CANTON – SAD 21 Superintendent Tom Ward answered questions from Canton residents Monday night on what to do with Canton Elementary School.
He wanted to give some history on what has transpired since April 2004. When the SAD 21 board met that year on moving the sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders from Peru to Dixfield, several Canton parents voiced concerns over whether their children would experience the same small classes and level of competitiveness if they went to Peru.
In February 2005, the majority of people were in favor of the move, and now in the third week of school, he said, “Things are going pretty well. I feel all of the concerns the parents addressed have been met.”
If the town votes to keep Canton Elementary School open, there will be an additional expense of $70,000 assessed to the taxpayers of Canton.
Jim Dyment, the emergency management director for Canton, asked how the asbestos issue would be addressed. Ward said that after the 2003 flood, the asbestos tiles from the basement had been removed, but that there were other asbestos tiles, and pipes that were encapsulated in asbestos. He said the district would work with the town on the issue.
Daisy Barbioni, a Canton student, made a plea to save the school and trees because she had fond memories of it. She said, “Don’t bulldoze down our school.”
The issue of what to do with the building will be decided by a referendum vote on Sept. 20.
After an adjournment of the meeting, about 60 people were present to hear reports on the Fire Station, flood buyouts and the new town village.
Chief Wayne Dube reported on the new Fire Station on Route 108. He said he expects completion in late September and plans for an open house in October. Selectman Donald Hutchins praised Dube for getting the job done so economically.
Funding for the project was provided by a $250,000 public facilities grant from the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development. The town’s matching part of $50,000 was offset by a $10,000 donation, and the town already had $32,000, so the town only had to raise $8,000. Dube said it couldn’t have been done except for hours of volunteer work by Canton residents.
He said: “Don’t blame the Fire Station for your taxes. We didn’t make them go up,” which brought laughter from the group.
Since the town sewer line is 600 feet from the station and there was not enough money to connect, a 2,000-gallon holding tank has been installed for now. Also, the bids for hot-top paving are too high, so they are only doing what is necessary.
Selectmen Chairman Jackie Conant brought up the possible purchase of the Veterans of Foreign Wars building on Staples Hill Road. The town has been offered the building for $25,000. The building would enable the town offices to move out of the flood plain.
Several questions arose as to the condition of the sills on the foundation, and whether the building would be adequate. Some questioned the lack of meeting space. Conant said the present building might still be used for meetings or the school. “There are other options,” she said.
Diane Ray Special Projects Committee chairwoman and grant administrator, spoke of the flood buyout and fielded questions. She said: “Sixty-six homes were identified as being at risk and eight people are under contract for buyouts, two have already moved and three are waiting for new homes to be built. Three more are expected to move this month and the next 10 houses are being appraised. There should be offers on these houses by the end of October.”
She showed a set of plans for the new town center, which would have an entrance on Edmunds Street near the routes 108 and 140 intersection. The center would be behind Victorian Villa Rehabilitation and Living Center.
In the 2003 flood the center had to be evacuated because there was no back exit after Route 108 flooded. The new plans call for a central park where children could play and the Villa residents could walk without having to go onto a busy highway. There would be approximately 30 homes and businesses in the center. Ray says they have option agreements on purchasing three of four potential parcels giving the village approximately 30 acres.
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