Webutuck capital improvement forum

WEBUTUCK — The North East (Webutuck) Central School District is considering undertaking an $8.5 million capital improvements project next year. The need for this project has been discussed at various BOE meetings since October.

The Webutuck Board of Education held a forum on Monday, Nov. 14, so residents could learn more about the project and get answers to their questions. 

Four different stations were set up covering the different aspects of the project. Each table was manned by representatives of the companies that will provide their services for the project.

Through the project, the district seeks to remediate its failed septic field, replace a boiler at the high school that is more than 50 years old and improve the current school security system among others.

Public comments

Several residents came out to the forum, holding mixed opinions about the project.

Wassaic resident Susan Metcalfe, concerned about a raise in taxes, was not in agreement with the project.

“I feel it is a shame that we ask for $8.5 million in December, when a lot of people are gone south for the winter,” she said.  “This is an $8.5 million project for projects that should have been taken care of in a timely manner on budgets throughout the school years.

“All of the sudden there is a boiler that needs to come out? Didn’t anybody know it was 35-years-old?” she continued. “Shouldn’t they have done something about it 10, 25 years ago? I think that some of these things you do need to repair, like sidewalks — I understand that — but the price is too much.

“I noticed it is  $1.6 million just to pave around the high school. I feel that’s rather exorbitant,” she added. “I don’t know where they’re getting their blacktop from. I think that they’re not keeping up the maintenance on a year-to-year basis like they should. I’m very dissatisfied and going to try to find everybody that I can find to say no, and hopefully they will.”

But not all had a bad opinion about the project.

Millerton resident Carlo Chiarenza seemed to be on board with the project, despite its cost.

Chiarenza mentioned some of the most important components of the project for him were security, the septic system and the boilers.

“The security system is also very important to me, being that there is a watchful eye with the police department — it is a necessity these days outside as well as inside the building,” he said.

When asked what his opinion was on the price tag of the project, he said it was acceptable “as long as they’re maintained properly in years to come, everything sounds good. I just hope that it is taken care of in the future.

“Being that the loan from the last project will be paid off in the next few years, the cost of this project will plateau as far as taxes go,” Chiarenza added.

Vote

BOE President Kristen Panzer took a few minutes to recap the importance of the project.

“One of the components of this project is the maintenance we must do when we are stewards of a facility like this and responsible for educating children,” she said.

For those who are having a hard time with the cost of the project, she offered a few more words.

“I think it’s a bitter pill to think that you have to spend money like this mostly just to maintain the physical plant that you already have,” said Panzer. “It’s not something glamorous — we’re not building a new building, we’re not doing a whole new sports complex.

“I think that maybe historically the district — and with very good reason — has been penny-wise and pound foolish,” she continued. “It has been afraid to take on the repairs and maintenance that we need to take on.  They have been afraid to bring these issues to the public, but we are confident now that this is the right time for the project as it will not increase the burden on the taxpayers.”.

Taxpayers are encouraged to call the school district office with any questions, at 845-373-4104.

Information on the project is also on the school district’s website, www.webutuckschools.org.

The public vote is to take place on Wednesday, Dec. 14, from noon to 9 p.m. at the high school.