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Finance Committee Votes To Hold Off On HOM Renovations

BY STEVE BIGHAM

The Legislative Council's finance committee Wednesday night opted not to

recommend funding a proposed $834,700 renovation to Head O'Meadow School in

this year's budget.

A 12.9 percent increase in school expenditures would simply be too high,

members said.

The board, however, did agree to put the much-needed project into the town's

capital improvement plan for 1999-2000. It also authorized the school board to

hire an architect to study the renovation plan to determine what the actual

cost would be. The architect's fee would be added to the Board of Education

proposed budget.

The school board had requested that the project be funded outside its 1998-99

operating budget through bonding.

According to Superintendent of Schools John R. Reed, the HOM kindergarten

rooms need to be "code updated." This would involve the installation of a new

sprinkler system, alarm system, new doors and handicapped accessible bathrooms

for an estimated $400,000. Fire Marshal George Lockwood has requested the

classrooms be brought up to code as soon as possible.

Dr Reed said having to do a project of this magnitude at HOM is strange since

it has always been looked at as the "crown jewel."

The remainder of the cost would be for renovations to the kindergarten rooms,

which are currently too small to accommodate young students, HOM Principal

Bill Bircher explained.

The cost for the project, which is expected to be partially reimbursed by the

state, is just an estimate, according to Dr Reed.

"Until we get the architectural plans and go out to bid, I can't even tell you

what it's going to cost," Dr Reed said.

Council member Melissa Pilchard said adding this project to the Board of

Education's proposed budget, which is 10.1 percent higher than last year,

would send school expenses through the roof. The highest I've seen in the area

other than Newtown is six percent, she said.

"No, New Milford is eight percent," quipped Board of Education chairman Amy

Dent.

But if we include this, the finance committee said, we're looking at a 12.9

percent increase. Mrs Pilchard said 12.9 percent will not fly with the voters.

Dr Reed, concerned how 12.9 percent would be perceived by the taxpayers, said

he was under the impression the HOM project would be bonded over 20 years,

thus, would not be included as part of the school's operating budget.

As it now stands, the project's funding has been held off until next year's

budget season.