Politics & Government
South Windsor Town Council Discusses 10-Year, $2.2 Million Capital Projects Plan
Plan calls for leases of a number items to manage costs.
After years of not adequately funding the capital projects line item in the budget, the Town Council discussed Monday evening a proposed 10-year plan that calls for spending $2.2 million.
The proposal, introduced by Town Councilor Jan Snyder, who chairs the capital projects committee, would have the town spend between $250,000 to $263,150 for 10 years to fund seven critical projects with leases:
The projects, which include the net cost over 10 years, are the following:
- Town-wide IT equipment, including Microsoft Office ($643,000)
- Emergency generator at the high school ($250,000)
- GIS Program ($475,000)
- Fire station generator ($16,000 over three years)
- Emergency generator at the police department ($130,000)
- Fiber Optic Communication Network ($575,000)
- Emergency Generator at the Community Center ($150,000)
“Infrastructure isn’t always brick and mortar,” said Snyder, adding that the plan was a creative way to address certain necessities in town without taking on additional debt.
The capital projects committee considered some $60 million worth of projects before cutting it down to the ones presented to the council on Monday evening, Snyder said.
Town Manager Matthew Galligan then presented a plan to save money for the capital improvement fund in the future. Galligan said that the town, through debt service reductions and new taxes from projects such as the Federal
Express distribution center, the town could have about $3.6 million to fund projects in 10 years.
“We’re trying to be realistic,” Galligan said. “We’re not saying, ‘Put $3 million in the budget now. We have a plan that is workable that can be changed from year to year.”
The plan, for the most part, was met with support by a majority of councilors.
Town Councilor Cary Prague said that he was disappointed that some referendum questions in November 2012 did not pass, namely paving the driveway and road in front of Fire Station 1 and installing generators at several town buildings. The plan presented Monday evening addresses at least some of those concerns, Prague said.
“Your plan is brilliant,” Prague said. “It’s not pretty. ... It’s necessary.”
Dr. Saud Anwar said that the projects were matters of public safety.
Town Councilor Cindy Beaulieu said that a lot of work went into the plan that was presented.
“It is important that we move forward,” Beaulieu said. “We have got to get some things done.”
But while the town council members commended the committee and, most notably, Snyder, there were certain projects that were more scrutinized than others.
Specifically, the councilors most frequently questioned the fiber-optic communication network and the GIS upgrade.
Town Councilor Keith Yagaloff questioned whether such projects were prudent in light of the elementary schools projects that were coming down the pike.
He called on the council to strip down the projects to only those are “absolute necessities.” Yagaloff said that the council could wait to address the other projects when the economy improves.
Galligan responded curtly, stating that the town’s capital projects hadn’t been funded properly for years and, at some point, people would eventually start calling for repairs to the crumbling infrastructure or they would start to leave.
“If you want me to run a beautiful town, then give me the resources to do that,” Galligan said.
No decisions were made at the meeting. The next step in the budget process takes place tonight, when a public hearing will be held on the Board of Education’s proposed budget.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
