Carousel's Park Proposal In Lanesborough Voters Hands
The Selectmen will set the warrant on Monday. |
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — A vote to borrow $500,000 on behalf of the Berkshire Carousel is expected to be a hot-button issue at the June 11 town meeting.
Berkshire Carousel, a non-profit engaged in handcarving and building a classic carousel, is asking the town to bond $500,000 to help build a facility at Laston Park.
After bonding, carousel officials say they'll pay up to $25,000 a year to help pay off the bond, which they anticipate would be more than the payment.
"The town is not raising and appropriating it. It is borrowing it from bonds," Mark Siegars, who is helping the nonprofit with the location, said on Monday.
While the idea wouldn't use any tax dollars, town officials did express some concern about what would happen if the carousel failed at the location, a question they felt needed to be answered for voters. Chairman John Goerlach asked if there would be any type of collateral if the town ended up having to pay the bond.
Siegars said the worst-case scenario would be that the town retains the building, which will be built with an additional $500,000 from the state. The money would only be bonded if the group receives the grant.
The carousel's lease agreement with the town would pay for the bond; a portion of the new building would be leased to a food vendor.
"The carousel will be paying for electricity, heating and all of that stuff," Siegars said.
The town would own the building, he said, and compared the effort to the public-private collaboration that got the Beacon Cinema off the ground in Pittsfield and other organization partnerships.
"You are only bonding for half of it but you will own the facility at the end of the day," Siegars said.
While the Selectmen are in favor of the deal, they worried that voters would not privy to all aspects of the deal. They asked the Carousel to make a presentation at town hall sorting out all of the details, which the Carousel has agreed to do.
"I don't have any problem with this. I think it is worthwhile," Selectman William Prendergast said.
That article is one of 17 eyed for this year's warrant. The Selectmen are expected to finalize the warrant on Monday.
Another potential hot topic, which has not yet been added to the warrant, is a proposal to transfer $35,000 from free cash to fund a pre-K program. A group of residents have been protesting a plan to end that program at the elementary school and that article is expected but has not yet been formalized. A spot has been reserved for it.
Voters will be also be asked to fund purchases of a new Fire Department forestry truck, a dump truck, and a vehicle for the fire chief. Those are expected at a cost of $50,000; $180,000; and $35,000 respectively.
Voters will also be asked to appropriate $35,000 to replace the back roof on Town Hall; and set aside $10,000 to start a special account to pay for post-employee benefits — an account which will pay for retiree health benefits.
Another article asks the creation of revolving accounts to accept donations and gifts, such as the Police Department's Canine Fund.
In other business Monday, the Memorial Day Parade was announced for Sunday, May 26, at 2 p.m. The parade will march from the Old Forge to the cemetery, which a short presentation will be held. After, there will be a small social at Town Hall.
Berkshire Mall General Manager Joseph Scelsi was also granted a permit for the 4th annual EMS Expo on Sunday. The event will run from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. and admission is free.
"It gets bigger and better every year," he said.
The event includes fire, emergency medical services, police exhibitions and, depending on the weather, a life-flight landing in the parking lot.
Town Administrator Paul Sieloff also said the town received 16 responses to the open town clerk position. The field was narrowed down to four but one later withdrew, another hasn't responded to the interview request yet and a third gave the wrong phone number.
The job is part time and replaces Judith Gallant, who retired. Ruth Knysh is currently the interim clerk.
Tags: berkshire carousel, EMS, laston park, town meeting 2013,
