A new site for the Highway Department in Temple has been approved. 

According to former Temple Road Agent Tim Fiske, a new Highway Department building will cost a minimum of $700,000 to build and it will be accessible via Route 45. Fiske said building on the site of the current department poses serious environmental and public health concerns, including the possibility of oil spills contaminating nearby private water wells. 

Therefore, he said funding a new department on the current site is costly, unnecessary and potentially dangerous for the town to invest in.

“It just doesn’t solve anything; it just makes everything more difficult,” said Fiske. “It’s really a poor idea.”

However, abutters of the proposed new location expressed concerns about a new facility being detrimental to their land.

“It’s going to affect our property value and quality of life severely,” said Bruce Kullgren.

However, other residents favored the proposal due to the poor and outdated condition of the current Highway Department, and the vote was 78-49 in favor.

“I believe moving it will help us meet state regulations. The current site is a mess,” said Chair of the Conservation Commission Scott Hecker. 

In other matters, the town approved 11 out of 13 articles, but did not pass the proposal to dedicate $15,000 for a new flagpole in the center of town and discontinue funding of the highway department and Construction Expendable Capital Reserve Fund. 

The town did vote in favor of allocating $26,000 for a new rescue truck and $31,000 for new alarm systems in municipal buildings such as the Town Hall, Mansfield Public Library and the highway garage. 

Additionally, the town approved the proposal to give veterans a $500 cut off their property value for tax benefits. 

Finally, Town Meeting also voted in favor of  placing a conservation easement on lot 7A-35, known as Schoolhouse Meadow, to permanently preserve its environmental integrity. 

Hecker said the positive outcome is a long time coming for him and the rest of the Conservation Commission.

“I’m really thrilled, we’ve been working on this for three or four years,” said Hecker. 

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