Ahead of presentations to the Boards of Selectmen and Finance and the Legislative Council, First Selectman Dan Rosenthal briefed The Newtown Bee on a few slight adjustments to the ongoing five-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).

This year’s proposal follows a protocol that was established by Town Finance Director Robert Tait, not only outlining the five-year plan mandated by the charter, but extending capital planning allocations from years six through ten. The proposal is available for review on the municipal website, newtown-ct.gov, under the Finance Department link.

The first selectman said since the leadership at the C.H. Booth Library is still tapping already appropriated capital funds for repairs and improvements to the facility, he is opting to split up and push out some the next allocation of funds by one year — and into the 2022-23 CIP.

“The library still has a little bit of backlog on some of the projects that were already approved and funded,” Rosenthal said. “We’re going to leave a little bit in 2021-22 because they think they’ll be able to get to part of their planned work.”

That will see the library accessing $200,000 in the coming fiscal cycle, with another $550,000 earmarked for 2022-23.

There will also be a few minor changes to capital allocations to the Board of Fire Commissioners, which is charged with oversight on equipment and other functions tied to Newtown’s five private, nonprofit volunteer fire companies.

“I think we’ll see a shift of funds for apparatus purchases from one year to the next, and I think they added a bit of money on one truck purchase,” Rosenthal said.

According to documentation, the fire commissioners are looking at a $450,000 earmark in 2022 (Year 2), $1,035,000 with $800,000 to be bonded in Year 3, and $750,000 in Year 5. While each fire company is independent, each also houses ad utilizes both town-owned apparatus, and other equipment and apparatus owned solely by the respective companies.

The first selectman also inserted some capital funding for planned environmental cleanup projects at 7 and 28A Glen Road — two town-owned parcels that previously housed an auto repair garage and manufacturing facility.

“We’re getting the hazardous materials out of 28A now, but we’re going to have to demolish that site eventually,” Rosenthal said. “That thing is an eyesore, so we put in $200,000 for next year and $650,000 for that in 2022.”

The $200,000 allocation next year is a required local match to an additional $200,000 grant that was awarded recently specifically for 7 Glen Road, which is under consideration for a wayfinding kiosk and pocket park.

Of the $10,641,933 being requested for capital projects in Year 1, $7,941,933 is proposed to be bonded, with $2,500,000 coming from the general fund, and $200,000 from grants.

The $2.5 million earmarked next year from the general fund is exclusively applied to the town’s capital road program for continuing repairs and improvements. An additional $5,041,933 will underwrite a town-wide emergency radio system upgrade, which has already been approved, and $2 million toward the Sandy Hook Memorial project.

The CIP was unanimously approved by the Board of Selectmen and is under review now by the Board of Finance. Finance officials plan to delve into a deeper review and possible adjustments at a future meeting according to Finance Chair Sandy Roussas.

Roussas said the Board of Education is planning to present its CIP at the next finance board meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, October 13.