Thursday, March 8, 2007 Older Editions

School Committee race: Opinions vary on temporary tax hike for needed school roof repairs

By April Guilmet

Candidates for School Committee differ over whether to support a proposal to use Proposition 21/2 debt exclusions to replace school roofs.

The town estimates the cost for a five-year roof replacement plan at around $10.5 million, $1.5 million less than its original estimates. Andover High School is said to be in most urgent need of a new roof, followed by Doherty Middle School and Bancroft, West, Sanborn, South and Shawsheen elementary schools.

All the candidates believe that some of the roofs in the district's schools are in need of repair. But here is what the candidates had to say about whether they would support the proposed debt exclusion as the way to pay for repairs:

Debra Silberstein, 47

28 Burton Farm Drive

"Unlikely. Debt exclusions shouldn't be used for capital projects that we absolutely must do. Repairing, maintaining and replacing roofs are must do's for a community like Andover that invests in its infrastructure. I also still have a number of questions. I understand that the amount requested is going to be reduced, so we may be able to bring this in with existing revenues. I'd like to know what the impact would be of slowing the rate of repair and replacement, and be reassured we're pursuing the most cost-effective and efficient options."

Richard Collins, 75

117 Lovejoy Road

"I don't think we have a choice on that. I've listened to Joe Piantedosi [director of plant and facilities] talk and he says we'll be in serious trouble if we don't replace these roofs. Though I wish we didn't have to, the money could be used for so many other things."

Robert Coffil, 50

7 Quail Run

"I'm against it. There's no place for it. It's a matter of a lack of proactive facility planning, especially in these financial times. What it's called is avoiding fiscal responsibility in one budget year and putting it in the next year's cycle. I saw this coming last year. It's a hidden way to increase taxes and not an ethical way of running [the] school budget.

"You must use fiscal discipline within the budget. Using special education, health care and roofs are lame-duck excuses; the same ones are used every year."