SOUTHAMPTON — To provide students with technology needed for state testing, voters at a special Town Meeting Tuesday approved the transfer of $80,000 for the purchase of 80 laptop computers and equipment for the William E. Norris School.
The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education announced last June a transition to statewide computer-based testing to coincide with roll out of its revamped Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System test.
By 2019, all students in Grades 3 through 8 will be expected to take the MCAS test digitally.
However, the transfer from the Capital Stabilization Fund is just the first half of funding needed for Norris School’s transition to computer-based testing. The total cost of equipping students with laptops will be $160,000 over two years.
For the Norris School, the town also voted to transfer $5,000 from free cash to conduct a traffic safety assessment due to problems and congestion during pick-up and drop-off hours at the school.
Among other articles on the warrant, Town Meeting approved the transfer of $5,000 from free cash to retain a consultant to assist with hiring a permanent town administrator.
Since November, Robert Markel, former mayor of Springfield, has been serving as interim town administrator.
The consultant would assist a screening committee in the recruiting process. The Select Board is seeking volunteers for the committee.
Other items approved included:
$30,000 for the removal of a 4,000-gallon gasoline storage tank. The warrant states the town was denied insurance coverage for the tank and the Department of Environmental Protection has mandated it be removed.
$46,000 for a new wood chipper, requested by the Highway Department to replace a 24-year-old model that has reached the end of its useful life.
$88,620 for the purchase of a brush truck for the Fire Department to replace the existing truck, which is a 1984 Army surplus model.
The money for each item would be transferred from the Operating and Capital stabilization funds.
A straw poll was conducted at the Town Meeting that determined there was support for a ballot question to permit plowing on private roads that are in public use. The question for the Town Election in May would seek the adoption of state enabling legislation for the measure in the interests of public safety and access by emergency vehicles.
However, a petition must be signed by 200 registered voters before the question is placed on the ballot.
The Select Board provided a draft letter for residents who have addresses that may be private ways that have been plowed previously by the town.
“Under the law, there are limitations upon the extent to which public funds may be expended by the Town of Southampton to snow plow private ways,” the letter states.
“The Southampton Select Board is currently considering whether any prior activities of the town in plowing private ways are consistent with those legal limitations.”
The letter provides the list compiled by the town clerk’s office of private roads, which include Bass Cove Right of Way, Wallace Road, Bissonnette Circle and Brickyard Extension.
The Select Board said the goal is to resolve the issue by July 1, and encouraged affected residents to attend the board’s March 22 meeting, scheduled for 6 p.m. at the William E. Norris School, 34 Pomeroy Road.
Caitlin Ashworth can be reached at cashworth@gazettenet.com.