Town Meeting

Approves Water Line

By Steve Bigham

A small group of citizens turned out at a town meeting Wednesday to approve the $516,000 water line hookup to Newtown High School.

The town meeting took just 15 minutes. Attorney Robert Hall served as moderator. Board of Education Chair Elaine McClure made the motion to approve the resolution. Legislative Council member Michael Iassogna seconded the motion.

NHS Principal Bill Manfredonia gave a brief explanation for why the request was being made.

The water line has become essential due to problems with the existing drinking water at the school and the need for irrigation of the soon-to-be-renovated athletic fields. The school’s existing wells are apparently unfit to handle watering all the fields.

The plan is to extend United Water of Connecticut’s water line from its current termination point on Route 34 (in Sandy Hook center) to Newtown High School and several adjacent residential properties on Oakview Road to provide potable water. Project costs include engineering design fees, plans and specifications, rights of way, easements, construction costs, testing, inspection, resident representation services, site work, construction contingencies, legal fees, and other miscellaneous costs necessary for construction of the water line.

The Board of Education has lined up a low-interest loan from the state to pay for the project. The State Drinking Water Fund lends school districts money at half the prime lending rate, which school officials figure would be around 2.66 percent. The loan –– to be paid off over 20 years ––does not begin to be repaid for one year following the end of construction.

The United Water Company has agreed to cover $60,000 in costs.