The Templeton Advisory Committee on Wednesday reviewed Article 7, a Narragansett Regional School District debt‑exclusion request to fund roof replacement and related repairs.

Presenters said the amount printed on the warrant was a placeholder and that a corrected figure — $10,000,008.64 — will be offered as a substitute motion on the town floor. “The language you just read is incorrect,” presenter Dr. Casavan said, adding that the form of the motion will be amended to authorize the district to borrow, rather than to place the loan directly on the town.

The presenters described schematic‑design findings and a contractor inspection that identified roughly 36 leak locations and localized brick and flashing failures; they said there is not yet evidence of structural failure to primary beams. The MSBA reviewed the project and, on Oct. 29, approved it with an estimated maximum facilities reimbursement rate of 59 percent, the presenters said. They removed proposed solar panels from the MSBA scope because panel equipment is not reimbursable through the MSBA and added that the new roof will be made “solar ready.”

Presenters gave a numerical breakdown showing an estimated MSBA grant and a remaining local share apportioned to the two member towns under the regional 85/15 formula. They said Templeton’s approximate assessed share of the net (post‑grant) cost would be the larger portion (about 85 percent) and Phillipston would be assessed the smaller share (about 15 percent). The project will require short‑term borrowing while work is underway because state reimbursement is made on a drawdown schedule; the district will convert short‑term debt to a longer bond once construction is complete.

Committee members pressed presenters on timing and on the still‑outstanding regional agreement between member towns. Presenters said the MSBA action triggered a statutory clock; they reported a January 27 deadline to preserve eligibility and warned that the schedule is tight. They also noted the project will require separate town votes: both member towns must approve the debt‑exclusion ballot question at the local level.

The committee recorded its advisory recommendation before adjourning (see “Votes at a glance” below).