The Board of Selectmen plans to ignore a vote from the Board of Finance regarding the installation of a new roof and solar panels on Great Oak Middle School.
In a move that generated controversy, the Board of Finance denied the $1.8 million project with a 3 – 2 vote on March 22. Finance Board members said they wanted more options for the roof project, which has been in the planning stages for several years.
The Finance Board vote was split along party lines.
During a special meeting Monday with Town Attorney Fran Teodosio, the Board of Selectmen discussed its options to move the project forward, regardless of the Finance Board’s vote.
According to Teodosio, the town charter — a set of rules for Oxford’s local government — states the Board of Selectmen can send a resolution on the school roof to a town meeting because the funding for the project is already in the 2009 capital plan.
A town meeting is the place where residents will vote on whether to fund the project.
“This is a capital expenditure, not an appropriation,” he said. “There is no requirement that the Board of Finance’s actions be favorable for a capital project that is not to be bonded.”
The town is eligible for a $324,000 grant from the state’s Clean Energy Fund to purchase the solar panels — and $180,000 in reimbursements from the Department of Education for the roof replacement.
The town would have to come up with $667,000 for the project.
Selectman David Yish said he is in full support of the project — but added if it goes forward the Board of Finance will “challenge” the Selectmen’s decision.
“They (Board of Finance) is going to claim their vote is being disenfranchised and question what section of the charter this action falls under,” he said.
Selectman Dave McKane said he is comfortable proceeding to the next step in the process based on with Teodosios’ legal opinion.
The Selectmen are scheduled to vote on the solar panel issue at its meeting Wednesday (April 7).
The Finance Board has been invited to attend.
