Clarifying The Community Center Plan <font size="3">By Kinga Walsh</font>
To the Editor:
Thank you, Newtown residents, for engaging in the process to date on the community center proposal. We are glad to see so many residents actively participating in discussions and making an effort to clearly understand what the proposal includes.ÃÂ There are, however, continued misconceptions and misinformation circulating through town, which we intend to clarify.
Last week, Newtown's elected officials approved the NCCC's community center proposal. It states that the community center or "hub" will be made up of a main building of up to 18,000 square feet that includes a large, entry/common area, modular/multi-purpose rooms, and a large "great room" for events, arts, and gatherings. The only dedicated space is to be for the Legacy Foundations.
Along with this, the community center will have a pool area including a 50-meter, eight-lane pool with a bulkhead as well as a zero-entry pool. It also included necessary areas such as rest rooms, storage, locker rooms to name a few.ÃÂ Any and all future expansion plans to be done upfront to minimize costs.ÃÂ The total estimated project cost is $15,000,000 and will be funded through the portion of the GE gift specified for construction ($10,000,000) and $5,000,000 in town bonds.ÃÂ Additionally, the NCCC approved a feasibility study for the pool as well as a future, possible ice rink.
Approval of the funding will be through a referendum vote on April 5, 2016 from 6 am-8 pm at the Newtown Middle School. It will ask residents to vote Yes or No on the requested $14,550,000, which is the balance of the GE gift specified for construction ($9,550,000 because $450,000 was already appropriated in 2015) plus $5,000,000 in town bonds.
The other portion of the GE gift ($1 million per year for five years totaling $5,000,000) is to help cover/alleviate operational costs. It is not part of the total project or construction cost and does not have to go to referendum for approval according to the first selectman during various meetings over the course of the commission's work.
Please stay informed and read the proposal that includes all the support documentation.ÃÂ Go to http://newtown-ct.gov/Public_Documents/NCCC%20Final%20Rpt%203-4-16b.pdf
The NCCC strongly believes that the commission's charge has been met. We adhered to GE's intent with their donation (doesn't exist today, acts as anchor, build new, serves needs of all residents [as best as possible], doesn't duplicate existing services/facilities), provided a final proposal reflective of the majority of town residents, and above all, never lost sight of how a center could potentially be a place our community could come together to heal.
We firmly believe the Community Center will be a bright spot in Newtown and will be a hub to help bring this expansive town together.
If you have further questions/concerns, please email the commission at newtowncommunitycenter@gmail.com
Regards,
Kinga Walsh
Newtown Community Center Commission
PR/Communications Sub-Committee
21 Horseshoe Ridge Road, Sandy Hook ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ March 9, 2016