#Middlebury #CapitalPlan
By MARJORIE NEEDHAM
Voters in November 2016 approved the first phase of a Capital Plan that includes road repairs and infrastructure improvements. At that time, First Selectman Edward B. St. John explained more money was needed, but he was trying to finance repairs in a way that did not cause a spike in the mil rate. With most of phase one complete, St. John is asking voters to approve appropriation and bonding for phase two. The phase two costs add up to $5.8 million.
The questions (and the amounts) that will appear on voters’ ballots Wednesday, March 27, are:
- Shall the $4.2 million appropriation and bond issuance authorization to repair and improve Middlebury Roads (2019), as adopted by the Boards of Selectmen and Finance, be approved?
- Shall the $1.6 million appropriation and bond issuance authorization for the Middlebury Capital Asset Revitalization Program, Phase 2019, consisting of the improvement and repair of police department, town hall, library, Shepardson Community Center, fire department headquarters, public works, Fenn Farm, historical society and park and recreation buildings and facilities, as adopted by the Boards of Selectmen and Finance, be approved?
A third question for appropriating money and issuing bonds will be on the ballot, but it is for Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) projects and will not affect taxpayers who are not served by the WPCA. WPCA projects are financed separately from town projects.
Residents who would like an update on the work done thus far and the work that remains to be done are invited to attend Capital Plan Update sessions led by St. John Thursday, Feb. 28, at 11 a.m. or at 7 p.m. in the Larkin Room at the Middlebury Public Library at 30 Crest Road. Light refreshments will be served.
Steve and Judy Max attended the Jan. 24 update. Judy said, “It’s good to see what we’ve accomplished.” She said St. John gave a really good update. As for spending more money, she said, “I think we need to do it. We weren’t keeping up with our roads or anything. You end up spending more.”
Steve said he worked in construction most of his life and has seen towns that didn’t keep up with maintenance. He said, “They end up spending double or triple what Middlebury is spending.” He added that it’s always cheaper to keep thing maintained than to replace them later.
At the Jan. 24 presentation, St. John used Benson Road, Wheeler Road and Bioski Road as examples of roads that still need repairs. A number of other streets are top priority, with six listed in the northeast quadrant of town, five listed in the southwest quadrant, 14 listed in the southeast quadrant and 12 listed in the southwest quadrant. On the update maps green roads have been repaired, red roads need repairing soon, and blue roads are roads that need to be watched. The maps, along with the entire update, can be seen online by going to middlebury-ct.org and clicking on “Updated Capital Plan.”
St. John also talked about needed infrastructure repairs, including updating the lavatories at Shepardson. They date back to the 1930s when the building was a school. Now, it also gets used as an emergency shelter, and it has no showers. Upgrades will include one or two showers.
The town’s generators also have many years on them. During the recent power outages, St. John said the generator at the Public Works Department quit entirely, and the town had to rent a generator. Public works employees had to babysit the generator at Shepardson Community Center for some 30 hours just to keep it up and running.
The town also has to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, and while much has been accomplished in that area, more needs to be done. ADA upgrades in all town buildings are part of phase two.
Attend the Feb. 28 update to learn more and to have your questions answered.
