In addition to our extensive print and online coverage of details leading up to the local budget referendum, The Newtown Bee is producing two live webcasts to help residents better understand the finer points of a couple of capital projects that are on the upcoming budget ballot for consideration — including one already partially funded.

Watch the first installment below:

On April 27, local taxpayers will be called to the polls to vote not only on the town and school district budget requests, but also on capital bonding authorizations for a $1.5 million gas boiler and LED lighting upgrade for the Reed Intermediate School; $3.7 million for the Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial; and $5,041,933 that represents the remaining balance on a local emergency radio and communications system upgrade.

Following an April 5 forum detailing the planned Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial that is now archived for viewing on The Newtown Bee’s Facebook site and YouTube channel, the next in our set of “Watch & Learn Before You Vote” Facebook Live webcasts will take place on Monday, April 12, at 5:30 pm.

This webcast will address specifics about the emergency radio system upgrade that will require voter authorization. Voters are being asked to authorize the balance because in 2020, under an executive order due to COVID-19, the Legislative Council authorized $2.5 million for the first phase of the $7.5 million improvement.

The funds authorized last year primarily paid for hardware and equipment that was necessary to order far in advance of the installation, which will commence later this year after the rest of the funding is okayed.

The April 12 webcast will open with brief remarks by First Selectman Dan Rosenthal, and guests will include:

*Sandy Hook Fire Chief and Newtown Emergency Management Director Bill Halstead;

*Newtown Emergency Communications Director Maureen Will; and

*Mark DeWolfe, a longtime local volunteer firefighter who assisted in developing the project.

Both webcasts are being moderated by Newtown Bee Associate Editor John Voket.

April 5 Webcast Recap

The first installment provided a quick-moving but information-packed opportunity for key individuals involved in the permanent memorial to detail their roles and give residents the latest information as the site is being readied for what will be an expansive garden with tree-lined walkways surrounding seating areas and a permanent water feature as its central focal point.

The panel for the April 5 webcast included First Selectman Dan Rosenthal; Newtown Public Building & Site Commission Chair Robert Mitchell; Permanent Memorial Commission Chair Daniel Krauss; designers Daniel Affleck and Ben Waldo of SWA Group, San Francisco; Tara Vincenta of Artemis Landscape Architects of Sandy Hook and Bridgeport; and construction manager Jeff Anderson from Downes Construction Company, New Britain.

After an official welcome by the first selectman and a few remarks about the challenges of right-sizing the project cost ahead of bonding for its completion, Krauss spent a few minutes reminding residents of the nearly seven-year mission of the appointed permanent memorial panel to identify a design concept and site, and to help qualify and select key design and construction partners.

Mitchell talked about the role he and the PBSC have played in shadowing the process, which began shortly after the decision was made to construct a memorial to the 20 children and six educators lost on 12/14. Anderson detailed how the construction manager’s work factored into the mix, and how Downes and virtually all the subcontracting services are proud and humbled to be part of this important memorial.

Affleck and Waldo tag teamed, reviewing their involvement and showing a detailed series of computer-generated renderings of the finished memorial, including a virtual walk-through that mirrored a future visitor’s experience arriving at and exploring the site.

Vincenta discussed her experience working on other complex outdoor landscape design projects involving similar topography, soil types, and native flora — and how she was bringing all that to the table as the local “boots on the ground” designer working in concert with Anderson, Mitchell, and the team from SWA Group.

Anyone with ideas for future webcast topics — or who wishes to submit questions in advance for the April 12 program — is asked to e-mail john@thebee.com. Webcast questions should be received by noon the day of the discussion.