The Mansfield Town Council voted Wednesday to send its to renovate the and build two new elementary schools - at locations yet to be determined – to a November 2012 referendum.
The council is expected to make a decision as to the schools’ locations before the November 6 referendum.
Council members Denise Keane and Meredith Lindsey opposed the proposal.
Councilman Chris Paulhaus was absent for the vote.
Given the community’s feedback at , a majority of council members believed a May referendum was too soon.
“I was most struck two nights ago by the diversity of opinion,” Councilman William Ryan said. “It was clear that there was not anything close to unanimity on where we should go,” he said.
Keane and Lindsey agreed and suggested that the Town conduct a straw poll before the referendum.
The council ultimately decided against a straw poll, citing its need to make the decision as to what to bring to referendum.
“There has been an enormous amount of public participation,” Councilman Paul Shapiro said. “I think that this is the body that was elected to bite the bullet and make the decision,” he said. “People can continue to contact us, …but I am absolutely in favor of this body making the decision, and if there are consequences, we have to be willing to pay,” he said.
Mayor Elizabeth Paterson added that plans for the proposed project would still be discussed with residents.
“I think that the most important thing for us to do as a council, is to keep this issue out in front of the public, to analyze data as we get it back as we have done all along and to continue the discussion, and if it doesn’t pass in November then we have to look at what our alternatives are,” Paterson said.
Prior to the November referendum, staff is expected to provide the council with costs associated with the use of as a building site, including, but not limited to land acquisition fees and the possible need for a new septic system at Goodwin.
The council also authorized Wednesday the expenditure of funds - not to exceed $40,000 - for appropriate testing of the septic systems at the current Goodwin and elementary schools to determine their adequacy.
Keane and Lindsey opposed the motion.
Councilman Carl Schaefer abstained.
Paulhaus was absent for the vote.
Following Wednesday’s meeting, School Board Chairman Mark LaPlaca said that while he didn’t disagree with the council’s decision, he “certainly felt that we could have gotten to this point two years ago when the board officially made its recommendation,” he said.
“But I’m pleased that we’re moving forward,” LaPlaca added.
The Storrs-Center-Boondoggle and now new schools!? Do those in the town council realize that some of us are just getting by and can't afford a rise in our taxes every year? These things will cost LOTS of money, and don't delude yourself into thinking the Storrs Center will generate revenue. If you want Mansfield to be like other towns, then you should just move to those towns. If you want to dabble in real estate development, why don't you use PRIVATE money, specifically your own? Please, don't force your vision on the rest of us, we can't afford to be subjects of your social experiment gone mad. Real people are getting hurt by careless and reckless policies of our government on all levels, and now it has come to Mansfield.
The Council knows there is declining enrollment and is aware that one of the three schools may close in a few years anyway for lack of students. Has anyone thought of just remodeling two of the schools? Have they figured out one of the main reasons for declining students is the absurd taxes we pay to live in this town? No-one is coming to Mansfield anymore. If it wasn't for UConn, Mansfield would be down to one school by now. The longer this takes to play out the more the Council is hoping people just give in. I am starting to believe they are pushing for new buildings just so they can put their names on the sign inside the school. I applaud Denise Keane and Meredith Lindsey for having the moxie to stand up for the citizens of Mansfield and not stand by while the Council pushes their agenda through.
I think we should, indeed, be careful about how our tax money is spent, but that doesn't mean we should keep the town stuck in the past and never move forward.
Your arrogance shows no bounds. It seems as if you are one of a select breed, a divinely inspired social planner whose descended upon Mansfield from above to save the unenlightened and ignorant from themselves. How lucky we are that you've dropped in our laps! But, there are no superhumans, not you, me or anyone on the town council. You are nothing more than a false philanthropist, someone who is very generous with the lives and money of OTHER people, and you feel you have an ordained right to access their labor because you are enlightened and alas, they are not. If only the hicks would just move out, "shrivel up" (as you say) and get out of your way, then Mansfield could be such a better place. I chose to live here, despite you and your beliefs and I need not justify it to you or anyone. I refuse to sit idly by why the town or people like you want to wrestle away my money via property tax to use for your social experiments in creating the perfect little gentrified/college town. You have every right to do what you want, but only with YOUR own resources, not the lives and labor of others. You show callousness towards the right of your neighbors to be free from your recklessness with their lives. Maybe some of us came to Mansfield because we like it the way it is, not the way you want it, yet you believe you can wrestle our money from us via taxes and force your social experiment upon us and the thing is, you'll probably get away with it.
Are you kidding me??? YOU are the one who wants to change the town, not me. You are the one who wants to raise the taxes of your friends and neighbors, not me. You are the one who is imposing on others, not me! Yup, you must be joking.....
And, about the schools, it is all about money. The town needs to make do with less, just like me, just like many of our neighbors. You have no right in assuming everyone else can afford the visions of your generosity because not all of us can. I'm sure you and the Town Council can come up with 1,000 great ideas to spend our money on, but please stop, some of us can't afford much more of your brilliance.