Date: Fri 12-Jun-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

capital-Blawie-list

Full Text:

The "Blawie List" Forecasts Big Expenses For Newtown

BY STEVE BIGHAM

The town has had some big bills over the past couple of years. There's the $28

million it spent for renovation work at the high school, the $4 million for an

addition to the library, Hawley School, sewers...

These projects must still be paid for, though. In addition, there are numerous

significant projects still on the drawing boards and that has town officials

somewhat worried. The town's growing pains are being felt more and more these

days and the issue was the theme of Monday night's meeting of the Legislative

Council's finance committee.

"This is a lot of money when you consider how much the town has spent in

recent years," noted committee member Karen Blawie.

The Legislative Council member recently compiled a list of items that may very

well end up costing the town many millions over the next four years. The list,

affectionately being referred to as the "Blawie List," totals $40 million.

While many of the items on the list are far from ever being approved, they

remain "out there."

"It's basically made up of Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) items, plus I added

a few other expensive items," she said.

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal called the list a bit premature since many of

these items are simply part of a "wish list."

"It scares people because they don't know what is real and what is not real,"

he said.

There is currently no official CIP, Finance Director Ben Spragg added. He

suggested the council reconvene to determine where the town currently stands.

Now, more than ever, council members say they need to be pro-active instead of

reactive.

Topping the "Blawie List" is a municipal center, which some council members

feel may be necessary. She figures that could cost $5-6 million. Mr Rosenthal

said a municipal center is a long shot. He's in favor of fixing up Town Hall

South. That could cost less than a million dollars, at least it was when it

was first proposed, and later turned down, two years ago. There is also talk

of an addition to Edmond Town Hall.

The "Blawie List" also includes a new firehouse for the Hook & Ladder Fire

Company, which had its floor deemed unsafe just last week. That might cost

more than $3 million, Mrs Blawie said. Mr Rosenthal says otherwise. In fact,

he believes Hook & Ladder may have to eventually build its own station, like

the other departments.

The "Blawie List" also includes the state-owned Queen Street houses and

property on the edge of Fairfield Hills, which were recently offered to the

town. That cost would likely be well into the millions by the time all is said

and done, but Mr Rosenthal isn't sure the town is even interested.

"We might buy a couple, but I don't know if we would consider buying any more

than that," he said.

Of course, the list also includes a new $22 million school, which the Board of

Education is currently proposing for fifth and sixth-grade students. If ever

approved, the school is projected to cost the town about $15 million, after a

$7 million state reimbursement.

Other items on the "Blawie List" include GIS mapping ($600,000), borough

sidewalks ($100,000), Dickinson Park tennis courts ($100,000), a sports

complex at Fairfield Hills ($612,000), next year's statistical revaluation

($250,000), three new fire trucks (totaling $700,000), police and fire radio

system ($1.3 million), fire department pagers ($650,000), Head O' Meadow

School kindergarten room renovation ($800,000). The list also includes the R.

Scudder Smith property at the intersection of Main and Sugar streets. That

price was undisclosed.

"I believe we need all of the above, but we're maxed out for bonding," Mrs

Blawie said.

I didn't know Mrs Blawie was such a big spender," Mr Rosenthal joked.

"This only takes us through our needs for the year 2001-2002," Mrs Blawie

said.

What comes after that? Only time will tell.