Belmonte vote seen as opportunity

SAUGUS – Dave Swallow remembers the days when he used to ski down the hill where the Belmonte Middle School now stands.Swallow, who sat sipping a cup of black coffee at the Saugus Senior Center recently, said not much has changed since the building went up in 1964.?It was built a long time ago and it hasn?t been rehabbed very well over the years,” said Swallow. “Every time my wife and I walked by it, I said, ?I think those are the same curtains and shades that have been in there since it was built.? “That could all change Tuesday if residents vote to pass a debt exclusion to repair the school, however, Town Manager Andrew Bisignani said if it?s voted down, it could be the last time Saugus sees any help from the state for “quite some time.”?This is a golden opportunity for the town,” said Bisignani. “They do look at the town?s history and that will certainly factor into the equation. The value of the community is directly related to the quality of the school system. It?s in the town?s best interest in terms of home values and quality of life.”The total cost to repair the Belmonte Middle School is $18.9 million, 53 percent of which will be reimbursed by the Massachusetts School Building Authority. The rest of the roughly $9 million remaining will be paid for if voters pass a debt exclusion. This would see the tax levy for the average-priced home increase by around $60 starting in 2016 and lasting for 20 years.However, by 2018, Bisignani said the overall tax levy will decrease because a previous debt exclusion for the town?s $20 million capital improvement plan from 1998 will be ending.The current repair plan calls for improvements to the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and plumbing systems, along with upgrades to the windows, building facades and lighting. There will also be electrical and energy efficiency improvements along with improved communications and media systems.Swallow, 71, said the current cement facade of the building looks “shabby” and “old.”?When I saw they were going to vote to do it over, I said, ?That?s certainly something Saugus should really consider,? ” said Swallow.School Committee Chair Wendy Reed said she has a good feeling about the outcome of the vote.?My gut feeling is it will pass,” said Reed. “From what I?m hearing, even people who don?t support it say this is a great deal.”Reed also emphasized that any hazardous work would be done over the summer and completed before students return the following school year.Town Moderator Bob Long said he?s hopeful voters will pass the debt exclusion, and said the fact that state is reimbursing more than half of the project costs makes it an “outstanding bargain.”?I don?t know how we could do better than that,” said Long. “We?re getting a school that would, according to engineers, cost $45 million to $60 million to replace. And essentially for $9 million ? we?re getting a newly renovated school that will be far more appealing on the outside and on the inside.”Dottie Bockus has been living in Saugus since 1951, and said the project should have been done “a long time ago.”?You want to bring people back to town,” said Bockus. “And the way you do it is to keep the school system up.”For Jean Levasseur, investing in schools should be a top priority for any town.?What?s a town without a school system?” asked Levasseur.While the school would receive a host of internal upgrades, Claire Crotty said she?s looking forward to seeing a brand new exterior.?It?s the ugliest building,” said Crotty during an interview at the Senior Center. “I really think it?s time they fixed it. It?s been very ugly from the very beginning.”Annette Slocomb said she thinks the vote will pass, even though the town has voted down similar measures in the past.?It?s falling apart and I?m for the kids,” said Slocomb. “Even though I have no one in the school, it?s important. It?s so worn down they need a new school. I think it will pass.”Town Meeting member Albert DiNardo attended school at Belmonte