Bond passes first reading (Printed May 11, 2007)
By Amanda Estes
Staff Writer
The South Portland City Council got its first look at the proposed $56 million bond ordinance for South Portland High School additions and renovations. With $29.4 million in interest, the total annual cost, over a period of more than 20 years, will be $85 million. A public hearing is scheduled for May 21, but councilors met some opposition on Monday as a member of the public asked for more explanation about why the city is rebuilding on the existing high school site.
Reading from an email he sent to the council, David Bourke questioned the assertion that there is no available land in the city that would be more suitable for a new school.
“For example, why couldn't we continue to use all of the existing athletic fields and the virtually new auditorium at the existing high school...the remaining high school structure could then be demolished,” he said. “If we were then looking for a much smaller site, let’s say about 20 acres to build a new or renovated high school large enough to accommodate 1,000 vs. 1,200 students...then we would be open to a whole new range of possibilities.”
Councilor Ralph Baxter asked Dan Cecil of Harriman Associates to address Bourke’s concerns.
“I don’t mind criticism, but I mind it when it is misinterpreted,” Baxter said. He said all of the stakeholders had exhausted the search for suitable land.
Cecil said 20 acres would not be enough land for a building to support 1,000 or 1,200 students. According to Department of Education standards, a building for 1,200 students must be on a minimum of 27 acres with no wetlands, good soil, and good topography. The city would end up looking for 40 acres just to get those 27, he said. For 1,000 students, the minimum acreage would be between 25 and 27. The existing high school campus comprises 29.9 acres, he said.
“Twenty acres in South Portland with no wetlands, with good soil, and good topography is simply unheard of,” he said.
He said the extensive cost of buying land that would most likely be located on the fringe of the city, did not make fiscal sense.
Addressing councilors’ questions about the logistics of the bond, Finance Director Rob Coombs said depending on the interest rates, the total bond could possibly be less than $85 million.
Coombs also said the bond would come in four phases with payments on the entire amount starting in 2013.
Jim Soule questioned why the bond ordinance did not also include language stating the bond would be stretched out over a 20 year period.
“When a homeowner goes to finance a house, they want to know interest rates and time,” he said. Soule said the issue would not affect his support for the bond, but its inclusion may be useful in educating the public.
Following the May 21 public hearing and if it passes a second reading, voters will be asked to vote on the referendum in November.
Staff Writer
The South Portland City Council got its first look at the proposed $56 million bond ordinance for South Portland High School additions and renovations. With $29.4 million in interest, the total annual cost, over a period of more than 20 years, will be $85 million. A public hearing is scheduled for May 21, but councilors met some opposition on Monday as a member of the public asked for more explanation about why the city is rebuilding on the existing high school site.
Reading from an email he sent to the council, David Bourke questioned the assertion that there is no available land in the city that would be more suitable for a new school.
“For example, why couldn't we continue to use all of the existing athletic fields and the virtually new auditorium at the existing high school...the remaining high school structure could then be demolished,” he said. “If we were then looking for a much smaller site, let’s say about 20 acres to build a new or renovated high school large enough to accommodate 1,000 vs. 1,200 students...then we would be open to a whole new range of possibilities.”
Councilor Ralph Baxter asked Dan Cecil of Harriman Associates to address Bourke’s concerns.
“I don’t mind criticism, but I mind it when it is misinterpreted,” Baxter said. He said all of the stakeholders had exhausted the search for suitable land.
Cecil said 20 acres would not be enough land for a building to support 1,000 or 1,200 students. According to Department of Education standards, a building for 1,200 students must be on a minimum of 27 acres with no wetlands, good soil, and good topography. The city would end up looking for 40 acres just to get those 27, he said. For 1,000 students, the minimum acreage would be between 25 and 27. The existing high school campus comprises 29.9 acres, he said.
“Twenty acres in South Portland with no wetlands, with good soil, and good topography is simply unheard of,” he said.
He said the extensive cost of buying land that would most likely be located on the fringe of the city, did not make fiscal sense.
Addressing councilors’ questions about the logistics of the bond, Finance Director Rob Coombs said depending on the interest rates, the total bond could possibly be less than $85 million.
Coombs also said the bond would come in four phases with payments on the entire amount starting in 2013.
Jim Soule questioned why the bond ordinance did not also include language stating the bond would be stretched out over a 20 year period.
“When a homeowner goes to finance a house, they want to know interest rates and time,” he said. Soule said the issue would not affect his support for the bond, but its inclusion may be useful in educating the public.
Following the May 21 public hearing and if it passes a second reading, voters will be asked to vote on the referendum in November.
I certainly hope that a couple of new flagpoles will be considered in the major improvements at So.Portland High School. The existing two there are a disgrace!! As is another one down at Mahoney Jr. High. I suppose all the other newly built and/or renovated schools have new ones already. Anybody else ever notice those old rusty ones? If you're going to fly the Star and Stripes, please let's have a decent looking flagpole.
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it's about time the school was renovated. i attended SPHS in the 60's. that was 47 years ago. there is little doubt that a MAJOR overhaul is necessary. i do have a problem with the cost of the project however. 56 million for the bond issue and then 29 million in interest? someone is making a LOT of money if this is approved.
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