The Marion Capital Improvement Planning Committee met on Thursday, September 6, 2012, for the first time in almost two months. The Committee did not post their meeting agenda with enough legal notice, leaving them unable to vote on any matters they discussed.
The Committee began by discussing the acquisition of project forms that must be completed by town departments in order for those projects to be green lit. In the past, many departments have not filled out the required paperwork in an adequate frame of time for review and approval.
Chairman Norm Hills highlighted the need for better communication between the Committee and the other groups of the town government.
“What we talked about last spring was being better about getting in touch with everybody when we have to so they know what’s expected of them,” Hills said.
“What I’d hate to have happen is us bringing in those committees and having to give them verbal instructions on how to fill out a form,” said Committee member Ted North.
“We can start lining people up in October to get this done,” Hills said.
The Committee plans on speaking with Town Administrator Paul Dawson for the best way to address the issues with getting completed project forms back in a timely manner.
North then updated the Committee on the funding situations of several projects that have been completed or are near completion in the last few years.
“This seems to be pushing the limit as far as cash flow is concerned,” he said. “We don’t have a lot to work with. And that’s before any of the big stuff.”
The town is looking at a considerable cost for renovating the Sippican School, while the future of the Marion Town House is uncertain. The town faces the very expensive option of improving on the existing structure or building a new hall. North added that the recent sewer project also added a big financial burden to the town.
The next meeting of the Marion Capital Improvement Planning Committee will be on September 20, 2012, at 7:00 pm at Marion Music Hall.
By Eric Tripoli
