1992-FINANCE COMMITTEE - Laserfiche WebLink

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Al Polsi requested a tour of both schools. Mr. DeMoura agreed to meet Mr. Polsi at the Middle School at 9:00 A.M. on Friday, February 14 , 1992. Deidre Greelish asked whether there were special needs programs in both the Middle School and the Coombs School. The answer was yes. Deidre also suggested that by moving children from the Coombs School to the Middle School, for instance the fourth graders, there might not be as much overcrowdedness. David Terry suggested that capacity has very little to do with this. He stated that we are talking about a school and we need to look at the overall picture. He felt that we can't keep shuffling children around. Tony Gallo mentioned the fact that children today need to be taught how to think. In the past when overcrowded classrooms were a way of life, the children who fell through the cracks were forgotten about. We can't allow this to happen. He-felt-that-we-can't-al-row-more-th&r 3eem- One teache-r-eanne�handte all Al Polsi brought up the subject of portable classrooms. Alec Matt indicated that it would cost the town approximately $30,000 per year for four portables, as well as a set up fee of $35,000. Carole Dunivan stated that the School Committee has absolutely said no to portable classrooms. Carole felt that we were not doing anything here tonight. She suggested the selectmen get together with the School Building Needs Committee and work this through. Peter asked when the bonds for the Middle School would be retired? The answer was 1996. WA'T'ERWAYS COMMISSION Lew Schwartz and Dan Hommyer were also present at this meeting on behalf of the Waterways Commission. Mr. Schwartz indicated that the Waterways Commission has been paying out of pocket all expenses to keep the organization running besides secretarial costs. They are only able to have one meeting per month because of the secretary's budget. During the hurricane they needed more meetings and could not have them and they also needed some emergency funding which they were not able to obtain because the Waterways Maintenance Fund is not accessible without a timely warrant to be considered only by town meeting. Mr. Schwartz asked, in a memo to Kevin Harrington, that the use of these funds be determined by recommendation of the Waterways Commisision and subject to the approval of the Board of Selectmen and Town Manager. He felt that these funds should be accessible in an emergency situation. He also recommended in the memo an operational budget of $2 ,500 per year that would cover such services as additional secretarial services, personal travel, telephone, research costs, printing and miscellaneous costs. Deidre Greelish suggested that we also find out if that fund is being used by any other commission such as Harbormaster. Dan Hommyer also suggested that their secretary is only budgeted to be at a meeting once per month and that they do not even have a designated area for their files, which are public record. John Ferriday stated that he is not in favor of public records being kept in private facilities. He suggested the second floor of the D.P.W. Dan Hommyer mentioned that the Harbormaster is