Masconomet committee approves $1.64 million appropriation for feasibility work after Topsfield ballot failure

The Masconomet Regional School District school committee on May 12 approved an appropriation of $1,638,652 to pay for feasibility-study and schematic-design work tied to a proposed accelerated repair project at Masconomet High and Middle Schools.

The motion, moved by a committee member and seconded, breaks the total into $698,938 for Masconomet High School and $1,039,714 for Masconomet Middle School. It authorizes the district to borrow the amount under chapter 71, section 16B of the Massachusetts General Laws and directs that any borrowing be reduced by MSBA grant funding if a funding agreement is executed.

The appropriation covers work related to roof replacement and conversion of the schools’ HVAC systems to heat pumps, and includes authorization to pay “all costs incidental or related thereto,” according to the motion read into the record.

The vote followed a staff update about the district’s interaction with bond counsel and the Massachusetts School Building Authority. A district staff member said bond counsel advised the committee to revote to be cautious after Topsfield voters rejected the project on the ballot even though the proposal passed Topsfield’s town meeting. The staff member said the MSBA’s failed-vote policy requires districts to request an extension within a limited window and that the district planned to apply for that extension while coordinating next steps with the member towns.

Adrian, a committee member, told colleagues that public feedback in Topsfield suggested the ballot wording was “incredibly confusing for them,” and stressed the difference between a town-meeting vote — where warrants include explanations and on-floor dialogue — and a ballot vote, where voters do not get the same direct clarification.

Committee members confirmed the towns have 60 days to disapprove the district’s authorization to incur debt under the district agreement; staff clarified that ballot blanks are treated as nonvotes and that the 50% threshold refers to a majority of votes cast on the question.

The committee completed a roll-call vote in which members Kendra, Jeff, Trevor, Bill, Lisa, Joe, Alice, Adrian and Nami were recorded as voting yes. The motion carried and the committee authorized the appropriation and related borrowing; the motion also instructed the superintendent to notify each member town’s select board of the amount and general purpose of the debt within three days of the vote, as required by statute and the district agreement.

Next steps include filing a written extension request with the MSBA within the agency’s required timeframe and coordinating with Boxford and Middleton to ensure those towns’ approvals are secured; staff noted that if either Boxford or Middleton fails to approve the measure, the district’s MSBA application could be in jeopardy. The committee said it would keep towns and the public informed as the MSBA extension request and subsequent steps move forward.