BRISTOL – After a summertime lull, there’s suddenly a flurry of activity surrounding the former downtown mall site. Pieces are going to be falling into place within days that may well determine whether the long-awaited project gets underway next spring or if the city’s chosen developer winds up leaving town. A special joint session of the City Council and Bristol Downtown Development Corp. has been scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday to review downtown revitalization recommendations from a consultant that officials quietly hired this summer to go over the plans for the proposed Depot Square development. Mayor Ken Cockayne said that Goman + York Property Advisors, a high-powered East Hartford firm, will present its review in a report that will be made public. Other officials said they anticipate a lengthy document that will likely be made available online. They said councilors may hold a closed-door executive session to discuss financial details after receiving the consultant’s paperwork. Plans for an executive on negotiations with Renaissance Downtowns that had been slated for Wednesday’s council session were canceled as attention shifted to the Monday meeting. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Council hears from public, approves $21M bond for police station
BERLIN — In a well-attended public hearing regarding the bonding of $21 million for the construction of a new police headquarters on Farmington Avenue, no one who spoke said they opposed the project.
However, there were plenty of questions and concerns — primarily regarding the effect on taxes.
“I’m not against this project, I’m just asking for full disclosure,” resident Kari Drost said. “… How is it going to increase my taxes? Is it going to be $100, $200, $500 a year? That’s what I need to know.” Town Manager Denise McNair said taxes may increase once the full impact of the $21 million needed to move the project forward is felt. The full brunt will not occur until the fiscal year 2017-18, when all the borrowing is complete. At that time, using present day assumptions, of the average property owner’s tax bill, $134 per year will be put directly toward paying off the bond for the police station. How much taxes will go up to offset that is unknown. McNair said the financial stewards of the town will make it -- as much as they can -- so the cost is absorbed into what property owners are already paying. Following the public hearing, the Town Council approved the $21 million bond across partylines, with the majority Democrats outweighing its GOP counterparts 4-3. A final decision will likely come at a referendum in November. A referendum is mandatory if a petition gains 377 signatures. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Enfield High School construction continues
While Enfield students will return to the schools on Sept. 2 after enjoying a summer off, the work hasn't stopped on the construction projects currently underway at Enfield High School.
The Enfield High School Building Committee has been hard at work since December 2012 and has been meeting on a regular basis to ensure steady and consistent progress working toward the goals of the referendum passed in November 2012. According to the committee, the construction for the new high school includes multiple phases. There will be several new additions to the building, with the largest being the Enrico Fermi STEAM wing. This will house the Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math programs. Existing structures will be treated as "Renovate as New." This means that all existing portions of the school remaining when construction is complete will have been updated and the school will be 100-percent compliant with all applicable codes. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Farmington residents express concern about treatment plant project
FARMINGTON — While some residents expressed concerns about the town's proposed $57.24 million sewer plant improvement project Tuesday, officials said the town could stand to lose up to $12.3 million in state grants if the project isn't approved by voters. Town Manager Kathy Eagen said that the town is working toward presenting the project at a November referendum. "If it doesn't pass, the state will mandate the town to take action on upgrading the facility," Eagen said at the council meeting Tuesday. "The town might lose the grant funding opportunity Michael McLaughlin of Worthington Drive asked the council how much of the cost of the project will be borne by Avon, Burlington and Canton, who use the Farmington facility. Eagen said each of the towns and the UConn Health Campus file permits with the state that shows how much they use the treatment plant. She said those towns and the health center are projected to contribute about $9.26 million toward the project. "If they go past what their permit requires, we do have the option to go back and charge them more for the use," Eagen said. Eagen told residents that the first year, the upgrade will increase taxes by $133, but that amount will decrease by about $6 each year over 20 years. Eagen said because the water treated at the Farmington facility is used by the schools, municipal buildings, other towns and the UConn Health Campus, the project comes down to a public safety issue because the current facility doesn't meet state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection requirements. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE