Capital Improvement Program Committee
February 11, 2015 @ 7:00 p.m.
Town Office Building-Lower Level Conference Room
Members Present:
Stuart Cobb, Alan Ference, John Patton, Steven Vera, Chairman Kelly Trueb, First Selectman Christina Beebe Mailhos and Business Manager Donna Latincsics.
Absent:
Mark Makuch, Peter Tanaka, Barry Wallet
Chairman Kelly Trueb called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m.
Present to Speak:
No one was present to speak.
Approval of Minutes:
Steven Vera motioned to approve the minutes of January 28, 2015.
Kelly Trueb seconded. (Vote: all yes).
Review Plan for Out Years:
Chairman Kelly Trueb noted the changes that the Board of Selectmen had approved at their Special Meeting of February 9, 2015. Items were removed from the Old Town Hall requests. Approval for $100,000 will remain for exterior painting and other upgrades inside the building. First Selectman Mailhos can work on the interior renovations with any surplus from the exterior painting expense.
The Board of Selectmen voted to reduce the fit trail request to $ 5,000. Transfer Station Storm Water Pollution was reduced to $35,000. The $10,000 reduction from those two projects will help fund the engineering for Sidewalk Repair on Route 32 in FY 2015-16. First Selectman Mailhos is hoping to get a grant for the sidewalk project.
Business Manager Donna Latincsics presented an extensive spreadsheet with updates of figures showing expenditures and sources of funding.
Discussions were held on the costs of playground equipment and how they are determined, then continued on to the two fire departments and the timing of replacement of SCBA bottles and whether grants were available. First Selectman Mailhos noted that regarding the playground equipment pricing they try to give it their best guess. Steven Vera asked if that project could get a couple years out of what we have.
John Patton noted that we might get a grant but we should be sure we have the money in the reserve fund. Alan Ference asked Donna Latincsics about budget money going back into the Fire Service Fund—it is similar to a savings account. Discussion continued on rescue tools and an air-bag system. Stuart Cobb said the bulk of the money they are requesting is for a rescue tool. He also talked about a 50/50 Forestry grant for Towns with a population of under 10,000. He writes the grants for WFD#1 and some for WHFD. First Selectman Mailhos asked if both fire departments could apply for the grant and Stuart said that they can. Steven Vera asked if they were maximizing their grant writing and taking advantage of all opportunities.
John Patton led the discussion of bonding, explaining by it is better to bond projects together. The projects included the salt shed, Turnpike Road, Village Hill Drainage Phase I, II, and Village Hill Drainage Issues 176 and 241. Issues 176 and 241 should come ahead of Phase II. The engineering part of Village Hill Drainage Phase I is complete. We have three years from the time we start the bond anticipation till the end of the project.
He also explained that the goal of the committee is to put together a reasonable plan. Some numbers are good and if we want to do the project, then do it. The Village Hill Drainage is something we can start doing work early, working at it gradually since we are not in a hurry. We can do site work ourselves—the job can be done cheap and well but not quickly.
Kelly Trueb mentioned a project that was not on the list—Baxter Road Drainage—water can’t cross over to the culvert. The general consensus was to remove it from the list.
John Patton asked if we were replacing the Daleville School Road Bridge. He suggested using the $125,000 surplus from the Polster Road Bridge and putting it on 2015-2016. Alan Ference agreed—we have closed on the Polster Road project and can begin another.
Revaluation is in the plan for 2017-18 and 2018-2019. Renovations of the Public Works Garage include heat, plastic skylights, replacement of metal roofing insulation, door replacement and the engineering of the salt shed.
Town Office Building Renovations—First Selectman Mailhos is in the process of finding out what we can do—a needs assessment is being done. We need to make the roof over the Common Room be at a different angle and also need to do something with the roof over the Finance Department. To pay for this Donna Latincsics says we would use #930 local funds. First Selectman Mailhos is planning on a STEAP grant for the renovations. She said that for STEAP grants they usually want something for Economic Development or Community Development.
Chairman Kelly Trueb mentioned using STEAP for the River Road Recreation project. There was a discussion about building bathrooms at River Road. First Selectman Mailhos is concerned because then operational costs come into the picture—someone still has to open the building, close it and clean it. Bonding River Road Recreation was also discussed. Stuart Cobb, John Patton and First Selectman Mailhos discussed STEAP grants and moving the project up to 2017-2018 so bonds can be done all at once.
Salt Shed/Upgrade to Public Works Complex--$50,000 for preliminary work is set for 2016-17. Donna Latincsics suggested pushing it out till 2017-18.
John Patton and Stuart Cobb asked First Selectman Mailhos if she was interested in having permanent Building Committee. Stuart said this group would include tradesmen who would develop building needs, do specs, put the job out to bid and generally follow the project. They would need a certain level of expertise. John Patton felt that with the right people, this would work. First Selectman Mailhos thought that was a great idea.
It was determined that CIP needs to have an additional meeting. First Selectman Mailhos needs a 5-year plan for the Town Meeting in April so this needs to be done as soon as possible.
The date of the next meeting was discussed and set for February 24, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.
Kelly Trueb motioned to adjourn at 9:20 p.m.
Alan Ference seconded. (Vote: all yes).
Respectfully submitted,
Carol Noyes
Recording Secretary
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