Date: Fri 18-Jun-1999

By Previous Employees

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: JEFF

Quick Words:

H&Y-Head-O'Meadow-alterations

Full Text:

Board of Education Approves Bid for HOM Expansion

BY JEFF WHITE

The bids came in at 2:00 pm Tuesday for the Head O'Meadow alterations project,

and by the end of its special meeting that night, the Newtown Board of

Education approved H&Y Construction Company of Brookfield's bid to perform the

renovations.

According to Director of Business Ronald Bienkowski, there were five bids for

the project, and H&Y Construction came in with the lowest estimate.

In addition to preparing cost analysis spreadsheets, Mr Bienkowski performed

an extensive background check on H&Y Construction to ascertain exactly what

experience the company has had with projects of similar size to Head O'

Meadow.

Mr Bienkowski reported that H&Y Construction is currently involved in a $1.1

million project at the Northfield Church in Weston. They have been involved in

residential construction in the $600,000 to $800,000 price range, and held a

commercial contract with St Vincent's hospital in Bridgeport for two separate

construction projects.

"They are excellent contractors, and we're extremely satisfied," said Wilton

Supertintendant for Buildings and Grounds Jim Cross, regarding H&Y

Construction's work on Wilton High School in 1996. The company worked on a

multipurpose lab enterprise for the science wing, and had it ready for the

opening of school. As a result, Mr Cross has hired them for other

miscellaneous jobs around the district.

"They deliver on time and within budget, they're professional, proactive

contractors," he added. "They have established a high level of trust in this

town."

Most of the references indicated that H&Y Construction completed projects

ahead of schedule, according to Mr Bienkowski, and the company was reported to

be confident that most of the construction on Head O' Meadow would be

completed this summer.

The construction at issue is mainly an extension to the existing kindergarten

area of the school. Head O' Meadow currently fits two kindergarten classes in

one room, and issues of space constraints have come up in the past.

"I was very pleased with the results of the reference checks, so on that basis

I have no reservations in recommending [H&Y] for the Head O' Meadow project,"

Bienkowski said, describing the process as "a good bidding result."

H&Y's estimate for construction cost for the Head O' Meadow project was

$684,500, which Mr Bienkowski thought would fit the original budget of

$834,700 the Board of Education asked the town to appropriate.

Upon acceptance of H&Y Construction as the company to perform the work on Head

O'Meadow, the issue went before the Legislative Council on Wednesday night for

final approval of funding for the project.

The Council approved funding, but only for $774,000 of the proposed $834,700,

saying that the balance had already been paid out in the form of architectural

fees.

The project is scheduled to break ground next week.

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It’s important to clarify the tone and context of Derek Pisani’s remarks, particularly the satirical line about suing Newtown for "Gross Stupidity." This was clearly a tongue-in-cheek jab at the exhausting culture of legal threats that’s become a staple on the local Facebook Group forums. It was a reflection of frustration over endless regulatory hurdles and obstructionism, and the desire to avoid common sense solutions not an insult aimed at residents. Satire, is meant to provoke thought and highlight the absurdities. If we are unable to distinguish between satire and literal threats, perhaps the comment hit closer to the truth than we’d like to admit. Rather than focusing on Pisanis style, we should be discussing the substance of what he’s pointing out: that Newtown’s progress is being routinely blocked by a small but vocal contingent who seem intent on saying “no” at every turn. They are saying no to any development, no to common sense solutions to crowd control, etc. Newtown deserves leaders who are willing to call things as they see them, even if their language ruffles feathers. That doesn’t mean they lack respect for constituents—it means they care enough to challenge the Mob and push for solutions. Isn't that what we elect people to do? I applaud Pisani's dedication, he certainly has earned my vote. Regardless, let’s not reduce conversation to tone-policing and outrage. Let’s focus on the issues that matter.

Who is Calling Newtowners Stupid?

Thank you for pointing out the trail access provisions included in the BOS motion—it’s an important clarification that deserves more attention in this conversation. If the development is, in fact, required to provide permanent free public access and commit to ongoing maintenance of this section of the Rochambeau Trail, that is a remarkably beneficial outcome for the town. oIt’s not every day that a private project shoulders the long-term burden of preserving and caring for a public historical corridor at no taxpayer cost—especially one that previously had no formal access, upkeep, or visibility. Let’s be honest: the idea that the only way to protect history is by preventing any development nearby is a rigid and unworkable standard. What’s being proposed here appears to strike a rare balance—historic preservation, public access, and smart development all rolled into one. That’s not a loss its a win. So rather than allowing a handful of voices to derail progress under the banner of “historic purity,” maybe it’s time to acknowledge the reality: this trail is better off with structured stewardship and visibility than remaining an overgrown ghost on old maps. Let’s move forward. Bring in the easement, bring in the public access—and yes, bring in the bulldozers!!! Progress and preservation can coexist. Let’s not let the NIMBY use fear or nostalgia keep us stuck in the past.

Discusses Rochambeau Trail And 6 Commerce Road

I've heard that several people are under the impression that the public might be banned from the Rochambeau Trail. Points 2 and 3 from the BOS motion (included in full below) make it clear that public access to the trail is part of the requirements for the developer. From what I understand, it requires free public access to the trail in perpetuity. Technically, this could be argued to be a "payment-in-kind," that attempts to balance public good with overall town growth. We can argue about weather that balance is acceptable and how the trail may be affected, but with the understanding that the trail is expected to be maintained as a publicly accessible trail regardless. July 15, 2024 Board of Selectmen approved motion: Discontinuance of Reservoir Road: Selectman Cruson moved the resolution: Resolved, that the Newtown Board of Selectmen, in accordance with Section 2-115(d)(8) of the Town Charter and Conn. Gen. Stat. §13a-49, and subject to the conditions set forth below, hereby discontinues an unimproved portion of Reservoir Road described as “Portion of Reservoir Road to be Discontinued “on that certain survey map which will be recorded on the Newtown Land Records titled “Map Showing Portion of Reservoir Road to be Discontinued” dated August, 2023 and revised September 15, 2023, and certified substantially correct by Gregory Szyszowski of SLR (the “Survey Map”), said discontinuance contingent and effective only upon the completion of the following: 1. The approval of an application for the development of land in the manner described in a letter from Attorney Thomas W. Beecher to First Selectman A. Jeffrey Capeci and Members of the Board of Selectmen dated May 30, 2024, pursuant to the “Residential Open Space Development” regulations of the Borough of Newtown by the Borough of Newtown Zoning Commission, and construction of that approval project within the timeframes required for special exception approval; 2. The inclusion of the discontinued portion of the road as part of the final Declaration of Conservation Restriction; 3. The conveyance of a mutually agreeable public easement to the Town of Newtown for pedestrian, bicycling, equestrian, and all other passive recreational uses (to exclude the use of motorized vehicles except as may be necessary by the Town or its designee to effectuate the purpose of the easement), and for municipal utility purposes; Be it further resolved, that Castle Hill Real Estate Holdings, LLC., its successors and assigns, shall not use any portion of the discontinued road as a vehicular road or access way to and from any developed portions of the property. Be it further finally resolved, that should any of the foregoing contingencies not occur, then the discontinuance contemplated herein shall not become effective and this resolution will become null and void. From: https://www.newtown-ct.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif12216/f/minutes/bos_7-15-24_min-_att_final.pdf

Is this paper road (roads that only exist on paper map but not in reality) even owned by the Town? Many roads that predate the Town's road standards are privately owned and were never accepted by the Town, such as many of the nonconforming roads around the lake communities where the property owners own right to the center line. That is something we had to deal with when working on the Roads Ordinance a few years back. We also had to deal with a private road to run the utilities to the new SHS.

For anyone who wants to know, I cant post a link here, but Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority has an entire website. Look up "HRRA whats in whats out"

I Get It!

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Date: Fri 18-Jun-1999

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