School committee, council meet jointly Hermon likely to get some requested funds

HERMON – In an effort to keep dialogue open, members of the Town Council and school committee met jointly Wednesday night.

Michael Kucsma, who works on facilities issues for the State Department of Education, attended the meeting to answer questions about how funds are allocated for renovation and new construction projects.

He told the group that chances are good the district will receive at least some of the funds it has applied for from the state’s revolving renovation fund. The town already agreed to borrow $1.4 million to fund some of the repairs. Kucsma said he was not sure when the town would receive official notification of the funding.

School committee members expressed concern earlier this month that the state board might look less favorably on a new school project once the renovations are completed. Kucsma tried to answer that concern Wednesday night.

He said that the Legislature had charged the State Board of Education to look at that very issue and find a way to evaluate renovation projects without penalizing school districts on subsequent applications. He said the current feeling of the board was that repairs that must be made to protect the health and safety of students should not have an impact on its ranking for new construction when both projects are pursued simultaneously.

He listed improving indoor air quality, replacing asbestos tiles, roof repairs, and meeting the requirements of the American with Disabilities Act as examples of the kinds of repairs the board thought would meet the health and safety standard. If the district concludes it needs a new school, Kucsma encouraged the school board to submit its application this year.

“The council is open to the idea of the school board discussing and investigating the possibility of a new school,” said council Chairman Anthony Smen after the meeting. “We do realize there are problems with the middle and elementary schools, but we must use our money wisely and appropriately.”

Superintendent Patricia Duran told the council to expect at least an $800,000 increase in next year’s school budget. She said the increase was due to a 3 percent negotiated pay increase, anticipated increases for insurance costs, and the fact that there will be no money carried over from last year’s budget. The town meeting to approve next year’s budget will be held in June.

Councilor Louis “Buzz” LaChance praised the school board for agreeing to the joint session.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve seen this kind of cooperation,” he said. “It’s really nice to see a meeting together go smoothly and to see us really working together.”

In other business, the council accepted a $4,055 insurance settlement for damage to the police cruiser stolen last month from the town garage. Brian McCann, 17, of Hermon allegedly stole the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department cruiser from the garage between 2 and 4 a.m. Dec. 2 and drove it to Revere, Mass., where he was apprehended after a short chase with police.

The cruiser was damaged when McCann crashed into a parked car and then backed into the cruiser that pursued him. He also broke the back window with a metal bar after he jimmied open one of the two bay doors into the garage.

Repairs approved Wednesday night include replacing the ignition switch. When the vehicle was stolen, the keys were kept in the starter switch because of an ignition problem. The cost of repairs approved totaled $2,650.