Selectmen Review $8.6M

Capital Spending Plan

By John Voket

The Board of Selectmen formally received the latest Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) outlining large-scale municipal spending proposals for the 2008 through 2012 fiscal years. The package, presented at the August 20 meeting of the selectmen, represents an estimated $8.575 million in spending, of which approximately $6.26 million in proposed bonding may result.

A companion plan representing about $100 million in added spending is tendered separately by the school district.

The municipal proposal encompasses a $2 million infusion to the town’s capital road program, but that spending is not requested until the 2012-2013 fiscal cycle. That long-range program, which is handled through the Highway Department, aims at resurfacing and reengineering certain town roadways, as well as installing or replacing drainage systems and improving or replacing local bridges.

That proposed expenditure is one of two CIP entries that is expected to come exclusively from general fund dollars instead of through bonding. The other is the next round of assessor’s office revaluations, which are scheduled to get started in 2011.

The expected capital expenditure for the next townwide assessment of residential and commercial properties is in the CIP at $315,000. A current revaluation program recently completed its field stage with new assessments expected to be issued on the July 1, 2008, tax bills.

Selectmen were pleased to see an Edmond Town Hall kitchen renovation project, formerly proposed at a half-million dollars, has been reduced by nearly half in the 2008-2009 CIP. First Selectman Herb Rosenthal told fellow Selectmen Joseph Bojnowski and William Brimmer, Jr, that one member of the facility’s Board of Managers, James Juliano, had been doing a lot of the kitchen improvement work himself.

“Jim did so much work himself that it brought the anticipated cost down from $500,000,” Mr Rosenthal said.

Mr Brimmer recognized the need to make the kitchen fully functional, no matter what tenants occupy the facility after town offices relocate to the new Fairfield Hills government center.

“The condition it is in now, we can’t fully utilize it,” Mr Brimmer said.

“It really needs an overhaul,” Mr Rosenthal added.

Town Hall managers estimate that upgrading the kitchen, located off the second floor Alexandria Room, to current code and replacing appliances could add many years of use to the facility, along with making the room much more attractive for catering and private rentals.

“Currently, anyone who rents the Alexandria Room has to bring in all their catering precooked because they can’t prepare food in the kitchen,” Mr Rosenthal said. The proposal includes about $50,000–$60,000 for new equipment with the balance budgeted for labor.

Parks & Rec Requests

The Parks and Recreation Department’s CIP requests add up to $3.5 million over the five years of proposed spending. Among the projects are $700,000 in interior renovations to the department’s maintenance facility, located in the former Fairfield Hills fire station at Trades Lane and Wasserman Way.

The project would include creating a repair and maintenance shop, an office, a break room, locker and bathrooms, storage, and vehicle parking space with floor drainage. That expenditure is requested in the next fiscal cycle.

One year later, a roof replacement to the same facility is included at $825,000. The roof replacement combined with interior work is expected to bring the facility up to current code, eliminate ongoing damage being done by water leaks, as well as helping accommodate the 12 department employees.

A half-million-dollar replacement of the FunSpace playground facilities is being pitched for 2009, with $620,000 in infrastructure improvements at Dickinson requested in 2010. The next year, parks officials are seeking $425,000 for similar infrastructure work at Treadwell Park.

Parks and Recreation Department Director Barbara Kasbarian indicated that the wooden FunSpace no longer meets playground safety standards and provides no opportunities for disabled children. The plan, labeled as “urgent,” would include complete removal of the existing equipment.

The Dickinson work would involve repairing five tennis courts that are “becoming unsafe for play.” Renovations to the “dilapidated” parking lot and an extension of the existing water line to service bathrooms and fountains are included. Ms Kasbarian noted that the only alternative to these improvements is closing the facilities until funds are available.

Similar concerns arise at the Treadwell tennis facilities and basketball courts. Plans to distribute city water is also included to eliminate dependence on wells.

In the final CIP cycle, the Parks and Recreation Department is seeking $430,000 to renovate the Treadwell pool building and bath house. That project would involve updating fixtures, plumbing, electric, and ventilation systems, reconfiguring the interior to meet current codes, and creating exterior access to bathrooms if the pool is closed.

Police Needs Assessment

The Newtown Police Department’s two requests add up to $2.5 million. A $300,000 proposal for the 2010 fiscal year targets a upgrade to digital communications equipment (see related story) and $2.2 million for building improvements and renovations slated for the 2008-2009 budget year.

According to documentation provided by Chief Michael Kehoe, this urgent status proposal also incorporates code compliance in the 3 Main Street facility, also known as Town Hall South. That building also currently houses Borough of Newtown offices, the Social Services Department, and Parks and Recreation administration offices, along with assessor’s storage.

The proposal includes $200,000 for architectural and engineering fees, a space needs assessment and appropriate recommendations, along with $2 million for construction. Presumably, if the architectural review indicates further renovations would be impractical, the $2 million may be reallocated toward construction of a new facility.

For some time, local officials, including Selectman Brimmer, have debated relocating the police headquarters to Fairfield Hills. The current facility is a former retail farm and garden supply store that was purchased by the town and renovated into the current police station.