Hermon school renovations up for vote again

HERMON – The town’s voters will again go to the polls this June to decide whether to issue a $5.6 million bond to renovate the middle school.

Councilors unanimously decided Thursday to put the issue to a vote at the town meeting, following a design presentation by architect Gary Frost and engineer Randy Bragg.

Last year, the same measure was defeated 466-298, with residents citing concerns about rising taxes.

“Didn’t we vote against this last year?” one man asked at Thursday night’s council meeting.

The existing gymnasium and cafeteria, both housed in a detached building, are in poor condition and not up to code. The council has adopted a policy to review the issue once a year, according to Town Manager Clint Deschene.

Under the plans presented Thursday, a new, 14,000-square-foot building would be constructed adjacent to the school’s front door and would include locker rooms and classroom space.

The plans also include replacing the school’s asbestos floor tiles, improving compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, adding an outdoor basketball court and rerouting traffic.

Also taken into consideration in the design was the school committee’s January decision to move Hermon’s fifth-grade pupils from the elementary school to the middle school.

Of concern to residents Thursday was one classroom that has been closed because of mold contamination. The problem likely is a result of poor water drainage, Frost said.

The plans propose changing the slope of the ground on that side of the building and constructing a vaulted roof that would direct water away from that area.

“When was the last time you did an air-quality study?” asked Wendy Berglund, who has a daughter who will attend the middle school in the fall.

Councilor Anthony Reynolds said he believed the last study was performed approximately four years ago.

In other business Thursday, the council authorized the expenditure of $500 to pay an attorney to draft a new ordinance to cover dog kennel licensing. The decision to review the current ordinance was prompted by complaints about barking dogs from neighbors of a Swan Road kennel.

The new ordinance would allow the council to require a permit for all kennels, which could then be revoked if noise or other problems occur.