Time too short to set up gift of land

February 3, 2009

NH Business Review Staff,

MERRIMACK – Land eyed as a spot for a new south fire station won’t change ownership anytime soon.

Town officials have been scoping out a parcel of school district-owned acreage on Continental Boulevard, and on Monday, Town Manager Keith Hickey and Town Council Chairman Tom Mahon were slated to ask the School Board to consider a warrant article that would convey that land.

But getting all the details ironed out – logistical and legal – in time to meet required ballot deadlines just isn’t possible, school board members said.

“It’s a timing issue,” said board Chairwoman Rose Robertson-Smith, following the meeting. “That and being able to vet the whole project jointly.”

The plan is to tackle the issue at a combined School Board and Town Council meeting next month. Even so, a speedy conclusion isn’t in the cards, no matter what.

Unlike the charter-governed town, the school board doesn’t have the power to gift or grant land, said Emily Coburn, School Board vice chairwoman. Voters would have to approve any kind of land conveyance, she said, even if the school were to put it up for $1. It appears, then, that the earliest opportunity for a transfer of any kind would be next spring, during the 2010 election.

Mahon said town officials have been looking for land on which to build a new south fire station. The current station on Naticook Road is unfit to handle an expected increase of service calls at the future outlet mall, Mahon said, which will be built off Industrial Drive. Also, he said, the station is in the middle of a residential area.

Late last year, Hickey approached Fidelity about land possibilities, but nothing came of it, Mahon said. Then, in December, he, Hickey and Fire Chief Mike Currier met with the school board in nonpublic session to talk about 12 acres that had been associated with Thorntons Ferry School. The town would likely need only 3 or 4 acres, Mahon said.

The fire department has money built into its budget this year for engineering of a new station and $2 million for construction has been marked in the town’s capital improvement plan for 2010-11.

The joint meeting will be held March 19 in the Town Hall courtroom at 7 p.m.

In other business, the board:

Approved two changes to its proposed spending plan for the coming year. The school budget committee voted to add $4,480 back into the budget, which would restore an academic assistance program at the middle school. The program targets students who are failing more than one class, according to Matt Shevenell, the district’s business administrator. Robertson-Smith, Coburn and Roy Swonger voted in favor of adding the money back in; Jody Vaillancourt opposed; and Jennifer Thornton was excused from the meeting.

The board then unanimously supported a $20,000 budget reduction, based on lower-than-expected bids for roof repair at the high school. The total $63 million spending plan now moves forward to the budget public hearing Feb. 10, and then it will return to the board for final voting on Feb. 16.

Reviewed preliminary results of the New England Common Assessment Program. Assistant Superintendent Deborah Woelflein said many grades and student subgroups showed improvement, indicating a steady growth across the board. Some areas still need work, she said, adding that scores in math, reading and writing in 11th grade were below state averages. The district is reviewing the results for anomalies and errors. Results are being sent home to parents.

The filing period for open elected positions in the school district will be from Feb. 25 to March 6. Available are two, three-year school board seats; two, three-year planning and building committee seats; and four, three-year budget committee seats. Candidates can register at the superintendent’s office on McElwain Street, next to the high school, and must pay a $1 filing fee.

Karen Lovett can be reached at 594-6402 or klovett@nashuatelegraph.com. Shevenell, the district’s business administrator. Robertson-Smith, Coburn and Roy Swonger voted in favor of adding the money back in; Jody Vaillancourt opposed; and Jennifer Thornton was excused from the meeting.