on town owned land.

Tuesday Night’s Conclusion 

            Following Tuesday’s special town meeting (see separate story), the annual town meeting picked up where it left off Monday, approving several more Community Preservation Act funding articles that had not received the recommendation of the finance committee.

            Four recreation articles seeking money for a new fence at Potter’s Field, a new infield at Whitehouse Field, walking trail improvements and a bike trail crossing signal had been recommended for indefinite postponement by the fincom based on a court decision ruling against the city of Newton for using CPA funds for recreation projects not initiated with the funds. Finance committee member Dana DeCosta said the cleanest approach for the town was to vote down the funds sought in these four articles until the legal issue is settled.

            But Selectman Ed McManus said his board supported the articles with the proviso no funds will be spent until such time as the court issues a decision clarifying the matter or state law is changed to provide for the spending. Town Counsel John Giorgio said he did not see any significant liability to the town in taking this approach. Voters approved the articles.

            Voters also agreed with selectmen and rejected the finance committee’s recommendation to postpone an annual request for $22,630 to defray the costs for the Chase and Harwich Port libraries. The issue of funding the private libraries with public funds has been hotly debated over the past several years. Leo Cakounes cited multiple occasions over the past two nights where voters funded private organizations to the tune of $687,000.

            "We’ve got the board of selectmen on board," former selectman Allin Thompson said of their support." I hope the finance committee gets it through their head."

            A petitioned article requesting the town to call upon congressional representatives to vote only funding for a safe and rapid withdrawal from Iraq was rejected by voters.

            Voters also increased the time frame for the historical commission to act from 90 to 180 days on determinations under the historic structure demolition delay bylaw. They also approved a rolling number of 100 years to trigger application of historic significance under the bylaw. The previous date was 1900. Voters concluded the annual town meeting by 11 p.m. on Tuesday night

5/8/08