Waldoboro Select Board members Michael Thayer (left) and John Blodgett listen to a presentation on Tuesday, Aug. 22 by members of the RSU 40 Board of Directors about an $81 million capital improvement plan and bond proposal. While representatives presented all items in the plan as necessary, the select board asked for a priority list to be made. (Johnathan Riley photo)
The Waldoboro Select Board heard a presentation from the RSU 40 Board of Directors about its $81 million capital improvement plan and bond proposal and voted to move forward with warrant for the sale of the Hoffses house at its Tuesday, Aug. 22 meeting.
Steve Nolan, RSU 40 superintendent, and Brian Race, district facilities director, led the presentation and subsequent discussion on the capital improvement plan and bond proposal set to go before RSU 40 voters in November, which failed a motion to make it on the June 2023 ballot.
Member towns of RSU 40 include Friendship, Union, Waldoboro, Warren, and Washington.
Race presented plans for the four- to five-year proposal of district-wide upgrades and said that over half of the cost of renovations would take place in Waldoboro; $41 million is dedicated to Medomak Valley High School and $16 million to Miller School.
Major plans for the high school include a $9 million, 15,000-square-foot addition to connect the science and social studies wings, creating a courtyard at the center of the building; replacement of the water treatment system and a septic field that Race said has effectively already failed; a boiler replacement; and the addition of a generator.
Renovations would also include asbestos abatement, electrical upgrades, a new roof for the greenhouse, roof shingle repairs, an updated sprinkler system, exterior upgrades, and safety and security improvements.
Race said he and the board were unable to give an exact number for taxpayer impact at this point, but the $81 million bond would be used as needed, not all at once, which will offset impact.
However, Race gave a rough estimate for Waldoboro’s taxes at $400 per $100,000 of assessed property value in 2030 based on the current valuation for the 25 year term for the bond. The projects are estimated to take four to six years to complete.
Town Manager Julie Keizer said that the average home in Waldoboro is valued around $300,000, which would mean a taxpayer with that land evaluation would be responsible for an additional $1,200.
“That’s a lot of money for folks,” Keizer said.
The select board voiced their concerns about the impact having such high taxes would have on the town, as well as with the plan itself.
Board members Michael Thayer and John Blodgett suggested creating a priority list within the improvement plan to whittle down the $81 million budget.
“Voters will want to vote to give the school a new roof,” Thayer said. “But new stadium seating may be a tougher sell.”
According to Race, AOS 98, which includes nearby towns such as Boothbay Harbor, is proposing a similarly sized bond because of sizable renovation needs.
“Unfortunately, (RSU 40) is not alone in this,” Race said.
In other news, the select board held a public hearing about the sale of the Hoffses House structure, the house next to the Sylvania site, where one comment was made by Melvin Williams, of Waldoboro, about the expense of moving the house.
The select board voted to move forward with the warrant for special town meeting.
The structure known as the Hoffses House is located at 467 Friendship St. The board seeks the town’s approval for the sale of the two-story frame home. The sale does not include the land, only the structure itself.
If approved at the special town meeting, the select board will seek a buyer who is interested in the purchase and relocation of the structure.
The select board also seeks approval from town residents to demolish the structure if no appropriate buyers present themselves.
Voters of the special town meeting will seek to either authorize the town’s sale of the Hoffses House structure. The meeting will be held Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. at the town office.
The next Waldoboro Select Board meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 6 in the town office and online.
