Updated: Blocksidge Field Improvements Reconsideration Fails

Town Meeting's second night saw a replay of the first with the failure of supporters to get approval for Blocksidge Field improvements including installation of an artificial surface, lights and stands.

Supporters got approval to reconsider the item, Article 12, and amended the amount to be raised by donors, from $750,000 to $800,000.

They also pledged to use an alternative to crumb rubber for the artificial surface's base. The pledge came after the Board of Health raised questions about possible health risks associated with crumb rubber or ground tires.

In the end, however, fiscal conservatives held sway Tuesday arguing against borrowing $1.8 million to fund most of the project.

The article received a 130-112 majority vote but not the two-thirds majority required for approval.

A super majority is required by law when the funding calls for bonding.

Speakers presented arguments for or against the proposal on Tuesday, including several who did not speak to the article the first time it came before the meeting on Monday.

On the pro side of the argument, Recreation Director Danielle Strauss rebutted points made by the opposition including one claiming the plan was incomplete.

She said she has been working on the Phillips Park plan for seven years.

Furthermore, the town's fields are in horrible condition and "there is nothing more we can do," she said.

Installing the artificial playing surface and lights would be like getting three fields in one because of all the additional use it would receive, she said.

Charlie Baker, who along with his wife have raised private funds for the proposal, made an impassioned plea for the field.

He said he and other donors with college-age sons and daughters do not want younger parents in town to have to go through the same struggles that they did finding fields for their children to play upon.

William DiMento led the charge against the amended article.

He said the town has done well by its children by approving items including the $50 million-plus new high school.

He said Swampscott has the fourth highest tax rate in the state and the town must curb spending.

"I ask you for fiscal responsibility and to vote not to spend this money ...," he said.

Larry Block of the Board of Health proposed postponing the vote on the amended article, saying questions remain about project finances and health risks associated with the artificial surface.

The postponement failed but its attempt in and of itself cast doubt on the project.

Zoning Changes to Temple Israel Property Defeated

Another vote that needed a two-thirds majority failed on Tuesday.

That was the vote for Article 18, proposed zoning changes to allow development of the town-owned Temple Israel property.

This item failed to receive even a simple majority, going down to defeat by a vote of 93-104.

Opponents said the project's houses were clustered too densely — 19 single-family homes with five-foot setbacks on minimum sized lots of 3,600 square feet. Plus they required only 10 feet of frontage.

"They are going to be sitting right on top of each other," said Gene Barden, a former Planning Board member who served on the panel for many years.

Richard Gindes said the new development would diminish the value of properties in the neighborhood.

One speaker said the proposal caught her by surprise and she had not known about the 19 homes being proposed.

The Board of Selectmen brought the article forth.

Selectman Jill Sullivan said there were no less than four posted public meetings on the proposal.

The project would raise $2.2 million for the town through the sale to Atlantic Crossing LLC and generate $150,000 a year in property taxes, she said.

The selectman said after the meeting that the defeat surprised her and that selectmen would talk about what comes next for the property.

The board had accepted the developer's bid, but zoning changes were needed for the developer to get permits for the project.

School Safety Project Passes

Article 19 won near unanimous support.

Resident Amy O'Connor said the proposal would encourage more children to bike and walk to school and would reduce the risk that a walking or riding child or adult would be hit by a vehicle.

The vote gave selectmen temporary construction easements on properties near  to accommodate the Massachusetts Safe Routes to School Program.

The school's principal, Pamela Angelakis, applied for and received a $450,000 federal grant for the project after enginneers saw the condition of the neighborhood sidewalks and the long road crossings, among other problems.

The town must appropriate $37,700 to offer payment to fund the easements. 

Zoning Authority Change Postponed

Town Meeting voters opted to postpone consideration for Article 21.

The article proposed changing the local zoning bylaws to make the Planning Board the site plan special permit granting authority in all cases. 

That authority will remain with the ZBA while the proposal gets reviewed.

Save the Nurse

Town Meeting voted an amendment to put $14,634 in the budget to reinstate the town nurse position. 

Board of Health Chairman Martha Dansdill proposed the amendment saying a yes vote was a vote for the town's health.

Nurse Roseanne Bruno works 10 hours a week.

Town Administrator Thomas Younger said funding was left out of the budget for the post because the town wanted to regionalize the nursing position.

But supporters said earlier that the nurse is a good value and she provides a range of services to the town including the following:

• Reviews prescriptions and takes blood pressure for people at the town Senior Center.
• Administers inoculations to town employees and flu vaccines to residents free of charge.
• Reviews the Massachusetts Virtual Epidemiological Network, a web-based disease surveillance system, to see if there are any communicable diseases in Swampscott.
• Acts as an information clearing house. 
• Has health-related relationships with town doctors, school nurses and residents.
• Has extensive knowledge of diabetes.