By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

NAPLES — Naples voters saw fit to cover the cost of two items that were separated from the proposed budget and presented to the public as stand-alone budgetary warrant articles. 

The Naples Budget Committee did not include in the proposed 2022-23 budget the requests for heat pumps in the museum ($25,600) or an engineer’s study of fire suppression system water tanks ($30,000).

The majority of residents at Naples Annual Town Meeting decided to set aside money for those two requests.

It wasn’t exactly a landslide though. 

The vote for the heat pumps was 27-26 with one person abstaining. Meanwhile, residents supported the water tank study, 34-16, with three abstentions.  

Fifty-five people registered to vote at annual town meeting, which was held in the theater of the Lake Region High School (LRHS) on April 28.

Those 55 voters who attended town meeting approved the $13.8 million budget, and added another $55,600 by okaying the stand-alone budget items. 

According to the budget summary sheet, paperwork which accompanied the warrant articles, the tax rate would be $13.37. However, the tax rate will be readjusted this autumn after the Town of Naples wraps up a property revaluation. 

This year was the first time that Naples residents used clickers to vote. Those handheld clickers were attached to a computer system. A screen on stage allowed people to see how many people voted yes or no by recording those votes in columns. 

This system allowed the voting process to happen much faster than in years’ past. That — coupled with many ordinance-related items being saved for the Primary Election in June — expedited the meeting. Itended up being slight more than an hour.

The questions were fairly minimal regarding the main budget. There was more discussion regarding the stand-alone budgetary items, which came up for vote at the end of the meeting. 

WATER TANK STUDY

Resident Ed Cash explained why the engineer’s report was needed.

Basically, in order for the town to access grants to help with the cost of replacing the water tanks used in fire-fighting, an engineer’s study is required, he said. 

“The tanks came from Jim Sisco. We are talking 35-to 40-year-old tanks. I don’t think they are going to last much longer,” Cash said. “We have an obligation to replace the system.”

Jim Turpin explained why the budget committee didn’t vote in favor for this.

“It is clear that the fire department needs attention on new tanks, and it also needs a new well,” Turpin said. 

He said that not only does the existing water suppression pipe not have enough pressure but also the cost to expand to the residential areas is very pricy. 

“As Ed [Cash] mentioned once we have the study in place, the powers that be are able to apply for matching grants, so none of this free,” Turpin said. “Is this how we want the money spent?”

Resident George Klauber spoke, beginning with, “I respectfully disagree with Jim Turpin.”

“It is not uncommon that commercial and industrial are covered with hydrants, and the residential are not. The thought of expanding [to residential] is far-fetched,” Klauber said. “But we need to look at the commercial area, below the fire station. And, if those tanks go,” the town’s fire-fighting abilities would be compromised. 

“We need to protect what we have,” he said.  

“There are many opportunities to apply for grants that would help this type of project. But it not going to happen unless we do the study. I hope the people here are listening and support the project,” Klauber said. 

HEAT PUMPS FOR MUSEUM 

Chairman Jim Grattelo explained to the voters on April 28 why the budget committee put the cost of heat pumps for the Naples Historical Museum & Visitors Center as an item separate from the budget. 

“The budget committee was concernedthat heat pumps would not solve the humidity problem. There are other alternatives than buying heat pumps to help with the humidity. The budget committee felt there were other options,” Grattelo said.  

Reducing humidity is a by-product of a heat pump, he said.

Selectman Colin Brackett said the expert from Dave’s World “presented the heat pumps to us as addressing both the heat and the humidity issue in museum. The radiant heat in the floor did not provide enough heat” during the winter. 

Turpin said the humidity was only a problem during the summer.

“There are more cost-effective ways to resolve humidity than to spend $30,000,” Turpin said. 

Brenda Leo, who operates the visitors’ center stepped to the microphone. She said that nobody assisted the staff when they asked two years ago for help finding a way to reduce the humidity to protect the artifacts in the museum.

“We don’t know any other alternative. It would cost more money to just get a study done. The heat system is 10 years old. We are not saying the heat is no good,” she said. “No one helped us when we asked two years ago.”

“The heat pump can go two ways: heating and reducing humidity. It is green energy — not using fossil fuels,” Leo said. 

Selectman Bob Caron II told voters, “This would appropriate the funds. But, we would still have to go out to bid.”