To the editor,
As we approach the New Year, we have much to be thankful for and much to consider. Our form of governance—run by dedicated volunteers and an open town meeting where we all have an opportunity to shape our community life—is certainly something we should celebrate.
In early November, we had just such an opportunity at our annual State of the Town as we discussed moving forward with a much-needed school building and campus planning project. The State of the Town added important new information as the town advances planning our community campus for future generations. The information presented at the meeting was almost exclusively focused on traffic, parking, regulatory, and space (land) use choices, as this was the scope of the charge to the Campus Master Planning Committee (CMPC) and their consultant. Potential costs were briefly mentioned.
That we must remain mindful of trade-offs was paramount to the discussion. Trade-offs were central to the questions posed in the survey completed at the end of the meeting. While the CMPC has yet to finalize a report on the feedback provided by said questionnaire, community sentiment expressed in open-mike comments was solidly behind moving forward with the projects. Not included in the discussion yet critical to informed decision-making about trade-offs are the potential funding sources for each decision.
The most obvious and critical potential source for a school project is MSBA state funding. It is understood that this source of funding will come with requirements to satisfy certain criteria about both program and space utilization. The MSBA process includes developing a variety of potential building design options for the town to consider before putting forth our final preferred option. We must remain flexible and open to alternative approaches to design. It was deeply disappointing to learn that the MSBA has turned down Lincoln’s request for consideration for the upcoming year. This is a critical project that must remain a top priority for the town as we carefully and collectively consider our next steps.
Funding for any other campus projects must come from other sources. And here, the town is blessed with options. Funding for field improvements and inside space for recreational use may come from Community Preservation Act funds, which includes a percentage match from state resources. Another potential source of funding for projects is the Ogden Codman Trust. The trust, established in 1972 from the estate of Dorothy Codman, was created for the benefit of the town of Lincoln and its residents. It has preserved and created much of the feel of Lincoln, as we know it today, and was the funding source for our town Codman Pool.
A critical funding source for past legacy projects has come from previous generations of visionary and generous citizens. They left great gifts to their own and future generations of the town, including Bemis Hall, the library’s Tarbell Room, Pierce House, and the deCordova Museum in addition to notable tracts of open space, including the ballfield at the center of our campus. Perhaps a few of our generation of Lincoln’s luminaries will do the same. The generosity and foresight of Lincoln voters and taxpayers, understanding the importance of investing in projects to serve both current and future generations, will be the final determining factor.
Issues of funding and funding sources await the next steps in decision-making and will require active engagement by both the Finance and the Capital Planning Committee. Their wisdom and guidance will be critical to understanding the trade-offs which must be made as the community campus moves forward.
Now added to the mix is the recent discussion of Minuteman High School. A Special Town Meeting will be held in late February to consider two important issues: a new regional agreement and whether or not Lincoln will continue to remain part of the Minuteman region. If we choose to exit, we will no longer have guaranteed admission for Lincoln students. We can expect to hear more of the issues that will help us make wise choices both from our Minuteman School Committee member, Sharon Antia, and a selectmen’s working group, which has yet to be charged and appointed.
It is important that all of these processes continue in an open and transparent manner, with all citizens able to be full participants, as the future of Lincoln’s educational system and community life are at stake. 2016 is already looking like a very challenging year.
Sincerely,
Sara Mattes
71 Conant Rd.
Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters must be about a Lincoln-specific topic, will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.