Thursday, November 9, 2000 Older Editions

Center of attention: Youth vote tops Special Town Meeting Nov. 14

By Rebecca Piro

If the youth-center proposal is not approved by two-thirds of voters at Special Town Meeting next Tuesday, the failed vote will not slow the Andover Youth Foundation in its quest for a center, says AYF member Larry Larsen.

"We're absolutely convinced that we will succeed in getting a youth center built regardless of what (Special) Town Meeting does," Larsen says.

Getting out the vote -- Emmy Morrison used Tuesday's presidential election to build support for the youth-center warrant article. Photo by Tim Jean

But foundation members are hoping for strong support at Special Town Meeting to both approve the project and, as a result, kickstart their fundraising efforts.

Registered voters should arrive at the Collins Center at Andover High School for Special Town Meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14. Though Special Town Meeting was originally scheduled for two nights, Nov. 14 and 15, the number of articles that have been recommended for withdrawal will likely limit the voting to one night, Selectmen Chairman Brian Major says.

Among the 14 articles, Articles 10 and 11 could mean a major commitment by the town if approved.

Article 10 proposes to change the land use on town property off Greenwood Road behind West Andover Fire Station from an old dumping ground to general municipal purposes. Though this motion should have been passed years ago before the fire station was built, passing it next week will coincide with Article 11, the actual youth-center article.

Larsen expects it will be tough to pass Article 11, which proposes that selectmen enter into a Request for Proposal with a private entity to build a youth center on the land identified by Article 10. AYF is the private entity to which the article refers, and the foundation has promised to raise $4 million to fund the project, construct the center and then return the land and the new facility to town ownership for operation and maintenance.

If the town does not support Article 11 and AYF is forced to change its strategy, it could mean going all-private and not using town land. That would increase the price of the center, Larsen admits, and there is not currently any private land for sale that would be suitable for a center.

Though AYF is still hoping the article will be successful, Larsen admits securing the town's support will be difficult.

"It's going to be tough. I don't think it's going to be a cakewalk," he says.

The Finance Committee recommended disapproval of the project because the plan is not ready for Special Town Meeting, says Chairwoman Joanne Marden.

"As of the last time we looked at this, there were many different versions of the same numbers," she says.

The building's square footage has changed since the plan was first presented and operating costs have been projected ranging from $109,000 to $120,000. The Finance Committee has never seen any numbers on possible transportation costs, she says.

"We would like to see things more defined before we endorse something," she says. "We think people should know what they are getting and what it will cost them before they vote yes."

One of the FinCom's concerns is the letter of credit for up to $3 million that AYF promises to have, in addition to $1 million cash, before it can start any construction. Nothing has been submitted to the committee in writing, and as far as Marden knows, the foundation doesn't have any real collateral to get such a loan.

"The way the youth center is being presented, it's as though it's free. (AYF is saying,) 'How can you say no, this is a wonderful gift.' But we're saying you have to look beyond that," Marden says.

But AYF fundraiser Tom Jones says the concept of the letter of credit is to reassure residents that AYF will come through with the funds.

"In essence, this is something that will let the town know that there are funds to build the building," Jones says. "I think the important thing here is that the selectmen are not going to go forward with this thing unless the funds are in place, and there are a number of different ways that can be achieved. The purpose of putting (the phrase) in the (proposal) is so the town would know that's the way it's going to operate."

If AYF comes to the point where it needs to take out a letter of credit or a bank loan, the selectmen would direct how that would happen, says Jones.

Selectmen Chairman Brian Major maintains that building the youth center is key to creating a center beneficial to the community as a whole.

"I feel extremely positive about the youth center," says Major. "My vision for (that) location is to turn it into a first-class services and recreational complex."

Though selectmen originally failed to take a stand on the proposal with a 2-2-1 vote, with Selectman Lori Becker abstaining, the board changed its vote Monday. Selectmen recommended the project for approval with a 3-2 vote, with Becker, Major and Ted Teichert supporting the proposal.

The Planning Board recently supported the concept wholeheartedly as a reaction to AYF's thought to withdraw the article three weeks ago.

Chairman Michael Miller said it was "shameful" that the town was straggling in its support for a youth center for its children.

"We'd do a disservice to someone like (Youth Services Director) Bill Fahey who has worked very hard and built up programs with very little money. I think we should be sending a message to him that we encourage his hard work and we want to encourage his efforts. This has been going on for way too long," Miller said.

Youth Services Program Coordinator Glenn Wilson says his faith in a positive outcome is unwavering.

"I think it will go through. You have to be (positive)," he says.