For previous articles on Wilton's 2013 budget, please see the articles linked to on the right hand side of this page.
The following is a summary of the capital bonding projects that the Board of Selectmen are requesting for Wilton's Fiscal Year of 2013.
New Tanker for Fire Dept.
$695,000
The is requesting a new Engine-Tanker 4 model truck to replace the existing one, which is now 20 years old. Wilton Fire Department Chief Paul Milositz said that National Standards advised for replacing the vehicle every 15 years. The Engine 4 carries 2,500 gallons of water.
Milositz stressed the importance of this fire truck, saying that “If it wasn’t for this tanker, would not be standing.”
The high carrying capacity of water is also optimal for Wilton, he said, because “80 percent” of the town was not within adequate range of a fire hydrant.
A fire truck takes approximately one year to conceive plans and fully manufacture before it is ready to operate, according to Milostiz.
Ambler Farm Rennovation
$250,000 for two years
(full funding of $500,000 to be completed over four years)
Selectman Hal Clark presented this project, stressing the importance of Ambler Farm’s importance to the town. This project would roll out in two-year increments of $250,000 each, with Ambler Farm matching payments like employee stock. The selectmen are asking for the first two years to be approved, and will presumably ask for another $250,000 in 2015.
Comstock Roofing Renovation and Generator Installation
Total: $836,000
Breakdown: $715,000 for the roof, $121,000 for the generator
Director of Parks and Recreation Steve Pierce presented this projected. The last Comstock roof was installed around 1988 and must now be taken apart to allow for another one to be put down. Repairs are surmounting in costs; in three years, $25,000 in deferring repairs have been spent to prolong the roof’s life—which basically expired in 2008. The new roof is expected to last 15-20 years.
Pierce said the installation of a generator would allow the Comstock Building to “become a warming and charging facility” to service townspeople in emergency situations.
Renovations for Middlebrook, Wilton High School, and Miller-Driscoll
Total: $2,800,000
Breakdown: $925,000 for Middlebrook roof replacement, $215,000 for Middlebrook auditorium renovations, $150,000 to pay for schematics for upcoming Miller-Driscoll renovations, and $1,470,000 to construct /renovate bathrooms at Middlebrook and Wilton High School.
Middlebrook’s roof area covering the cafeteria, shop and music rooms, and an area over the “green wing” would be replaced under the roofing aspect of this plan. The new roof is expected to last 20 years. $965,000 “from a previously authorized bond will cover construction and soft costs for the project,” according to the slide which Dubow presented.
Selectmen Richard Dubow presented this project. The bathroom problem has “been deferred” for several years, and would install 10 bathrooms at Middlebrook and 20 at Wilton High School. The project would include fixing numerous plumbing and lighting issues as well. Construction would take place over a two-year period.
The Middlebrook auditorium renovations includes new seats ($145,000) and an air conditioning system ($70,000).
Schematics would be used to evaluate and establish a plan for what the new Miller-Driscoll upgrades could be.
Road Repair Project
Breakdown: $3,300,00 for the upcoming two years
(Full funding of over 36 million over 20 years)
This project will repair 10 miles of roads per year at approximately $1.7 million a year. The selectmen are asking for a two-year funding period. The entire project will take 20 years to complete. First Selectman William Brennan said that by making this a bonding project and not an operating project—which falls in line with many other towns in the surrounding area, according to Brennan—it would save voters money by increasing the mill rate at a fraction of the cost it would as an operating request.
See this article for a more in-depth look at the road repair project.
Those who did not vote at last night's annual town meeting may vote this coming Saturday at the Clune Center from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.
