1.
If we don’t vote for
this bond issue, town taxes will go up. REALITY:
The bond issue commits the town to enormous financial risks. Cheaper ways exist to provide high
school water, which do not require a new water main. 2.
A 16-inch, $3.4 million
water main is “free”. REALITY: Direct and indirect costs are
uncertain. These include:
Potential construc-tion overruns; pump station costs; and
re-engineering a 2 ˝ to 6-inch sewer line. 3.
There’s a water
emergency at Mt. Greylock high school. REALITY: The state says the school can use
bottled water for 2-3 years safely. Viable, long-term options, which may
qualify for up to 100% state funding, are under study. 1.
Solving
problems at Mount Greylock AND preserving the character of our town can be
accomplished without obligating us to the risks of this $875,000 bond. 2.
Decisions made
with incomplete, perhaps misleading, information about alternatives and
their costs are bound to produce unanticipated consequences. 3.
Mount
Greylock’s water needs should be addressed in the context of long-term
planning for the building. Any major renovation would be financed with
state aid and a Lanesborough contribution. 1.
Watch “A Williamstown
Community Forum”, 2.
Read a special White
Paper and
background briefings at the Williamstown
library, at http://www.newshare.com/williamstown/ , call 458-8001
or email whitepaper@newshare.com for a copy. 3.
Vote at Town Meeting, Thurs.,
Dec. 2, 6:30 p.m. at Mount Greylock Regional High School. ARRIVE AT 5:30
P.M. FOR BEST SEATS! Go to www.newshare.com/williamstown/ for links to
updates. This message distributed as a community service
by: . . . a informal study group including Henry
Art, Anita Barker, Kathleen Casey, Leith Colen, Deborah Dane, Bill
Densmore, Richard DeVeaux, Patrick Dunlavey, Joan Edwards, Sarah Gardner,
Jenny & Steve Gerrard, Carol & Sherwood Guernsey, Elaine Hantman,
Lee Harrison, Guy Hedreen, Amy
Herring, Andy Hogeland, Dan Holland, Betsy Johnson, E.J. Johnson, Sandy & Tom Jorling, Elizabeth
Kolbert, Steve Levin, Zane Lumelsky, Ann McCallum, Liz McGowan, Margot
& Bill Moomaw, Elaine & Steve Moynahan, Chris Newbound, Nancy
Nylen, Wendy Penner, Maribeth Pomerantz, Dave Richardson, Elizabeth &
Sam Smith, David Smith, Susan Scheneski, Brenda Smith, Gwen & Dick
Steege, Beth Stomberg, Dinny & Mark Taylor, Linda & Eric White,
Heather Williams . . . and a
growing list of citizens concerned
about Williamstown's and MGRHS's future (check
http://www.newshare.com/williamstown/handbill.htm for the latest list)
Three myths
About Williamstown’s future
Three facts
About Williamstown’s future
Three actions
For Williamstown’s future
RERUNS: Tues., Nov. 30, 8:30 p.m. and Wed., Dec. 1, 8 p.m.
on Adelphia Cable’s WilliNet public access, Channel 17, 8 p.m. Williamstown
Citizens for Informed Decisions
WILLIAMSTOWN CITIZENS FOR INFORMED DECISIONS
WHITE PAPER EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A: This bond issue is being proposed to facilitate two major
developments. The first is a new building for the Williamstown Art Conservation
Center, currently located on the Clark Art Institute campus. The second is a
68-unit expansion of the Sweetbrook retirement community. The bond would allow the town to construct a
16-inch water main along U.S. Route 7 (Cold Spring Road). This main would also
provide Mount Greylock Regional High School with a new source of water.
Q: ALL I CARE ABOUT IS GETTING CLEAN WATER
FOR MT GREYLOCK. IS THE WATER MAIN A GOOD WAY TO DO THAT?
A: The water main will
cost at least $3.4 million, and probably take at least two years to build.
There are several less costly and less disruptive ways to get water to the high
school. These options (explored in some detail in the white paper) include:
Q: WHAT ABOUT FIRE SUPPRESSION?
A: If, at some point in
the future, the school undertakes a major building project, it will have to
install sprinklers in at least some areas.
A project of this magnitude would receive significant state funding, and
the remaining costs would be divided proportionately between Williamstown and
Lanesborough. The existing building
does not need sprinklers, and adding a water main would not add sprinklers.
Q: I KEEP HEARING
THAT THIS PROJECT THREATENS THE CHARACTER OF OUR TOWN. CAN’T WE USE ZONING TO
PROTECT THE SCENIC ROUTE 7 CORRIDOR?
A: With a
large-capacity, extendable waterline in place, that may be harder. Currently most of the Route 7 corridor is
zoned for 2.5-acre lots. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has not
upheld 2.5 acre zoning as constitutionally permissible if the large lot zoning
requirement is in place only to
preserve land in its natural state or maintain the town’s bucolic character,
especially if town water and sewer are in place. Williamstown places itself in
jeopardy of losing its 2.5 acre zoning if it installs the 16” water main.
Q: I KEEP
HEARING THAT THIS WATER LINE IS “FREE.” IS THAT REALLY TRUE?
A: The claim that this water line will be
built at no cost to taxpayers is based on many theoretical assumptions, several
of which may not hold up in fact. Examples of possible costs – both tangible
and intangible - that the town has not accounted for include: