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Proposition 2 1/2 overrides up for vote June 28

Date: 6/28/2011

June 27, 2011

By Chris Maza

Reminder Assistant Editor

EAST LONGMEADOW — Two Proposition 2 1/2 override proposals will be voted upon at the upcoming election on June 28 for projects aimed at improving the town physically and functionally.

The two debt exclusions, if passed, would raise taxes $21.15 per $100,000.

One of the two questions on the election warrant will ask residents whether or not the town should allocate $1.37 million toward an upgraded public safety radio system.

Ryan Quimby, director of Information Technology for the town, told Reminder Publications that the majority of the money would be needed to come into compliance with a new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandate.

“There is a new mandate by the FCC, which states we have to switch to narrowband,” Quimby said. “Essentially it means we have to use half the frequency width we’re currently using.”

Quimby added that because work needed to be performed on the system by a deadline of Jan. 1, 2011, it appears to be the appropriate time to do additional upgrades to increase the capabilities of the town’s radio system.

“I figure it is the right time to fix the problems we currently have as well,” Quimby said. “I like to do things right the first time and the way to do the right thing is to fix these issues.”

Not the least of those issues, according to Quimby, are the problematic “dead spots” emergency and Department of Public Works (DPW) personnel experience in certain areas with portable radio devices. The Police Department has especially had issues in the past, according to Police Chief Douglas Mellis.

“That’s been a problem right along,” Mellis said. “When they [police officers] get out of their car and have to rely on a portable radio and it doesn’t work, that is a real concern.”

The new system would use listening antennas around town and depending on where a signal from a portable radio was coming from, the closest antenna would be activated to ensure the clearest transmission possible. The antennas can also compensate for each other.

“If one of the antennas were to go down, the others can pick up the slack,” Quimby said.

The new system would also link the entire town — including town offices, public safety, DPW and schools — on one system, which Quimby pointed out is a major advantage for the town in the event of a major emergency.

“As we saw with the disaster with the tornado that just happened, it can be a big help,” he said. “If something were to happen around the time of school dismissals when cell phones aren’t working and the older phone systems that aren’t on battery backups aren’t working, a system like this could make things a lot easier.”

Mellis agreed, adding that with the power outages and cell phone interference town personnel experienced on June 1, departments had to turn to text messaging to communicate because of the lack of an integrated system.

Quimby said the changes required by the FCC mandate would make up close to $1.1 million of the $1.37 million that is proposed for allocation. The additional upgrades would account for only 20 percent of the total project.

The projected effect of that debt exclusion is $18 per year per $100,000.

The other question is in regards to the proposed upgrades to the high school’s track and field facilities.

The upgrades, which would include improved lighting, permanent striping and a midfield logo on the athletic field, resurfacing of the track, the purchase of new track and field equipment, a new 500-seat bleacher for visitors, a new four-foot high fence around the track and the installation of three water cannons to wet the field, are expected to cost $335,200.

The effect of the debt exclusion on residents would be an additional $3.15 per year per $100,000.

John Maybury of the Board of Public Works said at the Annual Town Meeting on May 16 that in addition to giving students and residents a much improved facility, the upgrades would help the community compete with other athletic complexes for Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association tournaments, Amateur Athletic Union and other events that require modern facilities. These, along with clinics and camps, could create a revenue stream for the town.

Maybury cited the Roberts Sports Complex at Holyoke High School as an example of a facility that is able to host such events.

Others, including East Longmeadow track and field coach Nick Sharon and retired coach Michael Budd, have pointed to the recent success of the track teams as another reason to create a facility that can host home track meets.

Recently, the girls team beat two-time champion Northampton at the Western Massachusetts indoor track and field championships in 2010 and followed that up with a second place finish at the Western Massachusetts outdoor track championships this spring.



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