New elementary in Portland, Maine, back on track
Apr 11, 2008 11:19 AM
Three city council members in Portland, Maine, say they will change
their votes and support a plan to build a $19.6 million state-funded elementary
school. The three acted after increasing pressure from community members. Mayor
Edward Suslovic and Councilors David Marshall and Kevin Donoghue will ask the
council to reconsider the matter and vote again on April 18. The new school
would replace the aging Clifford Elementary School. The plan to borrow
$19.6 million to build the new school garnered six of nine city council votes
earlier this week, but needed seven votes for approval. The state will reimburse
the city for the cost of the project.
Click here to read
The Portland Press-Herald article.
EARLIER: Officials in Portland, Maine, are putting pressure on three city
council members whose votes effectively killed a proposal to build a new
elementary school with $19.6 million in state aid. The city council voted 6-3 to
borrow the money, but it needed seven votes to pass. The state would have
reimbursed the money. City officials have been planning for the project for
three years and had planned to hold a referendum on the school project on June
10. The new school would be built where the former Baxter Elementary School
stands. It would replace the Clifford Elementary School, which would close.
Council members who opposed the project faulted the process that was used to
determine whether Clifford should close and argued that the school district
lacks a comprehensive facilities plan.
Click here to read
the Maine Today article.
