The town’s plan for proposed capital projects is now set through 2028, as the Legislative Council put its seal of approval on the latest Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) at its January 4 meeting.

The 2023-24 to 2027-28 CIP was passed unanimously by council members after a round of questioning, mostly centered on a proposed HVAC project at Newtown Middle School.

Councilman Ryan Knapp expressed concern about Middle Gate School being prioritized behind Newtown Middle School for air conditioning.

“There’s at least some AC at the middle school,” said Knapp.

Councilman William DeRosa asked why an air quality study was not being presented to the council as part of the request for money in the CIP.

“If you’re asking for $8 million, you should present something that shows it’s a necessary expense,” said DeRosa. “It’s a big expense when it’s a small part of the year where it’s needed.”

Board of Education Head of Maintenance Bob Gerbert said a district assessment was done in 2002. Additionally, the state has now mandated that air quality assessments be done in schools every five years, and the district is moving forward to meet those requirements.

Council representative Michelle Embree Ku said that installing HVAC was not just about comfort, “even though that’s important to take into account.”

“The respiratory illnesses you see at this time of year are a huge indicator of needing quality ventilation systems,” said Ku.

Gerbert noted that the middle school has “limited HVAC,” with rooftops units in A wing and E wing, and a split duct into the cafeteria and media center. There are heating and ventilation systems in the cafeteria and two gyms. He said there had been complaints of mold growing in D wing.

Knapp said while the project was labeled HVAC in the CIP, it was a ventilation and air quality project. He questioned how the schools are currently doing ventilation when they use baseboard heat, adding that baseboard heat is not much different from splits as far as cooling goes.

Gerbert said that ventilation is reliant on windows and “what comes in naturally” in schools using baseboard heat. He agreed with Knapp that there are ways to address ventilation without a full ducting system.

“It’s something worth considering,” said Gerbert.

Year-To-Year Breakdown

The approved CIP includes the following projects each year, including both municipal and BOE projects:

In year one, the town will be bonding $600,000 for the bridge replacement program, $200,000 for an HVAC/electrical project at the multi-purpose building, $1.5 million for a roof replacement at the municipal center, $800,000 for an HVAC project at C.H. Booth Library, $600,000 of the total $1,085,000 cost for replacement of fire apparatus, $4 million for part three of an HVAC project at Hawley School, $600,000 for replacing condenser units at Head O’ Meadow School, $450,000 for design work on an HVAC project at Newtown Middle School, and $1.2 million for HVAC replacements in the B wing of Newtown High School.

The remainder of the fire apparatus cost will be from the Capital Non-Recurring Fund. Additionally, the town is planning $3.05 million in new spending from the General Fund on roads, and $200,000 for grant match from other sources, which will not be bonded. The total planned new bonding for the year is $13.735 million.

In year two, the town will be observing its plan to not do any new bonding every fifth year. While there are no new bonded projects for this year, the town plan still includes $3.1 million in new spending from the General Fund on roads, and $200,000 from other sources for grant matching.

In year three, the town will be bonding $600,000 for the bridge replacement program, $825,000 for replacement of fire apparatus, $2 million for building remediation and demo on the Fairfield Hills campus, $530,000 for Edmond Town Hall building renovations, $600,000 for a parking lot at C.H. Booth Library, $500,000 for Treadwell Park Playground improvements, and $8 million for an HVAC project for Newtown Middle School.

The plan additionally includes $3.15 million in new spending for roads. Other sources including the Capital Non-Recurring Fund will be used for $50,000 for design of a truck washing station, $50,000 for improvements for site and salt storage improvements at the Public Works garage, $500,000 for the sidewalk program, and $500,000 for Lake Lillinonah park improvements.

There is a project for a rail trail at Batchelder Park that will cost $1.4 million, to be paid for with grants. The total planned new bonding for that fiscal year is $13,055 million.

FFH Demolition Quandary

Rosenthal noted that the spending for demolition on the Fairfield Hills campus was originally included in year one, but the entire thing is up in the air currently since the town is trying to get Historic Credits that would allow a developer to develop two Fairfield Hills buildings for mixed use commercial and residential.

If the town receives the Historic Credits, it will not be able to demolish any Fairfield Hills buildings. Even if the town fails to get the Historic Credits, which would put demolition of buildings back on the table, the town would not be able to do it in year one. Spending for demolition included in years four and five are similarly up in the air.

In year four, the town will be bonding $600,000 for the bridge replacement program, $600,000 for site and salt storage improvements at the Public Works garage, $550,000 for a truck washing station, $845,000 for replacement of fire apparatus, $250,000 for artificial turf and lighting at Treadwell Park, $350,000 for maintenance yard improvements, $2 million for building remediation and demolition at Fairfield Hills.

Also, $1.1 million for a window replacement at Middle Gate School, $200,000 for bathroom renovations at Middle Gate School, $400,000 for HVAC replacements in the pool area of Newtown High School, $500,000 to replace the F wing chiller at Newtown High School, $450,000 to do roof replacements in the BUR area of Newtown High School, and $400,000 to rebuild chillers and upgrade controls at Reed School.

As with every year in the plan, year four also contains an escalating amount from the General Fund for roads, in this year $3.2 million. There is also $800,000 in additional spending for artificial turf and lighting and $200,000 in grant matching to be taken from other sources including the Capital Non-Recurring Fund. The year contains a total of $8.245 million in planned new bonding.

In year five, the town will be bonding $600,000 for the bridge replacement program; $865,000 for replacement of fire apparatus; $250,000 for trail improvements at Fairfield Hills; $3 million for building remediation and demolition at Fairfield Hills; $425,000 for Edmond Town Hall building renovations; $500,000 for a roof replacement in the 1997 wing of Hawley School; $250,000 to repave the parking lot, sidewalk, and curbs at Head O’ Meadow School; and $575,000 to repave the parking lot, sidewalk, and curbs at Newtown Middle School.

Additionally, there is $3.25 million in planned new spending from the general fund for roads, an additional $100,000 for Fairfield Hills trail improvements to be paid for from grants, and $200,000 for grant matching from other sources. The year contains a total of $6.765 million in planned new bonding.

Reach Associate Editor Jim Taylor at jim@thebee.com.