There will be a Special Town Meeting TONIGHT, Monday, March 2, at 6:00pm at the Drinkwater School (56 Bayside Road) to vote on purchasing approximately 2.8 acres at 8 Beech Hill Road, next to the current Town Office and Fire Station.
A copy of the warrant and purchase and sale agreement are available on the website.
This property recently came on the market, and the Select Board recognized the unique opportunity to purchase land for the Town's future and to reduce long-term costs for the new Town Office construction project.
The property will be paid for without any additional taxpayer expense. Most of the $325,000 purchase price will be paid for with the Town's existing $3.5 million bond authorization for the new Town Office project, and $75,000 of the purchase price has been generously donated by an anonymous donor.
The size and condition of the existing Town Office parcel forced the Town to make some design and engineering decisions that cost more money. For example, the current design requires the septic to be pumped uphill and stored under the parking lot. Owning the land at 8 Beech Hill will allow the septic to flow downhill into a septic field. The current new Town Office design also requires substantial changes to be made to the Fire Station's heating system due to oil tank access limitations. Owning the land at 8 Beech Hill will allow room for an oil truck to deliver oil to the tank in its current location. These and other cost-savings will be available if the Town purchases this parcel.
Please come and vote at this very important Special Town Meeting.
