PHOTO BY PAULA MULLER
Swampscott Town Administrator Thomas Younger says one of his major goals for 2016 is filling two vacant buildings — the old Machon Elementary School and the former senior center on Burrill Street.
BY GAYLA CAWLEY
SWAMPSCOTT — Town Administrator Thomas Younger took a look back at 2015 town projects and a look ahead at what 2016 will bring, with one of his major goals centered around filling two vacant buildings — the old Machon Elementary School and the former senior center on Burrill Street.
“Having those two vacant buildings filled is a priority of mine,” Younger said.
Younger said the town issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the former senior center in 2015 and received one to convert the building into an arts center. He said town officials are reviewing that proposal and that he hopes to have a decision reached on whether to proceed with the lease on that idea by January.
Younger said the town has also been given the green light to proceed with an RFP for the sale or lease of the former Machon School on Burpee Road, which, he said, will be ready in January and released by February. He said he hopes town officials will have a varied number of proposals to choose from for the Machon School property.
Younger said Swampscott Public Schools administration has been working on an education plan for how school buildings will be proposed in the future. He said the plan is in response to the school department’s inability to get Town Meeting approval of its plan to combine the three elementary schools — Clarke, Hadley and Stanley — into one.
Younger said the town is working on a residential building boom. He said the Hanover Vinnin Square Apartments were completed in 2015 and are open for rentals. Construction of a senior housing project on Salem Street — The Residence at Vinnin Square — is underway.
In the spring, the updating and repaving of Humphrey Street will take place, with a tentative start date in April or May, depending on the weather. The project will encompass Humphrey Street from the Swampscott/Lynn line to the Fish House. It will include traffic-calming measures such as new sidewalk bump-outs, streetlights, crosswalks, bicycle racks and bicycle lanes. Younger said he believes it will be an improvement for the Humphrey Street area and the community as a whole.
The town was able to purchase a beach sweeper, Younger said, which will clear beaches of debris, beginning in the spring. He said the purchase is part of his goal to improve beach work.
“The beaches will be smooth and clean on a regular basis,” Younger said.
Other highlights include the hiring of a full-time information technology director, Michele Karas; and a municipal aggregation electricity plan, completed with Salem, that will allow residents to take advantage of lower rates, Younger said.
Younger said the inauguration of Gov. Charlie Baker, a resident of Swampscott, in January was also a highlight.
“We’re very proud of having our next-door neighbor in the governor’s chair,” Younger said.
Another project underway is a town study to look at the efficiency of municipal government. Younger said the town has enlisted the Collins Center, out of the University of Massachusetts Boston, to conduct the study, which will be completed by the spring. He said the study is looking at the school department and general government and ways to be more efficient in those areas.
Town officials will also be working with the school system on the budget proposal, which typically happens from January to March. A budget must be approved at the annual Town Meeting in May, Younger said.
Looking forward, Younger said applications are being accepted for a consolidated — school and town — facilities director. He said that person will oversee the maintenance and renovation of school and town buildings. He said he hopes to have someone chosen by the end of January.
Younger said the town will continue to address the issue of Stacey Brook, where contamination has been found, and which discharges onto Kings Beach at the Lynn-Swampscott line. In September, the town agreed to pay a $65,000 civil penalty for the contamination found by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of the town’s Clean Water Act violations.
Overall, Younger said he thinks “things are looking up for our community.” He said the average tax increase is much lower than the town’s neighboring communities.
“We will do our best to look at our finances and try to continue to have savings for our taxpayers,” Younger said.
Gayla Cawley can be reached at [email protected].
