EPPING — Selectmen are launching their own investigation into the school board's decision to spend part of an $800,000 surplus on items that weren't in this year's school budget, saying school spending is out of control and that all of the money should have been returned to taxpayers.

Last week's vote has pit a majority of selectmen against the school board after Selectmen Dianne Gilbert and Karen Falcone recently began questioning the school board's spending.

Selectmen plan to ask Local Government Center, a nonprofit organization that assists its member towns and cities, to research to see whether the school board has the authority to spend surplus money on projects that weren't part of the budget.

If questions linger after receiving an opinion from LGC, selectmen plan to seek the advice of the town's attorney.

Selectman Jim McGeough is the only board member opposed to the inquiry, arguing his board is overstepping its bounds.

At a special selectmen's meeting last Thursday, budget committee Chairman Tom Dwyer accused Gilbert and Falcone of attempting to use public money to fund an investigation to satisfy their “personal opinions.”

Gilbert responded by saying that a majority of selectmen could have voted against the inquiry, insisting, “We have a responsibility to oversee the provincial affairs of the people, and if returning a dollar or more to them on their tax rate is not part of our business, then I don't know what is.”

Selectman Robert Jordan said several residents have complained to him about the school's decision to spend the surplus funds, including one man who has put his house on the market and is moving to Maine because he can't afford his taxes.

The school board agreed in early June to use nearly $350,000 of the $800,000 surplus on projects that included upgrades to the phone system at the elementary school, outside lighting on a flagpole, the purchase of fire-proof filing cabinets for the nurse's office, and improvements to address a moisture problem in an elementary school classroom floor, safety issues with playground equipment, and problems with an air handling system at the school administrative office building.

In the wake of complaints, the school board held a meeting Friday and decided not to fund the playground and air handling improvements. The board also agreed not to add new storage units at the high school.

Removing the three projects will save the district about $125,000, according to school board member Gregory Dodge, who also serves as town administrator.

The surplus money not spent will be used to reduce the tax rate, officials said.

Not all selectmen feel they should be investigating school spending.

McGeough — the only one in opposition — said he fears it will start a “war” between the town and school and that the ones who will gain are lawyers who could charge thousands in unnecessary legal fees.

“My argument is this: We as a board are elected officials. The school board is elected officials. I do not believe that we have the right to go in and step on them. It's the same as if they wanted to come in and know what we're doing with our budgets,” McGeough said, adding that he would rather see the school board, budget committee and selectmen sit down in September to work together as the new budget planning begins.

The selectmen's inquiry also didn't sit well with school board Chairman David Mylott.

“I'm just very concerned that we're going down a very ugly path,” he told selectmen.

jschreiber@newstote.com