It's right out of the statute (MGL Ch. 59, Sec. 21C) and we are required to use it verbatim. The reason is that it's not really referred to as Proposition 2 1/2 officially in the statutes, so the statute requires us to refer to it as "Proposition 2 1/2 so called" because most people associate it with it's nickname - Jim Malloy, Town Manager

Remember the Fire Station is having an Open House for all residents today starting at 8 AM and the Spring Festival is at Bay State.

According to presentations I heard at Town Meeting - the building could be condemned at any time for structural deficiencies. The building would not hold up in an earthquake, for example. The trucks are now sitting on a floor whose underlying steel beams are rotting. So yes, the current building is falling down.

The issue is that the building has twice been determined by Structural Engineers to be structurally unsound a decade apart. First in 2001 by The Maguire Group and the again in 2011 by BVH. After the 2001 report the Town made repairs to the building, however with the current deficiencies the Town would need to bring the entire building up to the current building code which would require it to meet the earthquake standard. Given the original construction and the 1980 addition, the cost to bring the building up to code and providing adequate space was deemed impractical due to cost, than building a new building. This is the main driver. Jim Malloy, Town Manager

Additionally here is a link to my page on the Town's website that contains both the presentation that I made at Town Meeting as well as the Architect's presentation in case you were not able to make it to Town Meetinhttp://town.westborough.ma.us/Public_Documents/WestboroughMA_Manager/indexg Jim Malloy, Town Manager

Mr. Malloy,
I saw the Architect Presentation. There was very little details on why fixing was more money. It was simple stated that we need to meet all earthquake and flood requirements. Some of which are absurd. See Below.

Lets see, does the Architect benefit if fixing would work? I doubt it.

The other study you mention was done in 2001. That is to old. This points out we do need a real second opinion.

Structural Evaluation of the Westborough Fire Station

The final item related to building structure is the lateral stability of the structure. …The structure of the 1888 Fire Station and subsequent additions were not designed or detailed to resist extreme wind or seismic events. …Upgrading the existing structure to meet code requirements of Category IV – Essential Facilities would be impractical based on the existing construction and the increased requirements associated with Essential Facilities that are to remain operational in the event of extreme environmental loading from flood, wind or earthquakes.

I'm too much on the inside because I attend town meeting? Darn, I had no idea that was all it took. If you look at other things I have wrote on the Patch, you will see that I have many times noted "the majority of Westborough residents who don't (care to) pay attention to town government details". I think my point is that I was stunned that someone was going to vote no without bothering to learn about the issue. If someone is going to go to the trouble of writing a letter to the editor about the issue but does not want to take the trouble to learn what the issue is about, doesn't that strike you as a bit odd? It would have taken about that long to lookup the fire house issue on the town web site as it would to write and mail a letter to the editor complaining that the town is not providing enough justification for the expense.

Well said. I totally agree. I think most people will vote against it. By the way, has anybody thought of fixing the problems with the fire station? You cant spend money you dont have. Federal, State and local all the same overspending. Its time to solve
the spending problems.

Stephen Faris

We have planned this project to coincide with other debt that is retiring so that the Fire Station would have no net increase in property taxes, so it is a good time relative to our debt load. When I started here our overall General Fund debt was around 15% of our operating budget. The Selectmen adopted a set of comprehensive fiscal management policies last year that sets a goal of maintaining a debt burden of no more than 10% of our operating budget. We will hit that goal in FY13 (the budget Town Meeting approved in March) and with our retiring debt (debt that is being paid off) we'll be substantially below the 10% mark even with the Fire Station Debt. To Mr. Faris's comment below, we did look at repairing and expanding the Fire Station but repairs are substantial enough that it would force the Town to comply with the new building code and the Architect indicated this was impractical due to the cost.

Its important to vote "NO". Mission critical is really a bunch of bull. Voters need to get realistic about the present depression the US is in. Why not try fixing the present Fire
Station issues instead of trying to scare voters.

Stephen Faris

Mr. Faris - We heard the concerns regarding the state of the economy at Town Meeting and while we understand that at the individual level everyone has their own specific circumstances, the economic condition in this country has improved significantly over the past 2 years from where it was in 2008/09. After Town Meeting I did some research into this and posted information on my blog on the Town's websitehttp://town.westborough.ma.us/Public_Documents/WestboroughMA_Manager/S02FA0C7D. Hope you find this information useful. Jim Malloy, Town Manager

Mr. Malloy,
The economy is improving according to who? Lets see the following facts:

1) Unemployment is over 8%. Less people working today than in 2000(per Gary Shilling- an important economist)
2) 16 Trillion in US debt. Ma and other states near bankruptcy.
3) Banks acting as high grade utilities with very little ability to loan.
4) Corp hiring engineer in other countries due to lower cost.
5) Jobs that are created here are mostly low paying hamburger flipping jobs.
Not enough revenue to fund the towns excessive demands
6) Goverment regulation taking over forcing out private enterprise.

All of this points out we are on the road to a European Debt Crises. The economy is
not getting better. Inflation will not save the US, instead Deflation will take root causing extreme pain for the average citizen. Perhaps you did not listen well enough at town meeting.

Mr Faris - Can you cite sources please. I heard the same claims at Town Meeting which is inconsistent with all official information. Did you take the time to review the info on my blog? Please note all of the posts on the economy cite the appropriate source. I'm not sure who Mr Shilling is, but he's played up pretty well on Wikipedia. The source of his credentials is his own website, which would concern me. Please take the time to look at the info on my blog. Thanks!

My source for data is Gary Shilling. He is a prominent economist and well known on
Wall St. He has been correct over the last 30years and often appears on CNBC and
other financial programs. His latest book is below: You should try reading it to get better informed on our "real economy".
The Age of Deleveraging: Investment strategies for a decade of slow growth and deflation, published in late 2010 by John Wiley & Sons,

On the hand, your data is from the "US Bureau of Economic Analysis". They data tends to be political as is the unemployment rate. The actual number of people employed is down from 2000. That is from David Rosenberg another famous economist you may not of heard of. David has the same opinions as Gary. So you can check that out.

Your contention that Gary Shilling is suspect versus the US political data is just the reverse. The MA data is also suspect because ther reference points of where we were in 2007. Again, mostly political hacks publishing this rubbish.

Also, note that the jobs mentioned in your report(below) are all low paying service jobs. What happen to the high paying tech jobs? Bet you cant explain that.
So, maybe the people at the Town Meeting had it right after all.

Well said. I think most people agree with you.

Stephen Faris

The estimated cost is $122 per year or approximately $10.14 per month for the average homeowner in Westborough. This is based on an $11.2 million debt issue at 3.5% over 20 years. Jim Malloy, Town Manager

We live in an area with the same seismic hazard as the location in Virginia that had the earthquake in 2011. Regardless - I will ask you the same question I asked Mr. Kelly - if you want us to live within our means as a town, what would you see cut in order for the Town to afford a new fire house?

Mike - the total annual debt for this project is approximately $950,000 in the first year. I would appreciate it if you would contact me directly to arrange a meeting and we'll spend some time going over the detailed line items in the budget so you can show me where you would cut the $950,000 and we can post a joint response on your thoughts. I can be reached at (508) 366-3030. Jim Malloy, Town Manager

Dominic Capriole
Mike-There is no need to cut anything and there is no need to pass a debt exclusion override. There is enough money within the town's levy limit to fund the fire station building with an article in the fall town meeting and avoid an additional layer of taxation and Mr. Malloy is well aware of this. This is not a vote on a building, it is a vote on a funding/taxation mechanism.

If this is true. Can you explain your statement below:

This is not a vote on a building, it is a vote on a funding/taxation mechanism.

Sounds like voting is a waste of time since the poll is showing 52% No 45% yes.
This is a good indicator that it will be defeated.

I have asked this question before and I will ask it again (and so have the selectmen by the way) - what would you cut? What hard choices would you mak?. Let's see, we could cut more teachers and increase class size to 30. We could close down Gibbons Junior High and move them to Mill Pond and go back to having all the elementary schools go to grade 6 (even more crowding). We could close down the senior center. We could remove tax breaks for seniors. We could close down the rec dept (which pays for itself, by the way). We could cut all non-union town employee salaries by 25%. We could close the library or cut it's hours in half. We could cut our police force in half. We could stop repairing our roads. We could defund the historical commission There are lots of choices here and more. What do you want to cut?

Mr Kelly - there is a big difference between an override and a debt exclusion. In summary, an override is a permanent override of Proposition 2.5 for a set dollar amount that never goes away. A debt exclusion only excludes the amount of the annual debt service from Proposition 2.5 levy limit and it decreases each year until it reaches $0. Jim Malloy, Town Manager

Bob - I'm not trying to sell a used car I simply provided the correct, current estimated cost per year and per month for the average single family home in Westborough so that the correct information is out there. I understand that you don't care if the Fire Station falls down, but that's something that is my responsibility to ensure doesn't happen.

The thing is that the town is doing these things. Purchases are carefully considered and the most efficient purchasing practices are pursued. School dept staff has been cut already. In the last teacher contract, the union was asked to, and agreed to, increase contributions to the health plan. The state and federal governments have put unfunded mandates on the school system so there are all sorts of things the town has done to keep the increase in tax burden as low as possible, but it is clearly not enough.

It's not $2400 because municipal debt decreases every year. Over 20 years it works out to $1,957 per average single family household. It's put in terms of annual because we have an annual budget and I include monthly costs because most residents think in terms of their monthly expenses.

Guess what these are not low interest rates. The interest rates in the 70's 80's and 90's was excessively high. What you call low rates, is caused by "deflation". Perhaps you should read some books like the following:

The Age of Deleveraging: Investment strategies for a decade of slow growth and deflation, published in late 2010 by John Wiley & Sons,

No need to rush, we will see these rates for at least 5-7years per Gary.

Mr Faris - they are low interest rates, the lowest of anytime in my 25 years of working as a Town Manager. Area towns have borrowed recently at rates as low as 1.75% on 20 year debt issuance.

Jim Malloy,
Twenty Five years is to short a time to look back. Go back 100 years and you will see the "low rates". You have a way of picking data points to fit the what you want to prove.
Lets be a little more objective.

I spend money on things I think are necessary.

There are elements of town infrastructure that have been known to be decaying for quite some time. Based on the information I have read or were presented at town meeting, I am in agreement that the fire station is in critical need of replacement and that this is something worth doing.

You and I have a difference of opinion on what is necessary.

Bob, send me your email and I'll forward you the tool that I used at Town Meeting so you can check out the difference the interest rate makes. It's amazing how a half percent can change how much the debt cost is. Send your email directly to me at jmalloy@town.westborough.ma.us and I'll send it to you privately. I'll also see if there's a way to put it online on the Town's website for anyone else to use. Jim Malloy, Town Manager

Agreed.

Mr. Nagi - Thanks! Just trying to make sure anyone reading this has the information I have and I'm happy to meet with anyone to review any questions or concerns they have on this issue. Thanks again!

I agree as well, and congratulate you, Jim on your professional responses. These debates get very heated, and your consistently calm comments keep it from boiling over.

I am will to spend my family's money on it. I can do with a couple of dinners less out per year or make better use of food coupons at the supermarket in order to ensure that the town has a good public safety infrastructure to protect my family when the need arises.

As far as Jim Malloy being able to shape his message - he is not saying anything here has not already said at many public meetings on the same subject. I would hazard a guess that many of those were not well attended.

Bob that's $1950 over 20 years... Not in one year, let's make sure that's clear.

I disagree, The Patch is not a traditional way for things to be communicated between residents AND Town officials. I cannot think of any other towns who are using it to the level that Jim Malloy is using it right now. In a year, it might be commonplace, but right now it's unique to Westborough. If you know of another community, feel free to correct me... but in most communities it is residents debating with residents on these types of forums.

... and, in this case, I have toured the current station, seen the technical reports posted on line, and have spoken to several fire department employees ~ I am convinced that a new fire station is a necessity (either now or in a couple years) and for that reason, I will be voting in favor of it at the special election.

He said exactly the same thing at town meeting to my recollection - cost per month and cost per year and the fact that the cost would decline with time. Again - I think this is necessary, you don't and the issue will be settled in the voting booth.

Bob - I pointed it out because you inaccurately stated it was $2400 over 20 years. At every meeting I've attended I've pointed out that municipal debt decreases each year and the figures I was presenting was the first (or highest) cost year. I believe Westborough TV has put those meetings online try this link http://www.westboroughtv.org/gov_shows.html. Jim Malloy, Town Manager

This information has been available both on my Webpage http://town.westborough.ma.us/Public_Documents/WestboroughMA_Manager/index on the Town's website as well as my blog http://town.westborough.ma.us/Public_Documents/WestboroughMA_Manager/S02FA0C7D for quite some time with more information being added regularly.

Mr Faris - Any work we do at the Fire Station needs to be done under the current building code so the building needs to be brought up to a code that requires that Police and Fire Departments meet both flood and earthquake loads. This is not the Town's code, but the National Building Code that was adopted by Massachusetts. You also need to understand that the Fire Station is too small. As part of the studies that have been done, two different space needs analysis have been done by two different architectural firms and both concluded the Town needs approximately 28,000 s.f. to house our Fire Department, vehicles and equipment. The current fire station is 14,000 s.f. This is both an issue of the structure itself and that the building is insufficiently sized.

The problem is most people oppose it as follows: The NO votes are 10% ahead of the yes votes. I guess the town meeting did not reperesent the town completely.

order to construct a new fire station?
(Voting has been closed for this question)
Yes 102 (44%) No 126 (55%) Total votes: 228

Yes, in this poll, the no votes have it. But I'm not sure why you assume that it is Town Meeting that did not represent the town completely, as opposed to this quick poll survey on The Patch. I'd submit that Town Meeting attendees were a well-informed audience, having a great deal of information and details presented to them prior to placing their vote. Many of those residents have been at each of the Town Meetings where this topic has been raised over the past few years. Many probably voted down the original option presented for a Public Safety Complex (basically Town Meeting attendees told town officials to go back and try again.) But after having seen the latest presentation and, over the course of many hours, having heard the arguments for and against, the residents at the March Town Meeting voted FOR building a new Fire Station. I think the vote of our Town Meeting attendees matters very much and don't think their YES vote should be discounted just because this radio button poll shows a different result.

Note it says this is not a scientific poll... Jim Malloy, Town Manager

Mark,
Do you understand the fact that a debt exclusion is not necessary to fund the fire station building? The money can be voted within the levy limit at the fall town meeting. At the May 1 Municipal Building Committee meeting, Mr. Malloy and I discussed this, and he concurred that I was correct. Again, this is not a vote on the construction of a building. It is a vote on a taxation/funding mechanism. If you need more information relative to my assertion, please read paragraphs two and three of the handout entitled Addendum to the Report and Recommendations of the Advisory Finance Committee Annual and Special Town Meetings (March 17, 2012).

No need to quarrel over small details. I passed American History in college with an A+.
Being smart does not make you correct. Mr Malloy has managed to confuse the issue of repair and has not fully researched it.
You fail to see the big trend of exploding debt. This is the exact problem that now plaguing Europe. Wake up instead of making dumb statements.

Dominic - You stated this could be done within the levy limit but I never concurred with you. As the Municipal Building Committee explained Town Meeting approved this project to be debt excluded and that's why the vote is for a debt exclusion because that's the only way this can move forward. Town Meeting also voted to fund the design and bidding for the Forbes Municipal Building and Town Hall with the plan to bring these projects back before the Fall Town Meeting later this year. As I explained at Town Meeting and at the Municipal Building Committee meeting some of the repairs and renovations could be done within the levy limit but not all of the work that needs to be done. So, no I do not concur with you that this project can be done within the levy limit given all of the other work that needs to be done that is planned to be done within the levy limit.

Jim,
You did, in fact, concur with me that if the fire station was the only project done at this time, it could be fully funded within this fiscal year's levy limit. While you believe that all four projects proposed by the Municipal Building Committee should be funded this year and, in particular, that the Forbes and Town Hall Projects should be done under the levy limit, this choice was not accepted at Town Meeting. Town Meeting voted ONLY to fund the design and bidding for the Forbes Municipal Building and Town Hall. It may be your intention to bring these projects back before the fall Town Meeting, but the spring Town Meeting did not request this to be done. Funding the fire station project under a debt exclusion sets the stage for funding all four proposed projects, yet it is not clear whether the people of Westborough are in favor of tackling the total cost of all four projects (this includes the new Recreation Department Building) at this time.

Karen,
Are you saying the people that happened to show up at the special town meeting is a large enough group to be statistically valid? Please enlighten us on how that works.
While the poll is not scientific, it is showing 5 to 10% more no votes.
I am not against an improved fire station, but I do not believe the town has looked at all the options such as:
1) cutting town expenses
2) properly reviewing repair options.

132 (47%) No 144 (52%) Total votes: 276

Remember we are in a deflationary world. While that is good in lowering cost, it also means people are being paid less. The vote now is:

Jim Malloy,
From Dominics comments, I think you should explain what your intending for spending on Town Buildings. Is this debt exclusion to fund other projects that were denied by town meeting?

Ms. Libbey - Please see the comment I left above in regard to Mr. Capriole's comment. I do not believe that the Town can address all of the building needs the Town has within the levy limit. The debt exclusion is the only option we've considered for this project because as the debt is paid off the amount excluded from the levy limit in Proposition 2.5 goes away, with an override, it's a permanent override of of Proposition 2.5. Don't hesitate to contact me directly and I'll sit down and go over it with you, it might be easier to explain in person. Jim Malloy, Town Manager

Mr Malloy,

Pardon me for not quite understanding, but if the funding money for the fire station can be voted within the levy limit at fall town meeting (as Dominic Capriole has stated), does that mean that the fire station could be built without a tax increase? If so, who's idea was it to increase taxes and why?

Gary,
Really! What about the fact that he has not responded to 2 issues-

1) Bob question:
April's job report lived up to muted expectations, with the economy creating a meager 115,000 jobs during the month as the unemployment rate fell to 8.1 percent.
2) No real details on the cost to repair. Since it was done in 1980 why not now!!
Remember, the fixed building would not need to meet the phony building standards now imposed.

So, has he really done the work to check a lower cost approach. I think not!!!

Mr Faris - Excuse me for not responding sooner, I took the afternoon off and played golf with my son and took him to dinner and more than likely will be doing yard work all weekend and wont post anything more this weekend.

I'm surprised that you consider a reduction in the unemployment rate and the creation of 115,000 jobs as meager, I consider 115,000 jobs substantial. As a Town Manager I really don't have much to do with national employment statistics, but will again point to my blog which contains the information regarding the local unemployment rate which has dropped to 4.8%.

On the second item, it's not just an issue of the building being repaired, its severely undersized and any repairs would need to be brought up to the current building code. It will clearly be more than 50% of the building which requires the building to brought up to code, including accessibility (elevator and other improvements). Why would you call it a phoney code? It's the National Building Code adopted by the Commonwealth...

Has the Town (its not just me we have a Municipal Building Committe) done the best it can to meet the long term needs at the lowest cost? We have. The initial Fire Station proposed by the Architect was approximately $20 million. The Building Committe worked very hard to reduce the size/scale of the project and ensuring it only included what was necessary. Through their efforts the cost was cut to the $11 million that was approved by Town Meeting.

Thank you Mr Kelly. Jim Malloy, Town Manager

Mr Malloy,

The financial press consider the 115,000 jobs meager and indicates a slow growth US economy. The Mass Unemployment rate is low because people have left the labor market. So the Mass data is phony. Remember you can make a rate look low by simple removing people from the labor market. Thats being done nationally and at the state level. The other issue you should know is that wages are on a downward track and that will determine ability to pay taxes. Also, the data you pointed me to shows low paying service jobs being created some of which are temporary. I think you should be more familiar with national economic data for the US since Ma does not exist by itself. I guess you dont read the Wall Street Journal.
If you want real data goto
http://www.shadowstats.com/
At least it will reflect what is happening and not politics.
Why does the building need to be expanded since the population of Westborough has not changed very much.? The building code is phony because it is an over reach. The Town cannot afford the luxury of overspecification,

You still have not shown why repairing and expanding is more money than replacing. Does the Building Committee have this data?

People are really infuriated by this debt exclusion. Many are living pay check to pay check. Have you of burden you are placing are retirees with fixed incomes? Or do you think they should just get out of town.

Steve

Bob - I have said that this project will not cause a tax increase. Because of other debt that will be retiring, there will be no net affect on taxes, this is one of the reasons that this is a good time to do this project. As I commented above and discussed at the Municipal Building Committee meeting the other night, with the other projects (Town Hall and Forbes Building) not all of these projects can be done within the levy limit. Town Meeting approved the design and bidding of the Town Hall and Forbes buildings with the goal of having actual bid prices for the Fall Town Meeting.

Mike - I spoke to the Town Clerk this morning, she estimated the Special Election will cost approximately $10,000.

This is no time to be spending money on something that can wait.

Taxpaying Voter,

I agree this town has not used the money properly. However, the teachers unions have managed to get the lions share. Maybe they will give some money back to fix the fire station.
One can see that there is a rush to approve this money and much more in the wings. The only way to send a message to them is by voting down each proposal for debt exclusion. The people running this town will drive up debt like Obama is trying to do. Force them live within what taxpayers can afford.

Jim- I'd be happy to discuss further and go over where the budget increases and decreases have been in the past and might be in the future. Call me to set up a meeting (I'm in the book) and we'll go over the budget.

Oh, so you think were not tied to the National Economy. Very naive statement.
Well do you have the data to prove repair wont work? Where is the data that shows that?
I guess your also naive on building codes raising costs.
Lets see the existing fire station worked for over 100 years. Repair will work and waivers can be obtained.

Well I just took a tour with Phil. It would be best to sit back and not panic as you are asserting. They need a competent Building Company to review the pros and cons of building a new one versus re-construction. There is no data to decide it yet.
Also, in talking taliking with my sources, the town has the money to build a new one. This debt exclusion is too add additional money for the town to play with. I think this has been pointed out.

So, there are 2 different issues as follows:

1) Money for new building or re-construction.
2) Debt exclusion to create a slush fund.

Now are you still going to vote yes?

Andy,

I have not toured the current facility but don't feel that I need to. I reviewed the presentation online and carefully listened to Mr. Malloy's presentation at town meeting. I agree that we need a new fire station and I'd like to see one built but without a debt exclusion. I'm not happy with the fact that the town is continuing to pursue this as a "package" deal. A debt exclusion is only required because the town is managing that levy limit for the other three buildings (town hall, police and recreation). The voters at the special town meeting defeated the articles pertaining to those other buildings and it seems that the town is not willing to listen. Yes, we later voted to fund the design of the additional buildings because it was clear that those municipal needs will need to be readdressed in the future. It was also clear that there needs to be more time spent on the design phase especially in regards to the recreation center. In fact, I agreed with your comment at TM that if we end up building a rec center let's get more for our money than a basketball court. However, I thought it was clear that the voters feel the time is not right for the expense of all these buildings. Frankly, I'm happy to see the focus of the discussion center around funding. I am guilty myself of voting on our "needs" in the past without paying much attention to the finances.

First the National Economy is important in this debate. The town needs to take into account the ability of people to pay and that is related to Economics and unemployment. The value of properties in town has decreased due to unemployment at the National level. So this is not off the subject.
Yes, I am questioning who made the determination on replacing the fire station.
The Building Committee needs to make that information available to the Voters.
Jim also said he would put it on the website.
My understanding is that one was done in 2001 which is old and stale. Jim has yet to put the newest one on line. Most people were not there but you want them to vote yes.
After reviewing the building today, I have a plan that would be substantially lower.
I wont reveal my idea yet.
Also, as it turns out the funding for the fire station does not need an override.
The debt exclusion is to be a slush fund so the town can use it for whatever they want. I think this is very deceptive. This is now getting out to the voters. Therefore its obvious that the No vote will win.

I am surprised that your so pro town government spending. Maybe you should review the overspending.

Mr. Faris - See the Municipal Building Projects link on the Town's homepage www.town.westborough.ma.us - both the 2001 and 2011 reports from the engineers are there as well as the Space Needs Analysis that shows how dramatically undersized the current Fire Station is compared to the needs of the department.

This is not true, read the Proposition 2 1/2 question as stated in the article (which is an accurate account of the question) - "Shall the town of Westborough be allowed to exempt from the provisions of proposition two and one-half, so-called, the amounts required to pay for the bonds to be issued in order to construct a new fire station?" The only thing the funds raised can be used for is to pay the debt service on the debt issued to build the fire station, it cannot be used as a "slush fund". Jim Malloy, Town Manager

Bob,
Well said. However, from talking with taxpayers they are beginning to uderstand the tyranny of government. That is why Scott Brown won. The conservative republicans will eventually take over from liberals that have destoyed mass. and our country.
At the center of this is the evil teachers unions.
When Barack Obama is removed this Nov. the towns, states and federal government will finally be on the right path.

Andy,

I commend you for your service and commitment to our town.  I know that you serve on Con Com and the Open Space Committee.  I've seen you present and read the updated Open Space Plan in its entirety. So I acknowledge the hard work of you and others.  But why do you seem to suspect those of us in opposition here do not attend town meeting?  I do.  There are only so many people who can sit on boards and committees so the heavy lifting is always done by the few.  I also wonder if those who are vocal in their opposing views would be appointed to boards/committees if they volunteered or would they be passed over!  But even the people standing on the sidelines get an equal say because they too pay the bills. 

Ms. Libbey - I meant to the put this in context as to why the debt exclusion is preferable over funding this project within the levy limit. A good comparison for a household is to say you had $10,000 in your savings account and you had a necessary cost to pay $9,930, leaving you just $70 for any other emergencies. Would you spend $9,930 in your savings account or take a loan to pay the cost of the necessary repair? This is the same 0.7% and in my opinion a good analogy of why the fire station should be funded through a debt exclusion. $430,599 may sound like a lot of money, but in a large organization with a $92 million budget it isn't. Consider the $600,000 HVAC system in the library that we had to fix. Jim Malloy, Town Manager

Jim,
I thought that you are in charge of keeping town costs under control. The analogy you make is not good. The town taxes come from many households that are under severe stress. It does not appear that you are sensitive to that issue.

Bob - The average homeowners property taxes will not increase due to this project whether the project is funding within the levy limit or through a debt exclusion. The debt cost doesn't change, it's the same $1950 either way. Jim Malloy, Town Manager

Within the levy limit puts us too close to our levy limit which could result in a future need for a permanent override of Proposition 2 1/2. You have to remember that not all of our expenses are driven locally, often many of our new expenses are driven by mandates by the State or Federal Government.

When I started here in 2009, the Town was using $1.2 million of reserves to balance the budget (an operating deficit) and was $10,000 under our levy limit. During my interviews with both the Town Manager Search Committee and Board of Selectmen I was told that an override was inevitable in the next 2-3 years and asked how I would handle explaining the need for the override to voters.

Through careful budgeting and keeping our costs down by level funding and/or cutting expenses in most departments we have actually eliminated the operating deficit and grown the levy capacity by nearly $1.4 million dollars (this means we haven't been spending every dime we're able to under Proposition 2 1/2).

Reply (Continued) If we have a need to increase spending because of a new mandate and it exceeds our levy capacity, our choice is to cut other budgets or seek an override which is permanent. My point is that it's better to have a debt exclusion (which is only for the amount of debt and is eliminated when the debt is paid off) and not get into the position where the Town has very little leeway in regard to dealing with new expenses other than an override, which again is permanent. This is especially true since the Town has been holding the line as much as possible on expenses and is not taxing to the maximum allowed under Proposition 2 1/2.

Bob - Excess levy capacity is the property taxes we don't levy, therefore it doesn't cost you anything. Jim Malloy, Town Manager

Bob,
I feel Jim is not on the taxpayers side. Would you aggree?

Good point!! Also, ask what they have done with the local restaurant tax.?
Also, my neighbor who is a call fireman says the ambulance money is fed into the town general fund. Why cant that money be used for a new fire station. This town is really has out of control spending. Selectman make note.

Mike - it's a General Fund Revenue. Let me know which street you live on and I'll provide the information on when it was last worked on. You can also take a look at the Town's Road Management Plan which is on the Town Manager's page on the Town's website which shows each road in town and it's condition/rating criteria. JimMalloy, Town Manager

Mr Faris - The Meals Tax is also a General Fund Revenue. On the Town Manager's Webpage you can find the Town's Five-Year Financial Forecast which includes both total revenues and expenditures. The estimate for the Meals Tax for FY12 is $500,000 which reduces your property taxes by that amount. The link to this page is here http://www.town.westborough.ma.us/public_documents/FV1-00010A65/FV1-00043E25/S034E2E2A.0/FY13-17%20Five%20Year%20Forecast.pdf

Jim Malloy, Town Manager

Jim,
I appreciate your comments. However, $0.5 on a $90 million budget is 0.55%. Not much signifcance there. What about the ambulance money? Phil(Captain of Fire Dept) has stated that if our senior citizens need an ambulance, the insurance company pays $800. Who gets that money?
Also, why have you avoided asking the state for ambulance money. Phil says every time they service the DYS unit buildings they get only $40 from the state. Jim, you need to ask the state to pay not the overburdened taxpayer.

The selectman still dont get it. Time to review the selectman and determine if they are meeting taxpayer expectations.

Townie,
I have been trying to find out which selectman support this debt exclusion. Can you name the one that does not support the debt exclusion? We can identify to voters the big spenders and smoke them out. Time to make people accountable.
The below are the selectman. Please note the one that did not support the debt exclusion. I am sorry to say, my dear friend Al Jefts has passed away.
I note 2 are up for election in 2013.

Leigh Emery 2013 Chairman
Ian Johnson 2014 Vice Chairman
Timothy A. Dodd 2013
George Barrette 2015
Denny Drewry 2015

Ok. However, they will feel the pain in 2013 when the US and world economy hit crises stage. If they vote YES it will come back to haunt them. This is coming as sure as night follows day.
Also, I have heard that realtors are telling clients to avoid Westborough because of the taxes the selectmen are planning. That could cause property values to fall even for those inclined to vote YES.

Steve

Thank you Anne for underscoring the importance of this vote. Folks please listen to folks like Anne.

Annie
Thank you Annie for underscoring the importance of this vote. Folks please listen to folks like Annie.

I was also thinking that Jim has not accounted for this in his spread sheets. Jim, why dont you make a column in your budget for loss revenue due to high taxes compared to other towns. If you are objective as you say, that seems reasonable.
Perhaps the town selectmen could explain to the Town Meeting whats going on with the values of our properties in town.
If you need help explaining this, I will volunteer to help. However, I think you consider this not part of your sales pitch.

Ms. Libbey - Please note, Westborough's average single family tax bill is $7,790 and Hopkinton's is $8,082 (source: Municipal Databank, MA Dept of Local Services). Jim Malloy, Town Manager

Chris,
Thanks. That was well stated.

Annie,
You are correct. The average value is influenced by number of high price homes and low priced homes. So your brothers analysis was more correct. You need to compare houses that are similar in value. Jim likes to play with statistics. Let the buyer beware.

Jim,
Can you answer Annie. We will bring this up at town meeting.

Steve

Town meeting decided a few years ago that the combined public safety complex was too expensive and had the building committee do a use study to see how current space could be used more effectively. The result was the separate fire station plan and the Forbes building renovation which would include the expanded police station.

No one is against a new firestation. However, that will happen whether the debt exclusion passes or not. You need to review the messages on the patch.

I disagree on both statements. Good to know that you're willing to step up to the plate if an opening becomes available.

That would actually be on the Town Manager's bloghttp://town.westborough.ma.us/Public_Documents/WestboroughMA_Manager/S02FA0C7D