The Board of Selectmen voted 2 – 1 Wednesday to send the $1.8 million Great Oak Middle School roof and solar panel project to a town meeting where voters will decide whether to spend the money.
The Board of Finance denied the project on March 22 in a 3 – 2, divided by party lines, with the Republicans in the majority.
The Republicans on the Finance Board said they wanted more options for the roof replacement project.
The vote angered Democratic First Selectwoman Mary Ann Drayton-Rogers, who said the Republicans were playing politics. The solar panel roof project had been researched by a committee and was in the planning stages for a long time, she said.
Drayton-Rogers said a roof and solar panel committee was formed to make a recommendation — not to provide choices for the Finance Board.
The Democratic Selectmen, going on the advice of Town Attorney Fran Teodosio, ignored the Finance Board’s vote.
Teodosio said his interpretation of the town charter allows the Selectmen to do so.
The project will replace the school’s 20 year-old roof with a metal roof and solar panels.
“I feel strongly this step has to be taken and we all need to work together to bring this project forward,” Drayton-Rogers said.
Republican Selectman David Yish also “feels strongly” that the school needs a new roof — but he voted against sending the issue to a town meeting.
He called Teodosio’s interpretation of the charter “grammatical trickery.”
“This is an interpretation of the charter to meet a means to an end,” he said. “I cannot act in conflict with the charter.”
Yish suggested the project should go to a town meeting through a petition, which would require 200 signatures.
Democratic Selectman Dave McKane said a petition is not necessary, based on their lawyer’s opinion.
“He (Teodosio) has rendered his opinion,” he said. “I don’t know what more we need.”
The town meeting on the roof replacement is scheduled for Thursday, April 15 at 8 p.m.
