Vote on high school plan slated for June
If approved, $137 million replacement could begin early 2022
Hoping to overcome opposition that scuttled their plan in 2017, Farmington educators are preparing for a spring referendum on replacing Farmington High School.
Municipal officials are tentatively looking for a townwide vote June 3 on whether to tear down the high school and build a threestory replacement for $137 million.
If voters approve the idea, architects would start work this summer, construction could begin in early 2022 and wrap up in mid-2025, Finance Director Joseph Swetcky told the council last week at a meeting on Zoom.
All of that hinges on winning taxpayer support. The town council and school board are looking to bounce back from the contentious 2017 vote, when residents voted roughly 2-1 against a massive renovation plan for the existing school.
The Farmington High School Building Committee has been using Ira Yellen, a consultant with Tall Timbers Marketing, to help make its case to the public.
Yellen advised the council last week that a January survey about the project shows widespread public interest. But he also advised that 45% of the people who returned the survey were retirees while just 23% were parents, the group most likely to vote “yes” in a referendum.
“The return was low from parents, especially elementary parents,” Yellen said. “They’re not seeing that this is probably going to affect them the most.”
Yellen advised outreach efforts at the various senior living complexes around town. Traditionally retired voters on fixed incomes are likely to be deeply
concerned about tax implications of a major school project, while parents of school-age students focus more on the impact on education.
Yellen mailed surveys to 11,600 households asking basic questions about the project, and 1,111 — about 9.8% — responded.
“That’s the highest I’ve seen in 20 years of doing these surveys,” Yellen told the council.
Respondents were split between the factors they felt should be the most important focus of the high school replacement.
Roughly 75% cited improving educational programming, 81% listed safety improvements and 76% mentioned remedying deficiencies at the current building.
But the factor getting the most
attention — from 84% of respondents — was the cost and its impact on property taxes.
Swetcky said long-term financial projections show the town could borrow its roughly $110 million share of the cost by issuing four sets of bonds between 2022 and 2025.
Taxpayers would get several years of increases in a row, but after that the debt service would level out or drop for the rest of the
bonds’ 20-year term, he said.
“The first impact would hit in 2022-23 (with) $1.2 million in debt service,” he said. “But existing debt drops off $1.1 million that year, so the impact on the tax rate is a low increase.”
Swetcky said taxes on an average home assessed at $227,000 would rise $77 in 2022-23, then $189 in 2023-24, $98 in 2024-25, $94 in 2025-26 and $8.50 in 202627. The project would require
no further tax increases, and the bonds would be repaid by 2045, he said.
Local taxpayers would cover $110 million of the project, with state aid accounting for the other $27 million.
The Farmington High School Building Committee plans numerous public outreach efforts before any referendum, and is posting documents about the project at its website at fhsbuildingproject.org.
Richard Harold Graves passed away peacefully at Middlesex Hospital Friday, February 12 at the age of 87.
He was born in Montague, MA, the son of Albert and Mary (Cuff) Graves. September 4, 1933. He was the husband of Judith Sheehan Graves.
Rich will be sadly missed but always remembered with love by his wife Judy of 56 years; and his children, Chris (Pam), Katie, Jeff (Becki), and Dan (Karen); his brother, Don Graves and his wife Carol; and many nieces and nephews. He is survived by eight grandchildren: Samantha, Megan, Nathan, Evan, Carter, Carly, Riley, and Makenna. He was predeceased by his parents; his sister, Reet O'Connor; his brother-in-law, Jim O'Connor; his sisterin-law, Kay Sheehan; and a very special cousin, Loretta (Babe) Patterson.
Rich grew up in Montague and graduated from Turners Falls High School. He continued his education at UMASS, earning a BS degree in Chemistry. Upon graduating, he served two years in the U.S. Army - rank of 1st Lieutenant. He was very proud of the time he served in Japan. The highlight was being able to climb to the top of Mount Fuji, not once, but twice.
Rich began his career at Yankee Rowe Nuclear Power Plant as a chemist. He met his wife Judy, got married, and then relocated to Connecticut to work at the Connecticut Yankee Nuclear Power Plant in Haddam Neck, CT. Prior to retiring in 1992, he was the Plant Superintendent for 12 years.
In his “free time” he dedicated his time to the Town of Portland. He served on the Board of Education for six years, the Board of Selectman for two years, and was the past chairman of the town facilities building committee responsible for the renovation of Central school to the now town hall.
Rich and Judy were very active in St. Mary's Church of Portland. A man with a strong sense of history and tradition, he served as co-chairman of the church rebuilding committee after fire destroyed the building, raising more than $500,000 to renovate and preserve the 100 year structure.
After retirement, he was finally able to enjoy his passion for golf. Not only did he work as a ranger at the Portland Golf Course, but he golfed as often as he wanted.
In 2007, he and Judy made the decision to downsize and moved to Laurel Ridge in East Hampton. Rich and Judy continued their community involvement and gained many new, wonderful friends and neighbors. Rich continued to support the town of Portland by volunteering at the Portland Food Bank twice a week. It was an important part of his life socially as well as a testament to his generous spirit.
Rich will be forever missed by those who knew and loved him. The family gives special thanks to all the doctors and nurses for their kindness and care. Funeral services and burial will be private. Portland Memorial Funeral, 231 Main St., Portland, is in charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Rich's memory may be made to the Portland Food Bank (7 Waverly Ave, Portland, CT 06480), or the Jimmy Fund (www. jimmyfund.org/gift).