Temple residents will vote on ConVal withdrawal study

The Town of Temple has joined the ranks of those exploring the prospect of leaving the ConVal School District. A petition warrant article has garnered the necessary signatures to put before the voters the question of whether Temple should “initiate a feasibility study of Temple’s withdrawal” from the district. 

The petition warrant article was signed by 32 residents, and at Tuesday’s Select Board meeting, the board declined to recommend or not recommend the article.   

The board did vote to recommend an article proposing that $24,000 be spent to resurface town basketball and tennis courts. Board Chair Bill Ezell questioned the request, asking, “How many people in town still play tennis?” adding that “It will be a hot topic at Town Meeting.” 

The board also recommended a warrant article that would approve $17,000 for Mansfield Public Library to update its HVAC system. Board member Ken Cassie said that this figure seemed high, adding that “If they don’t get an actual quote for the work, there should be a $17,000 cap on the project.”

Another warrant article the board recommended was for $15,800 to update the town’s tax mapping with a a geographic information system.

Two warrant articles proposed opposing plans for the town’s Highway Department facilities. One article requests raising $315,856 for improving the town’s highway garage, while another one proposes discontinuing the Highway Department Building and Construction Expendable Capital Reserve Fund. The fund had $277,767 at the end of 2024, and the article asks the the fund go into Temple’s General Fund.