By BOB MARTIN
Eagle Times Staff
NEWPORT, N.H. — While the Newport Board of Selectmen approved a plan from the Newport School District for a bus barn in August, in a meeting where several board members spoke passionately against it, the selectboard countered by offering a proposal of their own at Monday’s meeting.
Chair Jim Burroughs voted against the plan that passed on Aug. 26 with a 3-2 decision, and he and former school board member and current Selectman Bert Spaulding stressed that what was being brought forward on the agenda as an informational item was simply an option. The floor plan that was approved in August is 10 feet off the front of the building, and a 12×40 foot structure.
At Monday’s selectboard meeting, Burroughs and Spaulding made their recommendations of a proposal is for a bus barn to be built on the south side of the Public Works Department. Burroughs said this board has had discussions for years, dating back to previous boards and the previous town manager. He wants to make sure there is 100% transparency with the town and the public that they are looking to work in concert with the school on what they need. The school was approved for a floor plan for two bus bays and a small addition, and Burroughs said their proposal could go above and beyond that.
“We can see the potential for future need, future growth, future expansion both on the town side and on the school side,” Burroughs said.
He added that they want to make sure that things move along, whether it is with a project that this board authorized by voters two years ago to develop two bays, or the vote at the August meeting.
Spaulding, who was vehemently against the floor plan for the proposal in August, said it is his opinion that his proposal would be a “freebee” for the school. He noted that this proposal there would be a spot for the buses to be housed to avoid vandalism, and will be clear of snow in the winter, on property owned by the town.
“I know for some it is going to appear that it is shuffling for a bad thing,” Spaulding said. “No, I’m not shuffling for a bad thing. I’m shuffling for the right thing.”
He said that putting this bus barn at the end of a building for an amount of $100,000, which was a number never set in stone but did bounce around at times in conversations, is not a good solution.
Spaulding said the solution he believes in is to put a pull barn in the space being used. This is done in two steps. The first is to stop the path they are on, “relocate it, get it done, then raise and appropriate” what is needed.
“It is the right thing to do, “Spaulding said. “Donna, putting this structure for $100,000 plus dollars at the end of the building does not solve the damaging of the buses. I’m saying this for the third time tonight so everybody gets it.”
Burroughs said it is important to note that nothing has changed in what has been authorized by the board. It is entirely in the decision of the school board on if they go with their original plan, or work with the selectmen on another plan.
“It is my intention to see this project done as fast as possible without having to bring it to this board a whole bunch of times,” Burroughs said. “Every time you come before the board it stirs up a lot of emotion on everybody’s side. It’s my intention to limit that, minimize that and see this be successful for school and town.”
Superintendent Donna Magoon was in the audience, as well as other members of the school board and concerned citizens, who were interested in their proposal but also showed wariness.
Magoon said it does not matter what direction she prefers, as it is up to the school board. She said she will work with Town Manager Kyle Harris on producing something in writing that she can bring to the school board on Oct. 24 to consider.
