Highway bond is necessary; amenities building bond is not
The other borrowing proposal is for the amenities building at Doug White field. The name says it all. It is an amenity, not a necessity.
Acton will soon vote on two indebtedness articles passed at Town Meeting. One is necessary. The other is not.
The borrowing of $27.5 million is for a five-year program to repair our roads and sidewalks. As the Public Works Commission demonstrated at Town Meeting, our roads will continue to deteriorate without this borrowing. If we borrow money now to bring roads up to a reasonable standard, the town can spend less on road repair in the future. Some of us may even save money on shock absorbers and tires.
The other borrowing proposal is for the amenities building at Doug White field. The name says it all. It is an amenity, not a necessity. Advocates make a good case for an accessible toilet. But the building contains 16 additional toilets, with all the cleaning and maintenance that implies. We use port-a-potties at our playing fields now. At graduation and a few home games, the crowd will need more. We can rent more toilets when we need them, and they go away when we don’t. That is how the town supplements public restrooms for big events in Acton Center. We see small accessible buildings in state and national parks that meet ADA needs and use a composting toilet or pumpable septic tank. They do not need a sewer connection.
Surely, the School Committee can find enough money to build this small accessible facility. Has the board even engaged with state regulators on the number of permanent toilets we are said to need?
The Finance Committee estimates the cost per taxpayer at $27 each year for 10 years. If we construct a small handicapped facility, there are alternatives for the few large events. And the concession area? Acton recently approved food trucks.
Frank Feeley
Lexington Road
