DANVERS — Precinct 7 Town Meeting member Bill Bradstreet wants to make sure there are enough spaces at a renovated high school on Cabot Road to keep students from parking on side streets.
"My point is to solve the problem before it is created," Bradstreet said during a selectmen's meeting Tuesday.
Bradstreet's concerns came up just before selectmen voted 5-0 to recommend the $79.8 million project — the largest in the town's history — to the Finance Committee in anticipation of a single-article Special Town Meeting on Nov. 16. The project would be paid for within the town budget.
The selectmen's recommendation moves to the Finance Committee on Monday at 7 p.m. in Holten Richmond Middle School, 55 Conant St. Town Meeting votes on the Finance Committee's recommendations.
Plans are that the renovated high school would have 415 spaces, same as the present school. However, students and others have been making use of side streets this school year.
Selectmen Chairman Gardner Trask said the board was aware of the parking problem but said the temporary relocation of Town Hall to the Dunn Wing at Danvers High has made parking tight, using up 70 spaces. That will not be the case when the high school project wraps up in September 2013.
Then, there will be 247 spaces for students, as opposed to 177 now.
Selectman Bill Clark said if there is a problem, it might be a matter for the board, through its Traffic Advisory Committee, to restrict parking in the area around the high school during school hours. Selectman Mike Powers said the town would take its cue from neighbors on how to proceed on parking.
The financing plan was also a topic this past Tuesday. To pay for the project, the Massachusetts School Building Authority would grant the town up to $42 million on eligible school-related costs of just under $74.9 million. It's a 56.11 percent reimbursement rate.
If the project passes, taxpayers would be on the hook for $37.9 million. The plan to pay for the school includes the use of a high school/middle school stabilization account, issuing bonds for 30 years instead of 20 and managing spending on other town projects.
Officials have ruled out a debt exclusion override of Proposition 21âÑ2 levy limits.
Seniors can learn more about the project Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. in the Senior Center, 25 Stone St.
Staff writer Ethan Forman can be reached at 978-338-2673 or by e-mail at eforman@salemnews.com.
