By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

NAPLES — Despite the sticker shock experienced by some selectmen, the game plan is to move forward with a schematic plan for the proposed Naples town office and community center. 

By requesting the engineering firm to come up with these plans and drawings, the Naples Board of Selectmen agreed to spend $95,000. That will give the residents, the voters, something specific to review prior to voting on it at annual town meeting next summer. 

The cost estimate, which was completed four weeks ago, is $8.4 million for a 19,200 square-foot town hall and community center. To retain a space for the U.S. Post Office, which would require 3,800 square feet plus the community center and town office, would cost the town $9.8 million. 

While those million-dollar numbers might sound overwhelming, it boils down to the impact on the mil rate. 

The mil rate would go up 75 cents, according to Naples Town Manager John Hawley.

“Based on today’s current mil rate, a $10 million bond for 10 years, it would be almost three-quarter of a mil increase. It would be 75 cents on the mil rate if there were no other increases in the budget,” Hawley said. 

Many residents spoke in favor of going forward with the next phase.

Resident Joe Kellogg sat on the Naples Community Center Exploratory Committee.  

“The job of a town government is not to keep taxes low. People have government to provide services. It’s a terrible number we agree with that. Bob (Caron) told us there might be monies. Maybe TIFF could come into this,” Kellogg said.   

“This will be 75 cents increase of the mil rate so people know. They can go home and figure out their taxes,” he said.

“People need the opportunity to hear all those pros and cons like we did for a few years,” he said.

Another committee member, Deb Dean, spoke. 

“You keep saying people have been calling you and saying they are against it, but do they use the facility,” she said. “That aggravates me. I don’t know how the public got the figures.”

Some board members had received phone calls, others had been approached in person, and some comments appeared on Facebook. 

“I have been up here for 18 years. I don’t think my taxes have gone up in 18 years. We are getting a whole town facility. It is money well spent. The sooner the better, it isn’t going to get cheaper. As a taxpayer, I am all for it,” Dean said. 

Selectman Bob Caron II, who is the chairman of the Naples Community Center Exploratory Committee, began the discussion, saying that the topic was on the agenda “to talk about rumors people have been hearing about the proposed community center [and] town hall.”

Harriman Associates, based in Auburn, provided a less expensive option, offering a price estimate for a blueprint without space for the post office. The cost is $1.7 million less without the post office. 

Caron talked about how dire the need is — the gym roof is failing and the electrical system is maxed out. 

“Last month, we had more of the roof drop down in the gym. This is fourth winter that we have tarped the roof,” he said.  

If the roof gets to the point that the gym has to be shut down from the public, that shuts down the recreational programs for youth, the food pantry, the yoga and Zumba classes, Caron said. 

On the flip side, if there is more room there could be more services for the residents, he said.

“The cost — it is important to our tax payers and what they can afford. We cannot expand our services here from recreation department unless we have space,” he said. 

“It is a high price tag. Will it drop in the next 5 to 6 months,” Caron said. “The board has to decide what we are going to do. We are running out of time.”

Grattelo spoke. 

“We are going to have to replace the gym,” he said. “The question is do the citizens of Naples have the stomach to spend that amount?”

Selectman Ted Shane took the floor.

“I am I favor of the next step,” he began. 

“These numbers are a little high. It is worth $1.7 million to get the post office here. Will we ever get it back in what they pay for rent?”

There was a resounding No in the room. 

“I think we owe it to the taxpayers. We have gone this far. We need to see what the cost is,” Shane said.