UPDATE: This report was updated at 9:30 am on May 22 to correct transposed numbers tied to funds applied to the revaluation; and clarifying the account that would receive any added state reimbursements for the Sandy Hook School construction project.

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It had been two years and three days since a devastating tornado force macroburst swept through Newtown and Sandy Hook causing millions of dollars in damage and paralyzing the community for days with closed roads and power outages. But on May 18, 2020, the Board of Selectmen finally completed allocating $2,001,532 in FEMA disaster reimbursements that were distributed to the town just over a month ago.

Allocations were authorized in three blocks: increasing the estimated revenue in the municipal Fund Balance account by $997,175; increasing an appropriation to the town Capital & Non-recurring fund in the amount of $922,175; and transferring $75,000 to supplement the cost of furniture and fixtures installed prior to the opening of the new community center last spring that were initially paid for from a special community center fund.

The amount the selectmen authorized to transfer into the Capital & Non-recurring fund either covered the cost of items committed to various departments before the 2018 macroburst that were not purchased because those funds were diverted to storm cleanup, or were applied to items the selectmen had previously promised to fund from the FEMA allocation.

The amount of $922,175 was originally designated to cover the following expenses:

* $125,000 for capital road improvements

*$126,000 Fire turn out gear/air packs

*$135,000 Public Works over the rail tractor/mower replacement (1988)

*$ 75,000 Fairfield Hills campus safety improvements

*$ 20,000 Library IT equipment

*$100,000 Assessor 2021 statistical revaluation (estimated total = $175,000)

*$251,175 Sandy Hook School project close out amount (amount state did not fund)

*$ 90,000 IT – upgrade firewall and HP main switch

However, during the Monday meeting, First Selectman Dan Rosenthal reported that the Fairfield Hills allocation had since been adjusted downward to $49,000. So a motion was made and passed to shift the difference to the 2022 revaluation, bringing that account up to $126,000 and leaving only a $49,000 balance.

Rosenthal later told The Newtown Bee that he expected to close out that outstanding balance from another surplus line by the end of this fiscal year, so none of the reval expense would accrue to taxpayers over the next two budget cycles.

In regard to the Sandy Hook School expenditure, Rosenthal explained that the amount would be applied to close out the project. Initially, Rosenthal explained, the expense tied to improving the entry driveway to the school was earmarked for payment from the state building grant. But the town learned later that the expense was not reimbursed under the grant.

He said while the town works with State Senator Tony Hwang (R-28) to recoup that promised reimbursement, there was an opportunity to use part of the FEMA money to close out accounting on the project.

“If we end up getting that money from the state, it will just revert to the debt service account,” Rosenthal said.

Regarding the Fairfield Hills adjustment, the first selectmen told his colleagues that instead of installing 6,600 linear feet of fencing around unoccupied campus buildings to secure them, the Fairfield Hills Authority will seal the buildings and only repair fences around structures that pose a danger due to falling exterior bricks and cornice pieces.

A second 2019-20 budget amendment involved increasing the estimated revenue in the fund balance account by $700,000, and then using that $700,000 to reinstate shortfalls the Legislative Council previously made in the 2020-21 budget.

The capital amounts reduced by the Legislative Council in the 2020-21 budget process were: Police $45,000; Fire $42,125; Highway $68,000 Public Building Maintenance $37,000; Parks & Recreation $56,875; and Board of Education $450,000.

All related motions were unanimously agreed upon by Rosenthal and Selectmen Jeff Capeci and Maureen Crick Owen. The distributions will now go to the Board of Finance and the council for approvals.