Private school seeks tax break in Richmond 
 By Brian Quinlan 
 The Sun Staff 
  RICHMOND – Supporters of the Meadowbrook-Waldorf School packed Town Council chambers Tuesday night to urge the Town Council to exempt the new school from real and personal property taxes.
  But the council did not give its answer as quickly as some would have liked.
  
  
After a nearly 40-minute presenta­tion from the school’s administrator, Charlotte O’Brien, and the school’s treasurer, David Cann, councilors said they needed a policy on tax exemptions – and would hold a workshop to form one.
  The Meadowbrook-Waldorf School is currently located in West Greenwich and offers an alternative education for 

students ages pre-school through middle school. The school — which is part of a national association of Waldorf schools — will be moving into its newer loca­tion on Route 138 in Richmond shortly, and O’Brien said the facility is entitled to tax exemptions.
  O’Brien said she was “dis­appointed” the council did­n’t decide in their favor sooner, but added that school supporters would be present for any workshop.
  O’Brien said the full amount of taxes on the school’s land could be between $30,000 and $35,000. She noted that the average teacher at the school makes less than $30,000.
  “It is very clear that this would be a positive impact to the town of Richmond,” said O’Brien said.
  She also said that more than a dozen students from Richmond attended the school, and that saves the town a great deal of money each year. Further, she said, the school’s staff would add to the communi­ty through events and pub­lic service.
  Cann stressed to coun­cilors that the land on which the school has been built was owned by the Millar family, who has rela­tives in the school. The land was donated to the school for this purpose, he said, and was never going to be developed as commer­cial land.
  “This was land that was never going to be a cash cow for the town,” said O’Brien. “It was never going to be developed.”
  Further, he said the plot has a deed restriction on it that will make sure it stays a school permanently.
  

What’s more, he said the school would enrich the community and bring more people into the area to shop and buy food without put­ting a strain on services.
  He said that at the current Meadowbrook school, the police have only made one visit and the fire depart­ment has only made two visits in a matter of years.
  “It’s our impression that our use of town services will be relatively minimal,” he said.
  Councilors all seemed to agree that it was appropri­ate to give the school some sort of a tax break.
  Councilor Eric Davis said there is “no doubt” the school will benefit Richmond.
  “But that’s how towns run,” said Davis. “Everyone contributes a portion. I’m not against some break, but we don’t have a formu­la to know how.”
  Council President B. Joseph Reddish said he wants to give the council time to “digest” the matter.
  “We need a policy to go forward,” he said. “If you could bare with the council, hopefully within 30 to 45 days, we’ll know how” to proceed.
  But O’Brien said it was clear that the school deserves the tax break and that she wouldn’t be satis­fied until the school gets the aid it needs. She noted that it costs less than $10,000 to attend the school, a figure she said is far less than most private schools. O’Brien also said the school works with fami­lies to help them afford the education if they want it. If the town doesn’t approve the tax break, she said it could make it more difficult to help low or moderate income families afford the school.
  “We have shown that we meet the criteria of a school and need a tax break,” she said. “Still, we understand the need for a policy and we’ll be happy to participate in the discus­sion. 
 bquinlan@thewesterlysun.com