This blog is dedicated to posting news and information on key issues and opportunities which may have an effect on our way of life in Arundel, Maine
USA. The goal is to provide insight into key issues and opportunities while providing the community a knowledgebase for self directed education while creating a public forum for constructive comments and open sharing of ideas.
Please send ideas for topics to arundelmaine@roadrunner.com.
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Town hall site list whittled
Questionnaire to gauge residents’ interest in building a new facility
The selectmen, after a handful of site visits since September in search of a parcel to house the new town hall, have narrowed their selection down to two locations. While the board will not release specific locations, Selectman Velma Jones Hayes disclosed that one parcel is located on Limerick Road, and the other is adjacent to the town garage.
Arundel Town Hall sits on the corner of Limerick and Mountain roads next to Arundel Fire-Rescue. The building’s tight quarters prevent town boards and committees from holding meetings on site.
“It’s small, it’s cramped, and there’s no handicap access. We think it has outlived its useful life,” Shea said of the town hall in July. “We’d like to have the ability to hold our selectmen meetings, town hall meetings and elections right in one building rather than go over to Mildred Day (school) or the fire station with all the voting equipment.”
In the next few weeks, Shea and the board of selectmen plan to compile infor- mation for a questionnaire to be mailed to Arundel residents the first week in December.
read more...
Disagrees with Parry column To the Editor:
Disagrees with Parry column
http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20131121-OPINION-311210319
To the Editor:
In my view, Arundel, Kennebunk, and Kennebunkport voters will turn out in large numbers this coming Jan. 21st. Why? Because our schools (along with these long-overdue school renovation projects) represent the heart, the soul and the values of each of our three communities. Our voters care. This is the case regardless of the views voiced by our local State Representative last week ('Board Needs to Reconsider January Vote,' Rep. Wayne R. Parry, YCCS Nov. 14, 2013).
Yes, the total cost is significant.
read more...
Residents call Kennebunk High 'horrifying,' say renovations needed
KENNEBUNK — After a tour of Kennebunk High School Monday night, one resident said he was "shocked" while another said it's "obvious" that improvements need to be made.
While approximately 30 people attended a public hearing Monday held by the RSU 21 Board of Directors on the proposed $74.8 million renovation projects, with a number speaking in support of the $53.5 million plans to renovate Kennebunk High School, others questioned costs. The renovations to KHS are one of three projects making up the $74.8 million question voters will be asked to decide on Jan. 21 — including $11.3 million for proposed renovations to Mildred L. Day School and $9.96 for proposed renovations to Kennebunkport Consolidated School.
Held in the cafeteria of KHS following a tour of the building open to the public, much of the discussion centered around the high school building project.
"Frankly,
I am shocked at what I saw. This building is horrifying, it's
horrifying," said Kennebunk resident Neil McMahon. "One of the reasons
we moved to this town was because of the education that our kids are
getting, and they are getting a fantastic education. The educators here
get the highest marks, but this building is at the end of its
line...;Walking through this building it feels like you're going through
a corn maze and it feels prison-like."
The board released projected operating costs for the three building projects for the first time Monday, a request of residents at recent board meetings and public hearings.
According to the figures released, current annual operating costs — mechanical, electric, heat, water and sewer — total $77,769 at Consolidated School, $82,745 at Mildred L. Day School and $307,480 at Kennebunk High School. Projected figures show that operating costs could increase to $92,600 at Consolidated, $84,900 at M.L. Day and $399,400 at KHS after the renovations.
Hearings, tours planned
Additional public hearings on the building
projects will take place on Monday, Dec. 2 at Mildred L. Day School and
Monday, Dec. 16 at Consolidated School. The public hearings will begin
at 7 p.m. with tours of the facilities offered starting at 6 p.m.
Additional tours will be offered: on Saturday, Nov. 23, at 9 a.m. at M.L. Day, 10:30 a.m. at Consolidated and noon at KHS; Saturday, Dec. 7 at 9 a.m. at M.L. Day and 10:30 a.m. at KHS; and Saturday, Jan. 11 at 9 a.m. at M.L. Day, 10:30 a.m. at Consolidated and noon at KHS.
RSU 21 board votes to expand bond to 25 years
KENNEBUNK — In an effort to lower the annual tax impact of the proposed $74.8 million renovation projects, the RSU 21 Board of Directors has opted to bond the projects over 25 years.
The board voted on Monday, Nov. 18 to extend the bond to 25 years, from 20 years as originally projected, which drops the highest year of repayment for taxpayers by more than 15 percent, they said. Extending the bond over a longer period of time will lessen the individual taxpayer's payment of the bond, but increases the total amount to be paid for the projects with interest, from $109 million to $113 million.
Voters will decide on Jan. 21 whether to support $74.8 million in school
renovations for Kennebunk High School, Kennebunkport Consolidated
School and Mildred L. Day School.
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Time for RSU 21 board to reconsider January vote
By Rep. Wayne R. Parry
As people may or may not be aware, the vote on the $74.8 million renovations for Kennebunk High School, Mildred L. Day School and Kennebunkport Consolidated School will be held in January 2014. I was disappointed and confused with the odd date chosen to hold a vote on such an important issue.
According to data provided by the Kennebunkport town clerk and reported in the York County Coast Star last month, the town averages 76 percent voter turnout during November elections and 40 percent during June elections. A January vote was held in 2009 and attracted a whopping 6 percent of voters. According to the Arundel town clerk, the last vote held in January was in 2009 and only 35 residents voted. The largest non-November vote in the last decade was only 991; 2,281 residents voted in last year's November election.
The question every taxpayer in Arundel, Kennebunk, and Kennebunkport should be asking is "WHY?" This choice of election date makes it appear that the RSU Board wants a low turnout. Can you imagine holding one of the withdrawal votes on an off day, when even the largest non-November vote has only seen 991 voters or when the lowest in the last January vote was 35 voters? When
Arundel went through the withdrawal process my goal was a November vote so the largest possible turnout would be achieved. Win or lose, if 60-70 percent of the voters cast a ballot (which is the usual turnout in November), residents can be confident that the outcome is what the town wants.
RSU plan applauded
To the Editor:
Much has
been made of the conversation around the RSU 21 plan to renovate
Kennebunkport Consolidated School, along with Arundel's Mildred L. Day
School and Kennebunk High School. I applaud the RSU Board's commitment
to these projects. By committing to maintaining an elementary school in
each of our towns, and by taking on the long overdue task of updating
these facilities, the board and administration have shown great
dedication to our students and tremendous vision for our towns.
Kennebunkport Consolidated School is old and
tired. It is undersized and antiquated. Its life safety and energy
efficiency systems are virtually non-existent. But, what takes place at
the school every day, and almost every evening and weekend, contributes
in the most positive way possible to the sense of community that makes
Kennebunkport an ideal place to live.
I've heard it suggested that we should close the school and send the students to Kennebunk or Arundel. Although each of the schools in RSU 21 are providing for our students in the best manner possible, Maine law says each town gets to decide whether or not to close their school on their own, and I know I'm in the majority when I say we're not going to close Consolidated.
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Wells, Kennebunk high schools face multi-million-dollar renovation projects
On Tuesday Wells residents will cast their vote on whether to approve a $26.85 million construction project, while Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Arundel residents will be faced with three construction projects — including a $53.5 million renovation and expansion of Kennebunk High School — in January.
Two abutting towns and school communities are facing significant building renovation projects that will soon come before voters.
A comparison of the two high school building projects shows that while the cost per square foot is similar for both projects — at $223 for WHS and $220.44 for KHS — the cost per student ($58,317 for WHS vs. $76,500 for KHS) is more than $20,000 higher for the KHS project as is the square feet per student — 322 for KHS and 266.37 for WHS.
A look at the numbers:
Well High School
Proposed
cost: $26.85 million (a total of $27.7 million including $851,000 in
improvements to athletic fields approved separately by voters in June)
Cost per student: $58,317 (building for projected 475 students)
Cost per square foot of construction: $223
Square feet per student: 266.37 (current 452 students)
For more information on the building project, visit www.k12wocsd.net/home/whs-building-project.
Kennebunk High School
Proposed cost: $53.5 million
Cost per student: $76,500 (building for projected 700 students)
Cost per square foot of construction: $200.44
Square feet per student: 322 (current 684 students)
For more information on the project, visit www.rsu21.net.
School officials say comparing the projects could be like comparing apples and oranges, as Wells has a smaller student body with 452 students compared to Kennebunk's 681, and a facility built in 1977 compared to Kennebunk's 1939 original facility.
But the issues sound the same — classrooms are overcrowded, areas like the cafeteria or auditorium cannot hold the entire student body, and the aging facilities cannot support educational tools and electronic devices at either of the facilities. Building deficiencies have put Wells High School's accreditation with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges under a warning status, something Kennebunk High School administrators are concerned about in the years to come.
"I don't believe there are as many deficiencies they are trying to remedy and I think the scope is quite a bit less," said Tim Hussey, chairman of the RSU 21 Facilities Committee, which reviewed the KHS project. "I don't think they are in as tough a shape as we are in, although I believe they are worried about accreditation. We are going to be facing the same thing in a few years with accreditation if we don't deal with it."
Accreditation is reviewed every 10 years.
Maine man gets 20 years in baby’s death
He admits hurting the child for several weeks before causing a fatal injury by throwing the boy.
By David Hench dhench@pressherald.com
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
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