By Alex Malm
During the Tuesday, June 20, School Board meeting, discussions took place on what projects should be considered as part of the town’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).
“The preparation and adoption of a CIP is an important part of Londonderry’s planning process,” Business Administrator, Lisa McKenney, said. “A CIP aims to recognize and resolve deficiencies in existing public facilities and anticipate and plan for future demand for capital facilities.”
McKenney said the four projects that they were recommending included Phase I of the Moose Hill project expansion, which would help to address problems with overcrowding.
The second project would be Phase II of the project, which would be to expand the building to accommodate all day kindergarten.
In addition, it was also discussed sending a proposal for a new district office building along with the high school addition and renovation project.
McKenney explained that the proposed projects from the school district along with the ones from the town gets reviewed and scored by members of the CIP Committee who then make a recommendation to the Planning Board for what should be considered as part of the plan.
“The Londonderry Planning Board is charged under RSA 674:5 with the preparation of the annual Capital Improvements Plan with the assistance of the CIP committee. The CIP is adopted by the Planning Board and is advisory to the Budget Committee, Town Council and School Board,” McKenney said.
McKenney stated that the CIP is ultimately a way for the town to prepare for different potential projects and for the community to get a sense of what may be proposed.
“A CIP is a multi-year schedule that lays out a series of municipal projects and their associated costs,” McKenney said. “It covers a six-year period to show how the town should plan to expand or renovate facilities and services to meet the demands of existing or new population and businesses.”
McKenney noted that the CIP is ultimately advisory.
“A CIP is purely advisory in nature. Ultimate funding decisions are subject to the budgeting process and the annual town meeting,” McKenney said.
It was also noted by McKenney that the CIP Commitee sending projects to the Planning Board for review doesn’t mean they are endorsing the project.
“Inclusion of any given project in the CIP does not constitute an endorsement by the CIP Committee,”McKenney said. “Rather, the CIP Committee is bringing Department project requests to the attention of the town, along with recommended priorities, in the hope of facilitating decision making by the town.”
The School Board approved sending the projects forward for the CIP to consider.
The next School Board meeting is slated to take place on July 18 at 7 p.m.