Groundbreaking Ceremony Held for New Wilmington High School

Town, school, and state officials spoke of the importance of building the new school during a ceremony on Town Common Thursday afternoon.

It's been a trying time for the Wilmington community, with thousands of residents packing Town Common on Saturday to grieve the loss of MIT Police Officer Sean Collier. While Collier's memory was still fresh in the minds of state and town officials on Thursday, there was a lighter feeling in the air during a different kind of gathering on Town Common. "From loss and from tragedy and from grief comes optimism and hope," said Massachusetts State Treasurer Steve Grossman during the groundbreaking ceremony for the new high school. "And nothing gives us more hope than to know that to my left a new school will go up and we will celebrate every single day the values of the people of Wilmington." Though appeals have delayed construction …

•  36 Comments
• Photos (19)
• Videos (1)

Construction Officially Underway at High School

Demolition at the Wilmington HIgh School gym began this week, and things were particularly busy on Wednesday.

After years of discussion, there is finally evidence that a new high school will be built on Church Street. Demolition of the Wilmington High School gymnasium began this week with students gone for February vacation, and on Wednesday the building began to come down brick by brick. For interested residents, pieces of the basketball court will be sold individually, with proceeds going to pay for the September 11 memorial that will be built at the new school.

•  7 Comments
• Photos (12)
• Videos (1)

Steven McGinley

10:09 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013

Already it's a joke as far as I'm concerned. For months I was driving by the old Polaroid site in Waltham where they took a building 20 times the size of that gym, tore it down, had it sorted and hauled away in 2 weeks. After a week but we still have piles of debris.   more ›

Despite Delays, Some Movement Coming in High School Project

The town can unseal trade construction bids on Thursday, and is preparing to move forward with demolition plans.

After more than a year in limbo, things are starting to heat up for the Wilmington High School project. While the appeal of abutter Gerry O’Reilly remains at the Superior Court level, there are several upcoming milestones for the project. Thursday is the date that the town will be able to unseal bids for trade construction. If the town is satisfied with the winning bids, it can plan on moving forward and accepting them. When the town opens the bids, they will know whether or not their projections for the cost increases associated with the appeals over the last year were accurate. In addition, the deadline recently passed for the town to file its response to O’Reilly’s claim. Board of Selectmen chairman Mike Newhouse said that while there …

•  17 Comments
• Photos (1)

New High School Remains in Holding Pattern

The town prepares its response to the Superior Court appeal while deciding what to do about contracts in upcoming weeks.

More than a month after the town received its summons to Superior Court, officials are preparing for the next steps in the process than has delayed construction of a new high school for just over a year so far. According to Town Manager Jeff Hull, the town is working on its response to the complaint filed by abutter Gerry O’Reilly in late November. Originally the town was faced with an earlier deadline for that step, but for various reasons they asked for and received an extension to January 16. Hull said the response, which will be filed jointly by the town and the Attorney General’s office on behalf of the Department of Environmental Protection, tries to make the case as to why the groups do not believe there is merit to O’Reilly’s claim…

•  16 Comments
• Photos (1)

Town Calls Latest High School Appeal 'Without Merit'

In a statement, officials said they remain confident that the latest, and final, appeal will be ruled in the town's favor.

Editor's Note: The following is the official statement from the town about the Wilmington High School project, which was officially taken to court late last week. The town was served to Superior Court, and is currently looking into whether abutter Gerry O'Reilly and his attorney filed by November 21 deadline. To find all of Patch's coverage on the high school appeals in one place, visit our link to the new high school topic page. Here is the town's official statement: "Mr. O’Reilly has filed an appeal to Superior Court relative to the Final Order of Conditions issued by DEP. The Town is reviewing the complaint with counsel, and we will continue to do everything within our power to move the construction of the new high school forward, and …

•  6 Comments
• Photos (1)

Steven McGinley

11:13 pm on Wednesday, December 26, 2012

The United States of America was conceived by two or a few people getting together in a tavern in Boston and talking about what would be an uphill battle Taylor, apples and oranges. Not even close. This is the reason we have courts. And they haven't lost 3 times this is their 3rd. The town agreed overwhelmingly that we need a new high school, it's our town leaders that have failed us and take us …   more ›

Wilmington High School Project Headed to Superior Court

A complaint was filed on behalf of Gerry O'Reilly, though the town believes it has arrived after the deadline.

Editor's Note: A clarification was made to the second paragraph of this story. The Wilmington High School project is going to Superior Court after a complaint was filed on behalf of abutter Gerry O'Reilly. Town officials believe that the appeal may have been filed after the deadline. Town Manager Jeff Hull said it is the town's stance that the deadline was actually November 21. The town officially was served on Thursday, and its attorneys are now looking into whether or not the appeal was filed in time. "I think the vast majority of the population is disappointed that we have had to jump through these hoops," said Board of Selectmen chairman Mike Newhouse. "We're reviewing the complaint with counsel. Obviously this is something we are on …

•  28 Comments
• Photos (1)

Wayne Sullivan

7:31 pm on Friday, December 21, 2012

Sorry to keep you waiting Georgie. I have been a little focused on keeping things in perspective with the CT tragedy and all plus catching up with my grandkids and working on the holidays. No crickets here just not focused on this at the moment. You have yourself a happy holiday and I am sure we'll have a spat or 2 in the new year about all the Wilmington rigamarole!   more ›

Week in Review

Recapping a Busy Week of High School Coverage

There were plenty of headlines regarding the high school project this week as a pair of appeals were filed recently, and Patch had the story covered from every angle.

Reactions poured in throughout the week as the dust settled following the filing of two appeals that school and town officials said will cause delays and also cost taxpayers additional money. In case you missed anything, here's a look back at the coverage provided by Wilmington Patch in recent days. Saturday, July 28 Initial details began to trickle in following word that two appeals of the Department of Environmental Protection's approval of the project were filed before the July 27 deadline. George Lingenfelter, one of the appealing residents,placed blame for potential delays on town officials.  “This is all the fault of Michael Caira and the Board of Selectmen. They are trying to bully their way through the whole thing,” said …

•  3 Comments
• Photos (1)

Officials Blast State Laws, MacDonald Defends Appeal

Town Manager Michael Caira calls the appeals process 'illogical,' while appeal spokesman Kevin MacDonald said school issues need to be addressed.

Frustrated with what they believe to be stall tactics against the new Wilmington High School, town officials told Wilmington Patch that Massachusetts laws need a change. The spokesman for one of the latest appeals, however, believes things are fine just the way they are. Town Manager Michael Caira spoke out against the structure of the appeals process, saying it is far too easy for residents to slow down a project that was overwhelmingly supported by Wilmington voters. “The 10-resident appeal is being led by a man who was opposed to building a high school because he felt the one we have is sufficient. The state has allowed him to find a way to work to derail the project,” said Caira. “It’s illogical and poorly conceived by the state, and …

•  39 Comments
• Photos (1)

Rep. Miceli Weighs in on High School Appeals

State Representative James Miceli said the delays are unfortunate, but residents are within their legal rights to appeal.

State Representative James Miceli said he’s been monitoring the appeals process of in Wilmington that has delayed construction on the new high school that was approved by voters in December. Miceli said he backs the construction of a new school, and that while he is disappointed to see the delays, he supports residents’ rights to file the appeals. “You have a process going on right now which to a lot of people might be frustrating,” said Miceli. “This is the process. We can dislike it, but these folks, good or bad, have the legal right to do what they’re doing. I’m not happy about it. It seems to be never ending.” The State Representative said that while he was not a part of what went on behind the scenes in the weeks and months leading up…

•  54 Comments
• Photos (2)

Douglas W. Sears

9:36 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012

Jim -- are you going to give the people of Wilmington the opportunity to hear us debate these and other issues in Wilmington? The word on the street is that you are trying to get out of your invitation by the Wilmington TOWN CRIER to debate me on October 23rd to be broadcast by WCTV? -- Doug   more ›

UPDATE: School Construction Delayed After New Appeal

There are not yet estimates as to how long the project will be delayed following an abutter appeal of the Department of Environmental Protection's ruling.

Update at 6:52 p.m.: Board of Selectmen chairman Mike Newhouse just verified to Wilmington Patch that a second appeal was filed just prior to the 5 p.m. deadline that included a list of 10 residents. Original Story:The Wilmington High School project has been delayed once more as an appeal of the Department of Environmental Protection’s ruling was filed prior to Friday’s deadline. One abutter of the project appealed the Superseding Order of Conditions that was approved by the DEP on Friday, July 13. As a result, the school plans will go to an adjuticatory hearing, which town officials in the past said could delay the project by one year while bringing an additional cost of about $3 million. Town Manager Michael Caira did not want to comment…

•  223 Comments
• Photos (1)