With a November ballot authorization heading to Hartford for approval by the Secretary of the State’s (SOTS) office, First Selectman Dan Rosenthal has continued to provide information to help local taxpayers understand the scope and background of the $15 million-plus proposal.

In the last significant step of a month-long series of meetings and actions, on August 29 the Legislative Council unanimously supported sending a ballot measure to voters on Election Day that would authorize bonding up to $14.8 million. In April of 2017, voters previously approved spending $300,000 for the design phase of the project.

During their special meeting August 29, the council additionally agreed to amend the town’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) to accommodate anticipated bonding that will be phased over a three-year cycle.

The CIP amendment that was previously endorsed by the Boards of Selectmen and Finance did not increase the proposed amount of spending for the project.

Details of the CIP amendment are as follows:

*In year 2018-19 the project titled “Building/LandPurchase/Remediation/Demolition/Infrastructure” was changed to “New Police Facility — Real Estate Acquisition/Design/Construction,” and the department changed from Fairfield Hills to Police.

*In year 2019-20 the project titled “Police Facility — Construction Phase” will be changed to “New Police Facility — Real Estate Acquisition/Design/Construction,” and the amount will be changed from $8,000,000 to $6,800,000.

*Finally, in year 2020-21 the project titled “Police Facility — Construction Phase” will be changed to “New Police Facility — Real Estate Acquisition/Design/Construction,” and the amount changed from $5,000,000 to $4,000,000.

Town Finance Director Robert Tait told The Newtown Bee that amending the CIP language related to the project needed to occur because, in part, the previous CIP included a $4 million earmark for the possible demolition of a building at Fairfield Hills.

“But since we located the existing commercial building and land at another location, we ended up actually reducing the total amount of spending for the project by $2.2 million,” he said. “So we needed to amended the CIP language and amounts to appropriately reflect the project.”

The Charter-stipulated Impact Statement for the project outlines that debt service costs for the total borrowing annually would be $1,221,000, although Mr Tait said he always looks for options to refund the bond at lower rates to further diminish the taxpayer burden.

As a result of purchasing the properties and buildings for the project at 191 South Main Street and 61 Pecks Lane for public use, the impact statement reflects that the town will also lose an estimated $92,619 in annual property taxes.

However, Mr Tait indicated that debt service impact for the project has been accounted for in the debt service forecast in the CIP process. Any tax loss can be offset by the eventual sale (if approved) of the existing police facility real estate.

Project Time Line

The first selectman came to the August 29 council meeting with some additional information detailing the timeline of the police headquarters development, which began following a 1999 facility needs assessment that recommended many necessary improvements for the existing facility at Town Hall South.

Two years later, a five-year analysis of the police department reinforced the need for a new headquarters, deeming the current facility “inadequate.” By 2008, the department had completed a space needs assessment, but it was not until 2015 that a Municipal Buildings Strategic Plan Advisory Committee recommended not renovating the current facility based on cost and other factors.

That recommendation escalated efforts to develop a new headquarters. Yet it took another nine years for the initiative to come before voters.

In April 2017, according to the first selectman’s documentation, voters approved $300,000 for new Police Department design process.

Four months later, design firm selection commenced.

On December 18 of last year, the Board of Selectmen approved Capital Improvement Plan (“CIP”) amending language related to $4 million in 2018/2019 for adding flexibility to purchase land with the following description: “To be used for eventual police facility site. Either for demolition and remediation of building on chosen site or the purchase of land and existing building. Along with any infrastructure improvements. Any excess funds can be used for Fairfield Hills demolition/remediation/infrastructure.”

The measure moved forward with a December 28 Board of Finance approval of that CIP, followed by a January 17 Legislative Council endorsement of that CIP language.

By February 5, selectmen voted to hire Kaestle Boos as the design firm, and the company immediately launched an updated space needs assessment. On March 19, selectmen voted to authorize the First Selectman to send a Letter of Intent to the owner of 191 South Main/61 Pecks Lane.

Within weeks, Kaestle Boos began a site review and concept design process involving three possible locations for the project — 3 Main Street (current site), Fairfield Hills, and 191 South Main.

On June 26, Kaestle Boos presented site review details to selectmen and recommended 191 South Main as the preferred location. The board subsequently approved 191 South Main as the site for new Police Department. Mr Rosenthal was authorized to negotiate and enter into a Purchase and Sale Agreement for the parcels involved pursuant to Section 8-05 of the Newtown Charter.

Fast-Moving Process

At this point, actions related to acquiring the properties and developing the project stepped up significantly and are detailed as follows:

July 16 — First Selectman reports to the finance board that selectmen made site selection. In addition, First Selectman notes timing to get project onto November ballot.

July 17 — 191 South Main building tour.

July 18 — First Selectman reports to Legislative Council that the Board of Selectmen made site selection. In addition, First Selectman notes timing to get project onto November ballot.

August 2 — Planning & Zoning (P&Z) amends zone for 191 South Main to include Municipal Buildings.

August 3 — First Selectman posts to website/social media and sends important meeting dates for project via e-mail to public signed up for News and Announcements, and The Newtown Bee runs story with upcoming meeting dates for project.

August 6 — Selectmen makes mandatory referral to P&Z under State Statute (CGS) 8-24 and Section 8-05 of Charter.

August 16 — P&Z approves project as part of CGS 8-24 and Section 8-05 of Charter.

August 20 — Following joint meeting of the Boards of Selectmen, Finance, and the Council, the selectmen amend the CIP, which includes a reduction in amount previously planned for and approves $14.8 million appropriation for purchase of 191 South Main and 61 Pecks Lane and for development and construction of new police facility.

August 21 — Town Bond Counsel, Robinson and Cole, responds to questions related to Amending CIP and reconciling Sections 6-35 and 8-05 of the Charter.

August 21 — Finance board amends Capital Improvement Plan and approves $14.8 million appropriation for purchase of 191 South Main and 61 Pecks Lane and for development and construction of new police facility.

August 24 — Finance Director sends Financial Impact Statement to Legislative Council chairman pursuant to 8-05 of the Charter.

August 28 — First Selectman sends property appraisal to Legislative Council chairman pursuant to 8-05 of the Charter.

Once the ballot language is approved by the SOTS, officials plan a comprehensive information and outreach campaign that will include scripting supplemental information to inform voters as well as likely open house activities and public tours of the proposed new headquarters site.