Town pool project heads to a vote on May 28
By Jay Turner
The town pool replacement project is headed for an override vote May 28. (Michelle Stark photo)
Following a near-unanimous approval at the recent May town meeting, Canton voters will have the final say on whether to override Proposition 2 ½ and rebuild the Bolivar town pool in a special town-wide election set for this coming Tuesday, May 28.
Any Canton resident who was registered to vote as of May 8 will be permitted to cast a ballot, which consists of a single question pertaining to the funding of the pool project. Absentee voting is also available and the deadline to apply is tomorrow, May 24, at noon. Absentee ballots can be obtained from the town clerk’s office and are specifically for those who will be unable to vote at the polls on Election Day due to an absence from the town during polling hours, a physical disability, or a religious belief.
The question that will be put before voters is as follows: “Shall the Town of Canton be allowed to exempt from the provisions of proposition two and one-half, so called, the amount required to pay for the bond issued in order to pay for the designing, permitting, environmental clean-up, reconstructing, constructing, repairing and equipping of the Bolivar Pool Aquatic Center located at 199 Bolivar Street in the Town of Canton?”
A “Yes” vote would authorize the town to borrow the necessary funds to reconstruct the pool and related facilities, while a “No” vote would prohibit the town from borrowing the funds. A simple majority (greater than 50 percent) of “Yes” votes is needed in order for the measure to pass.
The project calls for the demolition of the existing pool facilities — which officials have determined have reached the end of their useful life after 40-plus years — followed by construction of a new pool with zero-entry access, a new deck, bathhouse, splash pad for younger children, and various site improvements. The pool would have swimmers’ lanes and the new bathhouse would have additional facilities as well as storage space. The town would make every effort to keep the existing pool operational this summer before commencing work on the new pool around Labor Day in anticipation of a summer 2020 opening.
The total project cost has been pegged at $6.4 million, of which roughly $500,000 has already been allocated. The remaining $5.9 million would be bonded over a 20-year period at a cost to the average taxpayer of approximately $33 per year.
The proposal was spearheaded by Canton Parks & Recreation and has widespread support from several town boards and committees, including the Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee, Building Renovations Committee, and Community Preservation Committee. Many past and present pool users have also rallied behind the project, including those affiliated with the Canton Dolphins and Canton High School swim programs. An even broader coalition of supporters have united in support of the project under the banner “Keep Canton Swimming,” and more information can be found on the group’s Facebook page (Keep Canton Swimming: Vote Yes for a New Pool on 5/28).
Opposition to the project, meanwhile, has been scarce to date with criticisms mostly limited to social media commentary questioning the projected costs as well as the method of funding via override.
The polls will be open on election day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the four regular polling locations: Canton High School (Precincts 1 & 6), Luce Elementary School (Precinct 2), Blue Hills Regional School (Precinct 3), and JFK Elementary School (Precincts 4 & 5). For more information about the election, including a link to find your precinct, visit town.canton.ma.us/259/Town-Clerk.
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=56338
Posted by Jay Turner
on May 24 2019. Filed under Town Election.
Both comments and pings are currently closed.
