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All About: Articles 1 & 2 to be Voted at Special Town Meeting – *February 23, 2015

Are you still confused about Article 1 and Article 2, both of which will be voted on at Special Town Meeting on *February 23, 2015?

If so, you’re not alone.

Hopefully, this step-by-step guide will help.

Here’s what you need to do:

Step One: Learn About Article 1 and Article 2

  • Article 1 and Article 2 are the first two warrant articles that will be voted on at the Special Town Meeting on *Monday February 23, 2015.  There are 22 warrant articles in all, and the complete warrant is available to view and download here: 2015-02-09 Special Town Meeting Warrant. Both Article 1 and Article 2 involve transfers of money to pay for Phase II of the Reorganization of the Schools, which includes:
    • the move of all students and staff from Wing to Oak Ridge or Forestdale,
    • the move of some students and staff from Forestdale to Oak Ridge and Oak Ridge to Forestdale
      • Alan Hall, Director of Facilities, has received an estimate for $102,000 from A. Walecka and Sons, the Wareham company who did the moving work for Central Office and for the STEM Academy.
      • This job would have to be put out to bid; this is an estimate for planning purposes only.
    • renovations to the “portables” at Forestdale and Oak Ridge
      • Estimates include roofing repairs ($54,880); Flooring ($30,000); Carpentry/Electrical/Drywall/Labor ($45,000); HVAC ($48,000); Design Costs ($10,000)
      • These jobs would have to be put out to bid; these are estimates for planning purposes only.
    • bathroom renovations at Forestdale and Oak Ridge
      • Build out two single stall lavatories at Forestdale; replace toilets at Forestdale: install additional toilets at Oak Ridge ($50,000)
      • These jobs would have to be put out to bid; these are estimates for planning purposes only.
    • safety upgrades at Forestdale and Oak Ridge.
      • Security cameras @ $20,000 per school ($40,000)
      • Plexi-glass around the 2nd floor openings ($32,000)
      • These jobs would have to be put out to bid; these are estimates for planning purposes only.

SLT has published a piece specifically about the moving and renovations with additional information.

The following descriptions of Articles 1 and 2 come directly from the Warrant. The list of resources for Article 1 is re-formatted for clarity – the wording and the meaning are true to the Warrant.

ARTICLE 1
To see if the Town will vote to transfer and appropriate the sum of $140,549.22.00, or any other amount, for the purpose of constructing improvements and remodeling, constructing, reconstructing and making extraordinary repairs to the Oak Ridge School and Forestdale School and for capital improvements associated with moving all Pre-Kindergarten through 6th grades to the schools, including design, site improvements, equipment, furnishings and costs incidental thereto; said funds to be transferred from the following School Department capital project balances; and further to authorize the School Committee to enter into any and all contracts necessary to carry out such project; or take any action relative thereto.

Below are the details: the balance available & the previous capital projects with balances to be transferred via Article I

$   73,869.60 transferred from a capital project voted on 5/6/13,  Article 5 Building Repairs & Improvements
$   54,046.94 transferred from a capital project voted on 11/18/13, Article 1 High School A-Wing & STEM Improvements
$     4,901.95 transferred from a capital project voted on 5/2/11, Article 3 Wing School Safety Zone Signage
$     4,110.00 transferred from a capital project voted on 5/7/12, Article 5 Computer Software
$     2,317.42 transferred from a capital project voted on 5/1/06, Article 4 Oak Ridge School Windows
$         500.09 transferred from a capital project voted on 5/3/10, Article 5 SHS Field Maintenance & Improvements
$         371.63 transferred from a capital project voted on 5/7/12, Article 5 Flooring Improvements
$         222.59 transferred from a capital project voted on 5/7/12, Article 5 Bathroom Partitions
$         209.00 transferred from a capital project voted on 5/3/10, Article 4 Wing School Building Study
$140,549.22 TOTAL
Recommended by the Board of Selectmen and Capital Improvement Planning Committee. Not Recommended by the Finance Committee.

ARTICLE 2
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, or transfer from available funds, the sum of $275,000.00, or any other amount, for the purpose of constructing improvements and remodeling, constructing, reconstructing and making extraordinary repairs to the Oak Ridge School and Forestdale School and for capital improvements associated with moving all Pre-Kindergarten through 6th grades to the schools, including design, site improvements, equipment, furnishings and costs incidental thereto, and further to authorize the School Committee to enter into any and all contracts necessary to carry out such project, or take any action relative thereto.
Recommended by the Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee, and Capital Improvement Planning Committee.

Step Two: Come to Special Town Meeting to discuss and vote on Article 1 and Article 2 

  • Who: All registered voters in the Town of Sandwich
  • What: Town of Sandwich Special Town Meeting
  • When: Monday, February 9, 2015 at 7:00 pm
  • Where: Sandwich High School Auditorium. Childcare will be provided by the SHS Key Club under the supervision of SHS Principal Dr. Ellin Booras
  • Why: Your vote matters! Both Article 1 and Article 2 require a simple majority to pass at Special Town Meeting.

 Please note: 

  • If the Articles do not pass:
    • There will not be a change to the timeline regarding the closure of the Wing School.
    • The funds to be transferred in Article One will not be expended and will continue to be held in the Town Treasury, designated for future school department capital expenses.

Also note:

  • The funding for Article Two is coming from “free cash.” “Free Cash” is a term from the Department of Revenue – it is very complex – the DOR definition can be viewed and downloaded here: freecash definition from DOR 
  • No Articles for Capital Expenses will be needed/submitted for the school department for the May Annual Town Meeting.

A video with more information about the fundamentals of Sandwich Town Meeting is available here.  This video was created by Selectmen Jim Pierce and Frank Pannorfi in 2012, produced by Sandwich Community Television, and is full of information about how Town Meeting works.  In this video, Mr. Panonrfi and Mr. Pierce also discuss petition articles – there are two petition articles on this year’s STM Warrant – Articles 4 and 5.  Sandwich Community Television is preparing additional informational videos to prepare citizens for the May Town Meeting – they will be available both on air and on the SCT website.

*This article was revised to reflect the change of date from February 9, 2015 to February 23, 2015 due to snow.