99-Year Lease for South School, Land Transfers for Public Safety Building Approved by Town Meeting
Multiple land transfers approved to meet state requirements while protecting open space
RAYNHAM - May 19 - The Raynham Town Meeting voted Monday to authorize a 99-year lease for the South School and approved several land transfers needed for the construction of a new public safety facility.
Residents approved 37 articles, including measures to rename the Board of Selectmen as the Select Board and reduce the size of the Finance Committee at the meeting which took place at the Raynham Middle School.
Article 26, which authorizes the town to lease the South School for up to 99 years, passed unanimously. Town Administrator Gregory Barnes explained that the lease would be to a nonprofit organization that would be required to maintain public services.
"The South School needs major capital upgrade. And when I say major, it's quite significant. And the town does not wish to use its limited resources to do that," Barnes said. "A nonprofit, we're hoping, will do it, but they need a certain time factor to make it cost-effective for them to do that."
The lease would include provisions allowing the town to terminate the agreement if the nonprofit fails to fulfill its responsibilities.
"If they did not fulfill their responsibilities as outlined in the lease, it would be considered a breach of the lease and the town would be able to terminate that lease," Barnes explained.
Michael Hyland, representing Raynham Channel, noted that his organization currently has a 20-year lease at the South School with similar provisions.
Articles 27 through 35 dealt with land transfers necessary for the public safety facility and other town projects. These articles authorize the town to transfer land in and out of Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) and Recreational Use Restriction.
Barnes provided an overview of the land transfers, explaining they were needed for four main purposes: widening King Philip Road, creating a shared-use path, addressing encroachments of soccer fields and a horse corral on APR land, and securing adequate acreage for the public safety facility.
"In order to take these lands out of the restrictions, which they're considered to be permanently protected open space, the town must provide land of equal or greater acreage and natural resource value," Barnes said.
He noted that the special legislation allowing these transfers was passed at the state level in August 2024 and endorsed by Raynham voters at a November special Town Meeting.
David McRae, Chairman of the Conservation Commission clarified that the articles were "more housekeeping than anything to do with the land transfer."
One resident expressed concern about potential water quality issues related to the public safety facility location, questioning whether having fire engines and police vehicles near water sources could be problematic.
Barnes responded that the areas in question are not in water recharge zones. "I do not believe these are Zone 2 areas," he said, adding that "the net gain here is more likely to go into conservation than coming out."
Another resident asked whether the land transfers would allow for improvements to King Philip Road, which he described as "winding" and potentially difficult for emergency vehicles.
Barnes confirmed that the transfers would enable road improvements. "This does not secure the money to do such, but it does allow for a widening, a straightening out of King Philip along the drainage," he said, noting that Town Meeting had approved such improvements in 2004, but they couldn't proceed because the land had never been taken out of APR status.
The town meeting also approved Article 23, which renames the Board of Selectmen as the Select Board. The article amends the general bylaws to make the change and ensures that gender references in related text are revised accordingly.
Article 25, which reduces the size of the Finance Committee from seven to five members, passed by a vote of 172-124. Finance Committee Chairman Bill Niji explained that the reduction reflects changes in the town's governance structure.
"We've gone from a small town with a small budget to a big town with a big budget," Niji said. "And we now have a strong town administrator in the new position of the Finance Director."
Some residents questioned whether the reduction was an appropriate response to vacancies on the committee. Lee Kozak supported the article, noting, "Having served on a couple of committees, it is impossible to get people to serve on our committees."
The meeting also approved Article 36, which designates areas for potential multi-family housing development to comply with state requirements. Planning Board representatives explained that they deliberately chose locations that would be difficult to develop, including Walmart properties and adjacent parcels.
The annual Town Meeting concluded with the approval of Article 37, a citizen petition to authorize an additional liquor license for a convenience store at 1348 New State Highway.
Watch the complete Town Meeting courtesy of the Raynham Channel.
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