Lynn abutters will have their say about Ingalls garden

LYNN – Some members of the School Committee’s Building and Grounds Subcommittee have made up their minds on what should be done to increase safety and security around a garden behind the Ingalls Elementary School, but abutters of the property who have complained of vandalism in that area will still get their say on the issue at an upcoming meeting.At a regularly scheduled and posted public meeting held Tuesday afternoon, Subcommittee Chair John E. Ford informed members that after speaking with Ingalls administrators and Food Project leaders last month at a meeting that abutters did not know about, the decision was made to explore the possibility of adding an eight foot fence, security cameras and additional lighting to the garden in response to neighbors’ complaints.Ford said he was waiting to hear from Inspectional Services Director Michael Donovan with estimates on the new equipment, and would then begin working with Food Project North Shore Director Melissa Diamond on securing a grant to fund the project.Although the other members of the committee thought Ford’s solutions were a good idea, and praised the Chairman for his efforts, they questioned why Ford was holding clandestine meetings without the knowledge of abutters, who have been repeatedly promised a say in what happens on the land.”It concerns me that we have not met at all with the neighbors at any of these meetings,” said School Committee member Donna Coppola. “We did say we would hold a meeting with them, and right now we are not really asking their input. They are entitled as abutters to attend a meeting because let’s face it, we don’t live there. They may come up with some ideas that we haven’t thought of? I feel like we are shutting the neighbors out.”Ford said he is not opposed to having a meeting with the abutters, and the previous meeting with Diamond and Ingalls Principal Kimberly Powers was held merely as an informative get-together to learn more about the garden itself.He said he learned a lot from Powers and Diamond that day about how the garden has helped the community, and felt it was more responsible to try and add security, as the garden is most likely not the primary cause of the vandalism.”My original intention was to have a meeting with Melissa Diamond and Kimberly Powers. (School Safety and Security Officer Robert) Ferrari was added because he wanted to talk about the calls that were reported in the public not being accurate,” he said. “Right now we are in an investigative stage. I think when we get some estimates and find out how much money we will have to spend, we should write a letter to the abutters.”Committee member Jeffery Newhall agreed that the garden is probably not the reason for the vandals, noting that he has spoken to several former faculty members who have said the gang and vandalism problem has always been present in that neighborhood.”We have to do our part to make the school grounds safer, but at what point does it stop becoming a school issue and start becoming a public safety issue? I don’t think we have many farmers living down there, and what’s to say that if we take out the garden kids won’t still be firing rocks off of somebody’s back door,” he said. “I have talked to people who worked there eight years ago when the garden wasn’t there and they had the same problems.”Ford also added that Ferrari provided police logs showing only six calls of vandalism complaints since the garden was installed at the school.Committee members ultimately decided that Ford should go ahead with his inquiry into the estimates for equipment, noting that those security measures should be taken either way, but also said a meeting with abutters should be held sooner rather than later to gauge their feelings on the plan.”I think we have to invite the abutters to the Ingalls School cafeteria or gymnasium and let them voice their opinions on whether they are for or against this before we make any final decision,” said Committee Member Vincent Spirito.