By Betsy Levinson — Betsy@concordbridge.org
With a focus on transparency and diversity, the chairs of six key committees gave an overview of their goals for the year at a League of Women Voters forum.
The gathering included representatives of the Select Board, Finance Committee, the two school committees and the 2229 Main Street and Warner’s Pond task forces.
“Our best decisions come from our diversity,” said Select Board chair Mary Hartman. “We, as a board, may have differences of opinion, but we decide and vote together.”
Hartman praised the effort to hold joint public meetings with the FinCom and school administration as the budgets are developed.
Select Board goals include development of the 10-year capital improvement budget and a “land use matrix” outlining projects that benefit the town.
“What are the needs versus the availability of land?” Hartman asked rhetorically, citing the need for new public safety and public works facilities, among other priorities.
The MCI-Concord property and the Superfund site at 2229 Main Street, where cleanup is nearing completion, are under consideration.
Superfund site remediation
“We are in the home stretch,” said 2229 Main Street Advisory Task Force chair Paul Boehm, citing the 35 meetings and public forums held to solicit public input and report on cleanup progress at the 46-acre site.
The Environmental Protection Agency and the state Department of Environmental Protection have undertaken site remediation. The land will be restored to “residential standards.”
“It’s very expensive,” said Boehm — costing between $250 [million] and $300 million, paid by the federal government.
“We are not recommending one use,” he added, “but we will provide the Select Board with a path to potential town acquisition.”
The task force is scheduled to provide its report in mid-December.
FinCom invites input
“Here are things the Finance Committee does not do,” chair Eric Dahlberg said in an effort to clear up misconceptions about its role. “We do not set the tax rate, and we do not pass the budget. Town Meeting does.”
The FinCom does, he said, “recommend and analyze” spending proposals from the town and schools every year and set a guideline for spending increases based on several factors, including “what the taxpayer can support.”
Dahlberg said the committee also draws up a five-year tax projection, issues an annual report before Town Meeting, and holds hearings on warrant articles pertaining to finance and taxes.
Capital planning
Dahlberg said new this year will be a “unified capital plan” for the town and schools, including the cost of capital projects and “placeholders” for future consideration. Previously, town and school capital budgets were considered separately.
“We want to have all capital needs in one place, with associated costs,” he said.
Focus on mental health
Regional School Committee chair Julie Viola spoke about the regional high school district’s budget priorities, while Concord School Committee chair Carrie Rankin outlined goals for the pre-K through eighth grade facilities. The focus is on student achievement, developing a policy on the use of social media, DEIB (diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging), and mental health in the post-Covid era.
Warner’s Pond
Chris Denaro spoke for the Warner’s Pond Task Force, saying the group, started this year, was “beginning to come together” to consider whether to dredge the pond or remove the dam and allow a free-running channel.
Denaro said three subcommittees are looking at dredging, dam removal, and potential short-term actions to address the water’s environmental health. She said a Community Preservation Fund grant provided $3 million for dredging.
A final report of the task force will come next year, she said.
