Council OKs

School Projects

By Jan Howard

The Legislative Council on October 15 passed two resolutions for bonding for Board of Education projects, referring them to the Board of Selectmen to set a town meeting, and tabled a third pending additional input from the Board of Finance.

The council voted unanimously to pass a resolution appropriating $400,000 for the planning, design, and construction of new classrooms at Newtown High School. The members voted 8-2 for $245,000 for architectural and engineering services for the planning and design of renovations to the heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system at Head O’ Meadow Elementary.

The members of the council voted 9-1 to table a resolution that would appropriate $500,000 for the design and construction of a water main extension to provide drinking water to the Middle Gate School.

The three resolutions generated questions and discussion prior to the votes. Member Peggy Baiad questioned why additional classrooms became an urgent need in fiscal year 2003/4 when it had not been mentioned in the 2002/03 budget discussions.

Ron Bienkowski, business director for the school system, said the need had been identified, but the school system had looked at other available spaces, such as at Fairfield Hills, and then decided to alter the high school space. “It was a need that developed between those two years,” he said.

Mr Bienkowski said four to six classrooms are to be created in two areas of the high school, both of which already have utilities. He said one of the issues is the cafeteria that cannot be used effectively because it is being used as a study hall. It is expected that the classrooms would be completed this summer.

Board of Education Chairman Elaine McClure said the high school is the most rapidly growing school in the town, with an additional 105 students this year.

Brian White questioned the actual cost of the HVAC at Head O’ Meadow. Mr Bienkowski said the $3.2 million proposed for the project in the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) does not include the $245,000 for architectural fees. The cost would rise to about $4 million, he noted, because modular classrooms would be required while the building modifications were being made. The modular classrooms would be purchased and used for other school buildings as HVAC modifications were made in them.

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal noted that funds for debt service for the cost of the high school classrooms and the HVAC at Head O’ Meadow were included in the budget and that both projects have been included in the CIP.

The school project that generated the most discussion was the proposal for the water line extension to Middle Gate School for $500,000. Members of the council questioned why bottled water could not continue to be provided during the times coliform contamination is found in the water and the water line project be deferred to another year.

“It is a health and safety issue as we see it,” Mr Bienkowski said. “We are advocates for children. Our duty is to provide what’s best.”

He noted that systems have been installed to remove uranium and radon from the water. There have been three incidents of coliform for a period of six to eight weeks each over the past three years.

Mr Bienkowski said the state has suggested drilling another well at the school, but finding an alternate site would be unlikely. He also noted other future costs facing the school system at Middle Gate, such as water tank replacement.

“With public water we would not have to worry about these issues. It would be wise to resolve the issue this year,” he said. He said operating costs for the system were $27,800 the past year. “All these costs would be nonexistent if we had a public water supply.”

He said the school system took advantage of a program with the state and applied for a low interest loan, and is ranked second in the funding recommendation list.

Mr Bienkowski explained that coliform episodes are sporadic. The water is tested quarterly. When coliform is found, the water is chlorinated, and the water is tested until it is free of coliform. During that time, bottled water is used.

The route for the water line connection would be a dirt road behind the Stop & Shop so no changes would be made to a public road, Mr Bienkowski said.

Questions also arose as to the impact of bonding for the project. Finance Director Ben Spragg explained that the cost for the first year might be $60,000, followed by $30,000 a year thereafter. He said there would be no impact on the budget as it is a small number.

Brian White said he was concerned the project was not presented as a formal process during budget deliberations. “It’s new debt,” he said. “It should be deferred to budget time.”

Mr Bienkowski said all three projects are in the Capital Improvement Plan and interest for debt service was included in the budget. He said the water line extension has been substituted for an athletic fields project that would be delayed.

He said if the project were approved in October, it would not be completed until July 2004.

Teachers Contract

In other business, the Legislative Council referred the Board of Education teachers’ contract to the Board of Finance for its comments within 30 days.

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal suggested that the Legislative Council consider appointment of a Charter Revision Commission with a limited focus to address conflicts in the charter regarding financial issues. He said it was not clear the Board of Education teachers’ contract should be referred to the Board of Finance.

The Legislative Council also heard a presentation by Planning & Zoning Commissioner Dan Fogliano and Community Development Director Elizabeth Stocker on a draft version of the 2003 Town Plan of Conservation and Development.

The plan, Mr Fogliano said, is to guide municipal activities affecting land conservation and development of Newtown.

He said the board has had 20 meetings dedicated to the plan. Once ideas were formulated, the project was turned over to the firm of Harrall-Michalowski Associates. “It is now at its final phase,” Mr Fogliano said.

Ms Stocker addressed the issues that were identified and goals of the plan. Among critical issues are aquifer protection and conservation of natural resources, such as open space lands.

“At this point Newtown has 15 percent in protected open space,” she said, noting that forest and agricultural lands are currently included in tax breaks. “We would also like to see open space included,” she said.

She noted that tax breaks could be offered to landowners with land larger than lot size so they would be not sell their land to a developer. The town should also look into right of first refusal agreements to add to the open space inventory.

Other issues she discussed included housing, such as promoting the use of accessory apartments for more affordability, increase in economic development, consolidation of town offices at Fairfield Hills and defining the reuse of Edmond Town Hall, upgrading the police facility, and establishing sewer avoidance except in the Commerce Road area, among others.

The Legislative Council referred the draft plan to its ordinance committee, which is to report back at the council’s November 19 meeting. The council is to comment on the draft plan to the P&Z by December 4.