Town Estimates School Appeals Cost $1.75 Million to Date
The Board of Selectmen opted to move forward with the bid process on January 24 following a vote on Monday night.
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For the first time during the appeals process, the Board of Selectmen quantified the impact of the appeals process.
Selectmen discussed at Monday’s meeting whether or not to go forward with the bid process for work on the high school despite the school currently before Superior Court. Chairman Mike Newhouse said that when trade bids are unsealed after they come in by January 24, the town is estimating there will be an additional $1,755,000 that is attributed to the appeals.
He added that the last six months will prove to be especially costly, counting for about $1,060,000 alone and the numbers will continue to climb the longer the town waits.
“In round numbers, we are expecting that if we put off the work that we contemplate, it’s likely going to cost $1 million every six months,” said Newhouse.
Newhouse said the only good news is that non-trade bids, which include site work, demolition, concrete, steel and the turf field, will not be a part of the bids package this month. Those services will be negotiated separately through the construction manager at risk, and Newhouse said that will likely keep the cost from spiking too significantly.
By a unanimous vote at Monday’s meeting, board members opted to move forward with the bid process.
“I think we’re all on the same page,” said selectman Mike McCoy. “We want to make sure this high school project continues and opens in a reasonably short period of time.”
The timeline of abutter Gerry O’Reilly’s Superior Court appeal is not yet clear. Newhouse said the dispute could be settled as early as this spring or as late as the end of the calendar year.
Because of the pending litigation, selectmen have offered little comment on the appeals in recent months. But during Monday’s meeting, board members spoke candidly about their frustration with the delays.
“I think we’re coming towards the light at the end of the tunnel,” said Mike Champoux. “I find it reprehensible and shameful that this small number of folks have cost the town $1.75 million of their neighbors’ money.”
But selectmen weren’t the only ones who spoke their mind on the appeals at the meeting. George Lingenfelter, who was at one point the spokesman for the 10-resident appeal, said he resented the fact that opposing residents have been made out to look like the enemy.
“I think there is a fundamental misunderstanding between the town and the appellants,” said Lingenfelter. “I can’t speak for all of the appellants, but none that I am aware of was against the new high school. I think there could have been a better proposal. But I’m not against the project. A lot of the righteous indignation, you’re not giving the benefit of the doubt as to what is motivating (the appellants). You tell the town that (the school) is for the children and we’re horrible people, and that’s not what it’s about.”
Lingenfelter said his stance all along has been that the town should have paid the money to have the oil cleaned up at the school site. He believes if the town had done that, the cost would have been about the same as what the delays have cost, and there would have been no appeal.
“Rather than being more forceful, the town should have reached out,” said Lingenfelter.
Following the regular business of the meeting, a new possibility surfaced in the appeals process.
Mike McCoy made a motion, which was seconded and unanimously voted on, to have the board move into executive session to discuss the process of taking control of O’Reilly’s Wildwood Street property by eminent domain.
Newhouse said during the previous discussion at the meeting that when there were two appeals involving multiple residents, that was not an option that made sense to the town. But now that O’Reilly’s appeal is the only one stopping school construction, it may be a possibility.
Check back later Tuesday for more coverage of Monday's Board of Selectmen meeting.
Steve McMahan
5:51 am on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
The dirty dozen, with MacDonald as its leader, has literally cost the town millions of dollars. Shameful.
Kevin MacDonald
8:35 am on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Stevie, Why don't you elaborate on the fact that designer services are not going out for competitive bid on the Central Register.This is the State's instrument for notification of public projects enabling contractors to bid competitively and allows municipalities to obtain fair and honest bids. You didn't mention that the selectmen have allowed the taxpayers to be gouged out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. It was reported at last nights selectmen's meeting that the design services for window replacement for the Shawsheen School was $84,000. We were told that the designer services for the North Intermediate School would be $207,000. This is an increase in two years of more than 240%. What building trade profession increases their pay by that much? NONE!!!! The designer services are not going out for competitive bid on the State's Central Register.What does this tell you about this Disastrous Board? It tells me that the entire Board should be thrown out of office.
Student X
3:38 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Even if they've allowed taxpayers to be gouged out of hundreds of thousands, you've gouged taxpayers out of millions, Mr. MacDonald. Just saying.
Pat
6:56 am on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
This is truly unbelievable! The town and the residents cannot afford these millions of dollars in costs!
Kevin MacDonald
8:47 am on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Just wait until you see the cost of the oil disaster. Inept selectmen allowing a massive storm water drainage infiltration system to be constructed directly beside a massive oil contaminated area will be a total disaster(environmentally and financially). Do yourself a favor and vote these disasters out of office.
Mckenna
7:17 am on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
“I think we’re coming towards the light at the end of the tunnel,” said Mike Champoux. “I find it reprehensible and shameful that this small number of folks have cost the town $1.75 million of their neighbors’ money.”
well said...this is disgusting...my taxes went up 600..so they will go more because of these idiots...why don they just move to the hills of alabama and they wont have to worry about a new beautiful school....MacDonad needs a life...move MacDonald..we will all be happy!!!!
Kevin MacDonald
9:00 am on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Would it be possible to expect that the contract for designer services should have included engineering to be done in such a way that protects the environment and eliminates the risk of oil moving into the wetlands and drinking water sources? Would it be possible to expect the health and safety of the students to receive serious consideration by the designers protecting them from lead dust contamination from a field and off gasing? Could the designers be held liable for financial damages if this happens or are they being told how to design it by the High School Building Committee that Mr. Newhouse and Mr. Hull are members of?
jozkid
7:53 am on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
And I promised myself I wouldn't deal with the comments anymore, but... rather than go through the process and cost of taking someone's property by eminent domain, can't the town just hook this guy up to the town's water supply? I can't imagine that it would be any more expensive than yet another legal battle. Enough with the contention already. Not happy about the delays and rising costs, but at some point we need to heal all the wounds from this battle.
Kevin MacDonald
8:21 am on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
There is NO town water that goes by this guy's house as well as the other neighbors on wells. If you voted based on having made informed decisions and doing your home work you would know this.
webmom
8:12 am on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Mr. Linglenfelter is wrong on at least 2 points. 1) "none that I am aware of was against the new high school"..wrong..Mr. Macdonald was against the high school from the start and was pretty vocal about it. 2) "his stance all along has been that the town should have paid the money to have the oil cleaned up at the school site. ...if town had done that, the cost would have been about the same as what the delays have cost, and there would have been no appeal"..wrong..that's just his appeal, not the other 9 appellants. That's one appellant at $1.75 million, maybe he should multiply that number since there is still an appeal, his point is moot.
Kevin MacDonald
9:16 am on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Dear webmom, How much will it cost the tax payers if a massive storm water infiltration system along with moving ground water (after a structurally sound building is knocked down) causes oil to move into the wetlands. Could you please get back to us today with these numbers seeing you have done extensive research and cost analysis.
jozkid
8:46 am on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Kevin, don't go jumping all over me. I know there is no town water that goes past there. And I made an informed decision, thank you. What I am suggesting is that perhaps the town should put town water access there. Not just for Mr. O'Reilly, but for the other residents there as well. So much for trying to heal wounds when you're so hell-bent on inflicting them, Kevin.
Kevin MacDonald
9:19 am on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
I'm not hell-bent. I am looking to Heaven. Only Jesus could save you.
Richard Jertz
10:28 am on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Is this now the Q & A segment with Kevin? Thank you for all your help Kevin. I have put my house on the market and can't wait to move out of this corrupt town with no regard to the safety and health of the citizens of Wilmington.
Maya
6:31 pm on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Oh Kevin, unfortunately the citizens of Wilmington are not lucky enough for you to pack up and move. Plus you don't own a house...
lisa
10:33 am on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
"Why don't you elaborate on the fact that designer services are not going out for competitive bid on the Central Register"
This happened already years ago. That's how the Designer was selected
Kevin MacDonald
9:10 pm on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
It keeps happening Lisa. If you watched the selectmen's meeting you would learn that our Town officials have spent $207,000 for a similar job that was done for $84,000 two years ago. Don't let the hacks deceive you.
The unsilent majority
1:02 pm on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
All we need now is another PitBull debate and the day would be perfect!
Matt Schooley
1:08 pm on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
A few comments have been deleted for violating Patch's terms of use. I understand that this is subject many residents are passionate about. However, comments that serve no purpose other than attacking other posters will be deleted. Thanks for your cooperation!
Patch-n-Batch
1:17 pm on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Matt, please show we where the comments violate the terms of service. Or do they just violate your personal opinion? If you are going to play Patch Police be consistent.
Patch-n-Batch
1:19 pm on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
You let one lunatic rant and flat out lie on here, yet delete opposing comments? I'm a bit confused as to your thought process...
Matt Schooley
1:23 pm on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
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Patch-n-Batch
1:26 pm on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Ok. I can accept that..
Matt Schooley
1:29 pm on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
I do not use my personal opinion when monitoring the comments section. I do my best to be fair to all involved parties. There have been instances when Mr. MacDonald's comments violated our terms of use, and I deleted them as well. Today's comments did not include swears, but I felt they did not provide anything to the discussion other than harassing another poster. If you feel I have missed a comment that should be deleted (I am the first to admit I am not perfect, and I can't always catch everything no matter how hard I try), there is a feature for you to flag it as inappropriate. I will continue to monitor comments and regardless of what side of the argument the comment comes down on, I will delete it if I believe it violates terms of use. Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any other questions. I really do appreciate everyone's passion and interest in the site.
The unsilent majority
1:42 pm on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
We just got served.
Patch-n-Batch
2:11 pm on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
True dat.
golf
4:42 pm on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Oh well