Dozens of residents packed the Municipal Center council chambers July 6 for a Town Meeting, roundly endorsing a proposal to bond $1 million to supplement already budgeted town road improvement and resurfacing projects.

The same group also enthusiastically approved $3.6 million for a major renovation of the Newtown High School auditorium that will create a fully code compliant, handicapped accessible, state of the art public gathering and performance space.

The public action approved $4.6 million in spending in just a few minutes, with only one resident speaking to each of the two motions. Ahead of the first vote on the auditorium project, Marjorie Cramer asked officials to clarify whether renovations would be ongoing while the summer musical was in rehearsal.

Board of Education Chairman Keith Alexander was on hand to respond that there would be no ongoing work during the summer musical session.

Ms Cramer than asked how soon the renovations might begin, with Mr Alexander replying that the Public Building and Site Commission would determine the renovation schedule.

That prompted Meeting Moderator and First Selectman Pat Llodra to call that panel's chairman, Robert Mitchell, to the microphone. Mr Mitchell said that the earliest work might begin is next February and March, because part of the project would be reviewed and receive reimbursement through the state.

With no further public comment, Mrs Llodra asked voters to raise red tickets to signal whehter they approved the spending. Each qualified participant was checked-in ahead of the vote and issued red tickets as proof of eligibility to participate.

A roomful of hands shot up in response, with a single voter opposing the measure.

Road Bonding Concern

The sole resident speaking on the road bonding motion was former First Selectman Herb Rosenthal, who said he learned before the meeting that about 70 percent of the bonding was going to underwrite resurfacing expenses.

Mr Rosenthal said while he was supporting the measure, he was concerned that the $1 million spent this year would result in resurfacing that would deteriorate long before the end of the 20-year bond cycle.

Mrs Llodra had previously stated that she does not typically recommend bonding for operational costs, but town roads have undergone such deterioration in recent years that a one-time bonding action was appropriate.

With no further comment, Mrs Llodra again asked for a show of hands to signal approval, and that initiative passed unanimously.

Later, during a subsequent Board of Selectmen meeting and having the required Town Meeting approval, the officials completed both autorizations to bond.

During that action, Selectman Will Rodgers said Mr Rosenthal's comments were "disingenuous," because bonding for road resurfacing was in many cases, being paired with engineering and drainage improvements and related costs already approved in the Highway Department's operational budget.

Then Finance Director Robert Tait clarified the February 2016 bond issue, which includes the road bonding, would be followed by an estimated $2.4 million first-time lump sum that would effectively pay off the road bonding in the first year.

The balance of that larger bonding package would then generate annual debt service payments of approximately $800,000 for the life of the remaining bond.