Southington Sends School Roof Project, Open Space Funds To Voters

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Southington's top elected body said "yes" to two ordinances that would result in more than $8.5 million total being spent on new school roofs and future open space purchases.

But the final say will come at the polls Nov. 4, when Southington voters will decide the items as they also decide the town's slate of municipal officials.

Monday, Aug. 11, the Southington Town Council said "yes" to sending both to the polls. The ordinances are:

• An ordinance appropriating and bonding $6.6 million to repair and replace the roofs at Southington's Hatton Elementary School, William Strong Elementary School, and Reuben E. Thalberg Elementary School.

• An ordinance appropriating and bonding $2 million to acquire land for future open space purchases.

The council decision came after two public hearings, one for each ordinance, where the public was allowed to speak.

During the public hearing, Southington's school chief said all of the school's roofs are due for a major upgrade.

"This request is part of our roof replacement cycle," Southington Superintendent of Schools Steven Madancy said during Monday's hearing. "They're all, actually, each well past the expected life of the roofs."

He said all are past 20 years of life, which is standard, and two are past 30 years.

Following Madancy's testimony, no one spoke for or against the appropriation.

As for the open space question, Southington Town Council Chairman Paul Chaplinsky Jr. said the town regularly maintains a fund for open space/preservation purposes.

"This one here is a referendum question that comes up with us every few years," Chaplinsky Jr. said.

The open space fund not only applies to land purchases, but development rights purchases as well.

Chaplinsky said the town currently has about $600,000 accrued for open space purchases, and it is looking to boost its open space coffers with this appropriation.

Councilman Michael DelSanto said having open space funds on hand is a good practice, as the town could preserve land should it become available.

That land could be used for various passive recreational uses and, simply, benefit the town through myriad uses.

"If we have the funds to purchase the land and save the land for the townspeople of Southington, great," he said. "Oftentimes, we get outbid by private companies, but that's OK. At least we have a fighting chance if we have some money in the coffers.

"A lot of times, folks offer the town first dibs, which is very nice. They want the land preserved."

Both hearings were quickly closed before unanimous council votes.

For more information on both bonding questions, click on this link.

From Aug. 11: 'TONIGHT: Southington To Mull School Roof Projects, Open Space Purchase'