Marblehead board favors environmental clean-up funds

MARBLEHEAD – The Finance Committee is recommending favorable action on $747,400 in Board of Health expenses to repair and maintain soil and a stream polluted by the old town landfill – including $632,800 which will be raised by a bonded indebtedness override.The repairs need to be completed and a maintenance plan needs to be in place before the board can go forward with its plans for a new transfer station next year. The repairs are a follow-up to additional environmental testing requested by the state Department of Environmental Protection.That’s one of the biggest-ticket expenditures the FinCom lists in its annual report to the town, available at www.marblehead.org. Town Meeting convenes May 4, less than two weeks from now.However, the committee will report to the voters on the proposed purchase of the 3-acre former WESX property on Naugus Avenue, valued by the assessors at $1.26 million. Purchase negotiations began earlier this year.The FinCom also plans to report to Town Meeting on the police and fire contracts, a proposed regional emergency communication center and school construction and renovation program affecting Gerry School and other school buildings.Chairman David E. Harris Jr. of the Marblehead Finance Committee said the committee is recommending a $66.6 million town budget, which will level fund services without cuts in personnel.Several town buildings are due for renovations next year. The Mary Alley office building is recommended for a $62,100 upgrade: $30,000 to paint halls and offices and $32,100 for new acoustic hall ceilings and high-efficiency lighting. The Recreation and Park Department got FinCom support for $24,694 for roof repairs at the Marblehead Community Center and Vine Street Garage and the committee is supporting $20,000 to strip and replace the roof at the Hobb’s Building, 66 Clifton Ave., home of the Marblehead Counseling Center.