City Council Shuts Out Assabet Representatives

The City Council declined to meet with representatives from Assabet Valley Technical High School to discuss .

“We’re going to end up paying for this,” said City Councilor Edward Clancy of the fees that would be spread among the seven sending communities. “Do what you please, but it is going to come back to haunt us. They save us a lot of money on a regular basis.”

In a letter, Chair of the Building Committee Lynn Ryan asked for the opportunity to meet with the council or a subcommittee to discuss fees for the $62.4 million renovation. She stated the approximate $433,000 in fees would eat up the majority of a $522,659 contingency account or the project.

"Please allow us to meet with you or a sub-committee to provide pertinent information that was not weighed into your decision," she wrote the council.

A verbal agreement was made for a waiving of inspection fees by former Mayor Nancy Stevens and the former building inspector Stephen Reid. The council voted to charge those fees to the school district at a previous meeting.

Clancy, who is Marlborough's representative on the building committee, spoke in favor of having a meeting. He explained they wanted to be able to come down and reason with the council.

“They’re asking to come in and talk to us, that is all. You can still turn them down," said Clancy who was supported in his position by councilor Mark Oram. “At least give them the courtesy of letting them come in and sit down with us."

When it came to a vote, they were the only councilors in favor of a discussion. Other councilors said they did not see the point of any further discussion on the matter, that it was an agreement that the Marlborough officials had no power to make and that they were fees that are only waived for city of Marlborough projects.

“The facts are the facts. They made a bad assumption," said City Councilor Michael Ossing. “This isn’t slamming the school."

As it stands, the fees would be split among the seven sending towns and cities that include the communities of Berlin, Hudson, Marlborough, Maynard, Northborough Southborough and Westborough.