Laura Miller was named Legislative Council chairman at the first meeting following elections on December 3, while Chris Gardner was named vice-chairman.

Gardner nominated Miller for chairman, noting their work together prior in uniting two different town departments into Newtown Youth and Family Services, which “would not have occurred without [Miller’s] vision, persistence, and ability to create trust.”

Gardner also lauded Miller’s work ethic and ability to motivate those she works with.

“Laura won’t play partisan politics, she listens to all ideas,” said Gardner. “In Newtown, that’s what’s needed in a strong leader.”

Former chairman and vice-chairman Keith Alexander and Jordana Bloom are both still serving as councilmen, but neither were nominated for the chair positions.

The Republicans nominated Ben Ruben as a possibility for vice-chair, but the council voted for Gardner 9-3 along party lines. The Democrats currently have a supermajority on the council.

Later in the meeting, the council began its review of the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).

Year 1 of the plan represents 11 projects at a cost of approximately $15 million between the town and schools. The CIP has already been reviewed by the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Finance.

The Board of Finance’s cuts from the town’s plan are a $412,500 remodel of the Tax Collector’s officer in 2026-27, Year 1 of the plan, and a $312,500 remodel of Social Services. Both came from a survey of town employees asking for building needs, but finance board members felt that approving those without prior review was “the tail wagging the dog.”

The council received their presentation on the plan at the meeting, but with such a large subject and so many new members, they did not discuss the plan further or suggest any changes. The council is expected to take the CIP back up at its next meeting on December 17.

Town CIP

The town side of the CIP currently stands as:

In 2026-27, Year 1 of the plan, it calls for $10,796,500 in capital spending, with $3,295,500 bonded, $2,425,000 from the general fund, $1,980,000 in capital financing, $739,000 from the capital & non-recurring fund, $992,000 in special revenue funds, and $1,365,000 from grants and gifts.

The town is expected to bond $200,000 for open space preservation, $720,000 for library parking lot and sidewalks, $500,000 for parking lot abatement/improvements, $275,000 for Treadwell artificial turf and lighting, $1 million for bridge replacement, and $600,000 for salt storage improvements.

Roadwork will be paid for through the general fund ($2.425 million) and state grants ($775,000), for a total of $3.2 million.

Capital financing will be used for replacement of fire apparatus, $1,260,000; dump trucks, $310,000; and sweeper replacement, $410,000.

Capital and non-recurring fund will be used for matching of town grants, $60,000; multipurpose room upgrades, $239,000; automated dividing walls, $235,000; and Dickinson Playground artificial turf, $275,000.

Grants and gifts will be used for building remediation and demolition at Fairfield Hills, $30,000; library parking lot and sidewalks, $60,000; and restoring the Pootatuck waterway, $500,000.

Special revenue funds will be used for automated dividing walls, $130,000; Dickinson Playground artificial turf, $12,000; and parking lot abatement and improvements, $850,000.

In 2027-28, Year 2 of the plan, it calls for $15,262,500 in capital spending, with $8,152,600 bonded, $2,475,000 from the general fund, $2,040,000 in capital financing, $110,000 from the capital & non-recurring fund, $350,000 in special revenue funds, and $2,135,000 from grants and gifts.

The town is expected to bond $1,750,000 for electrical upgrades at Edmond Town Hall, $270,000 for Emergency Management Center building upgrades, $2.5 million for building remediation and demolition at Fairfield Hills, $200,000 for open space preservation, $475,000 for library exterior upgrades, $385,000 for Fairfield Hills trail improvements, $140,000 for the rail trail, $500,000 for Treadwell Playground replacement, $425,000 for police regional training facility, $1 million for bridge replacement, $200,000 for a public works generator, and $307,000 for Animal Control renovation.

Roadwork will be paid for through the general fund ($2.475 million) and state grants ($775,000), for a total of $3.25 million.

Capital financing will be used for replacement of fire apparatus, $1,350,000; and dump trucks, $690,000.

Capital and non-recurring fund will be used for matching of town grants, $60,000; and an exterior shade structure at Newtown Community Center.

Grants and gifts will be used for Fairfield Hills Trails improvements, $100,000; and the Rail Trail, $1,260,000.

Special revenue funds will be used for the Community Center exterior shade structure, $220,000; and Community Center multipurpose room upgrades, $130,000.

In 2028-29, Year 3 of the plan, it calls for $13,210,100 in capital spending, with $6,490,000 bonded, $2,525,000 from the general fund, $710,000 in capital financing, $360,000 from the capital & non-recurring fund, $150,000 in special revenue funds, and $2,975,000 from grants and gifts.

The town is expected to bond $370,000 for new generators and transfer switches for the fire department, $500,000 for the sidewalk program, $200,000 for open space preservation, $425,000 for library interior upgrades, $2,700,000 for the Community Center pool renovation, $325,000 for Community Center locker room upgrades, $250,000 for pickleball courts, $1 million for bridge replacement, and $720,000 for DPW building improvements.

Roadwork will be paid for through the general fund ($2.525 million) and state grants ($775,000), for a total of $3.3 million.

Capital financing will be used for dump trucks, $710,000.

Capital and non-recurring fund will be used for matching of town grants, $60,000; Community Center pool area renovations, $150,000; and pickleball courts, $100,000.

Grants and gifts will be used for the sidewalk program, $200,000; the Rail Trail, $1,500,000; and pickleball courts, $500,000.

Special revenue funds will be used for the Community Center pool renovation, $150,000.

In 2029-30, Year 4 of the plan, it will be what the town calls a “bonding vacation,” which is when the town, once every five years, goes a year without any new bonding. This year calls for $5,750,000 in capital spending, with $2,575,000 from the general fund, $590,000 in capital financing, $310,000 from the capital & non-recurring fund, and $2,275,000 from grants and gifts.

Roadwork will be paid for through the general fund ($2.575 million) and state grants ($775,000), for a total of $3.35 million.

Capital financing will be used for a backhoe, $590,000.

Capital and non-recurring fund will be used for matching of town grants, $60,000; and to mitigate and upgrade plumbing at Edmond Town Hall, $250,000.

Grants and gifts will be used for the Rail Trail, $1,500,000.

In 2030-31, Year 5 of the plan, it calls for $19,005,000 in capital spending, with $10,100,000 bonded, $2,625,000 from the general fund, $1,645,000 in capital financing, $60,000 from the capital & non-recurring fund, $1,600,000 in special revenue funds, and $2,975,000 from grants and gifts.

The town is expected to bond $1,750,000 to mitigate and upgrade plumbing at Edmond Town Hall, $3 million for building remediation and demolition at Fairfield Hills, $650,000 for Dodgingtown Fire House renovations, $200,000 for open space preservation, $500,000 for a Community Center expansion, $800,000 for Dickinson Park water playground, $1 million for the bridge replacement program, and $2.2 million for HVAC at the Municipal Center.

Roadwork will be paid for through the general fund ($2.625 million) and state grants ($775,000), for a total of $3.4 million.

Capital financing will be used for police body cameras, $325,000; police in-car recording systems, $325,000; police Taser CEW, $275,000; and a public works vactor truck, $720,000.

Capital and non-recurring fund will be used for matching of town grants, $60,000.

Grants and gifts will be used for the Community Center expansion, $2 million; and Dickinson Park water playground, $200,000.

Special revenue funds will be used for the Community Center expansion, $1 million; and Tilson artificial turf replacement, $600,000.

School CIP

The school side of the plan currently stands as:

Year 1 of the plan, 2026-27, is a total of $4,942,210, and includes a Head O’ Meadow oil tank removal for $225,000; paving at Head O’ Meadow for $280,000; HVAC at F, C, & D wings at the high school for $2,317,210; restoring the pool at the high school for $640,000; an oil tank removal at the high school for $240,000; an air handler at the high school for $500,000; bathroom renovations at Middle Gate for $220,000; fire/intrusion alarm replacements at the high school for $250,000; and millwork replacement at Middle Gate for $280,000.

Year 2 of the plan, 2027-28, is a total of $4,360,000, and includes a new roof on the 1997 wing at Hawley for $700,000; a window replacement in B wing at the high school for $450,000; exterior doors at the high school for $210,000; and a roofing replacement at Reed for $3,000,000.

Year 3 of the plan, 2028-29, is a total of $2,450,000, with an ADA accessibility study for $200,000; a district security camera software upgrade for $375,000; district-wide access control upgrades for $224,000; district-wide window film for $750,000; parking lot repaving at Hawley for $275,000; and driveway repaving at Middle Gate for $250,000.

Year 4 of the plan, 2029-30, is the bonding vacation, as noted for the town side.

Year 5 of the plan, 2030-31, is a total of $6,717,700, with interior renovations at the high school for $3,140,000; replacing generator and switch at the middle school for $250,000; an electric system upgrade at the middle school for $1,775,700; and interior restoration at the middle school for $1,552,000.

Editor Jim Taylor can be reached at jim@thebee.com.