Pool project a hot topic as CCPC issues spending recs

The town pool replacement project is likely headed for an override vote sometime this year. (Michelle Stark photo)

The Canton Community Preservation Committee (CCPC) has finalized its spending recommendations for fiscal year 2020, and headlining the list are a number of recreation and open space projects — including a long-proposed destination slide structure at the Luce School and new interpretive signage at the Paul Revere Heritage Site — along with a good-faith gesture of support for the Bolivar pool replacement project.

Meeting last Monday at Pequitside Tavern, the nine-member CCPC — the governing body tasked with reviewing and vetting requests for Community Preservation Act funds — voted to recommend funding three projects fully and six others partially at a total cost of just over $620,000.

Six of the requests fall under the category of recreation/open space, including the three aforementioned projects as well as replacement of the basketball courts at the Kennedy School, improvements to various Little League fields throughout town, and design funds for upgrading the Earl Newhouse Waterfront. Also recommended for funding were two historic preservation projects — replacement of copper roofing above the entranceway to Town Hall and archiving of historical documents at the Canton Historical Society — as well as a request from the Canton Housing Authority for replacement of siding at the residences on Brayton Circle.

Of this year’s requests, the largest came via Canton Parks & Rec for the pool project — a massive undertaking that involves the total replacement of the 40-plus-year-old town pool and adjacent bathhouse on Bolivar Street. While final design figures have not been determined, the project is estimated to cost somewhere north of $4.5 million and is likely to require a debt-exclusion tax override pending approval by voters at town meeting and in a subsequent special election. The town’s Playground and Recreation Commission, which is leading the effort with backing from the Board of Selectmen, has anticipated for some time that an override would be needed but still submitted an application for CPA funds and has continued to explore alternative funding sources.

During last week’s deliberations, CCPC members discussed a variety of options for the pool request — including financing up to half of the cost with a 20-year bond — before ultimately settling on a recommended grant of $200,000.

While generally supportive of the project and agreeing that a new town pool is long overdue, members concluded that it would simply not be feasible to incur more long-term debt given the number of annual funding requests they receive and the debt service they are already carrying for purchase of land at the Revere Heritage site. That purchase, initially approved in 2015, is being financed with a 10-year bond and the first payment of roughly $290,000 is due …

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