Swampscott board whittles down list of improvements

SWAMPSCOTT – The Capital Improvements Committee opted not to recommend payment for the removal of asbestos tiles in the Swampscott Middle School in the 2014 budget.In an effort to meet a budget of $750,000, reportedly $100,000 less than last year?s number, the committee narrowed down the list of projects to only the highest priorities at their meeting Monday night at Town Hall.The asbestos tiles, which were described as being near the school?s gymnasium, were slated to cost $100,000 to remove. Committee Secretary Patricia Shanahan said the schools and other older town buildings have been slowly removing the tiles in small amounts for 20 years, until the asbestos is gone, but the school department left no timetable or financial estimate for the rest of the tiles.?If they aren?t cracked tiles and it?s not a health hazard, they can wait until next year,” said committee member Lea Ryan. “I think we?re being reasonable.”The committee did recommend that the Fire Department headquarters have its tiles removed for $85,000 since it would be the final such procedure. “We can finish off the Fire Department and be done with them,” said Ryan.Committee Chair Raymond Patalano criticized the school department for not being prepared with a five-year financial plan like other departments. Patalano said he thought, in order to save money, the town and the school department should work together to fulfill technology requirements.?A town this small and two departments can?t get together and talk about what they need,” he said. “I can?t support that.”The committee also opted not to recommend the installation of the blue street signs to the rest of the town?s roadways, saving $25,000 from the budget. At an earlier meeting, Department of Public Works Director Gino Cresta said the signs were installed on about half of the town?s existing street signage.As they dropped the remaining street signs money from next year?s budget, Patalano joked, “They?re going to have to guess where the streets are.”Kait Taylor can be reached at [email protected].