BETHEL -- By 69 votes, taxpayers on Tuesday night rejected a proposal to spend $14.1 million to build a new police station, dealing a blow to those who believe the existing 8,500-square-foot facility is inadequate. Taxpayers did agree to foot the initial $2.4 million bill to construct a water tank in the Long Ridge neighborhood, a health and fire safety project that ultimately will be paid through state grants, loans and water-rate increases for 10,000 users over the course of several decades. The vote for that project was 1,283-480. Residents voted to spend $4.3 million for a new energy-services contract expected to save the town as much as $30,000 in annual energy costs. That vote was 977-785. First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker said he was disheartened by the 926-857 vote to defeat the proposed police station, and by the low voter turnout for a two-year effort to, in his view, do right by the town's law-enforcement personnel. But more than 2,000 fliers opposing the new police station were distributed to residents over the weekend. "That is really disappointing," Knickerbocker said as he headed to the Municipal Center to hear the unofficial results. "I think the disinformation campaign may have had an impact. This is a real shame for our police department, a real shame. They did not deserve this last-minute ambush that confused just enough voters to tip the balance." CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Streetscape project one step closer to completion
BERLIN — The town’s plan to improve the look of the section of Main Street that connects to New Britain Road and Farmington Avenue has taken a step forward.
The town recently received $204,000 in grants to supplement an earlier grant of $259,300 to pay for the direct costs of improving the streetscape in the area that surrounds the train station. The additional money will allow the town to expand on its original project design. The new grant, according to Economic Development Director Jim Mahoney, “will fund improvements in the balance of the triangle” that is Main Street, New Britain Road and Farmington Avenue. The Town Council has agreed to have Luchs Consulting Engineers, LLC, look into the project and design the additional improvements. Last year, Luchs Consulting was hired to design the first phase of the plan.
“It would be most efficient to use the same engineering consultant for additional work,” Mahoney noted. The additional design work will cost approximately $23,000. It will include, according to documents provided by the firm, the east sidewalk between Main Street and Farmington Avenue, the south sidewalk between New Britain Avenue and Main Street, the south sidewalk between Main Street and Farmington Avenue, and the north corner sidewalk by Deming Park. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Salem considers moving up renovations to school roof
Salem - The Board of Education and the Board of Selectmen are considering a recommendation by the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) to renovate the roof of the 1994 addition to Salem School a year earlier than scheduled in the school board's 10-year capital plan.
CREC made the recommendations in a presentation to the Board of Education at its meeting last week. CREC's recommendation also includes installing solar panels and an upgrade of the interior lighting system to LED technology. Solar panels have been installed on other town buildings, including the Town Hall, Salem Free Public Library, Gardner Lake Fire Company and the Public Works building, which have saved the town about $8,000 a year according to First Selectman Kevin Lyden. At the selectmen's meeting a few days after the presentation, school board member George Jackson, liaison to the selectmen, relayed the recommendations. Lyden said he did not support the proposal, and asked the school board to consider, and ask CREC for, a proposal for installing solar panels on the two-thirds of the roof that was renovated as part of the recent $6.2 million school renovation, leaving the upgrades for the 1994 addition for the 2016-17 fiscal year, as scheduled.
"Even at that time, it would be assessed to see if it needs to be done at that time or if it could last a couple of years," said Lyden. "Rarely do you see things funded ahead of time, unless it's an emergency-type thing, especially something this expensive." CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
CL&P finishes Stamford transmission line
Berlin electric utility Connecticut Light & Power finished its nine-month construction of a new underground transmission line in Stamford, a project that included tunneling under the Metro-North Railroad.
The 1.5-mile project is part of a long-term plan to improve electric reliability as Stamford and the surrounding area grow and increases its need for power.
In addition to tunneling under Metro-North, the Stamford Reliability Cable Project also had to route around the Stamford Urban Transitway, which was the city's roadway improvement project between East Main and Atlantic streets.
The 115-kilovolt underground transmission line links two existing substations in the Glenbrook and South End neighborhoods of Stamford, ensuring power will flow freer and easier in the city.
NU inks natural gas pipeline access deal
Northeast Utilities has signed a deal with a Shelton natural gas transmission company to increase natural gas access for NU's planned $3 billion pipeline expansion.
NU and its partner in the pipeline expansion, Spectra Energy of Houston, formed the alliance with Iroquois Gas Transmission System of Shelton to make sure the pipeline would have enough access to natural gas to meet the growing demand in New England.
NU announced the $3 billion pipeline expansion in September, in order to meet the natural gas demand in the region for both home heating and power generation. The commodity cost of natural gas is significantly lower than other heating/generation fuels, but limited pipeline access to New England constricts the amount of natural gas that can be brought into the region, especially in winter.
The deal with Iroquois gives NU and Spectra access to the 416 miles of Iroquois pipeline that reach natural gas deposits and storage in the U.S. and Canada.
Developer Mews Apartment -Townhouse Proposal Brought to Officials
Developers have brought the Glastonbury Mews, a 150-unit housing project at the corner of House Street and Hebron Avenue, to town officials. The proposal calls for 84 apartment units within three buildings and 66 townhomes within 11 buildings.
GLASTONBURY — Developers have begun informal discussions with town officials on a proposed 150-unit housing complex within the town center. Continental Properties Inc. brought the Glastonbury Mews project before the town plan and zoning commission on Tuesday to get feedback.
The proposal calls for 84 apartment units within three buildings and 66 townhouse within 11 buildings. It would include a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and townhouses on a vacant lot at the corner of House Street and Hebron Avenue.
Developers said the larger apartment buildings would be closest to the Route 2 highway ramp in order to buffer them from the rest of the site. A number of mature trees stand between the exit ramp and the proposed development area. The development would use "green" building methods, including solar panels to provide electrical service to the clubhouse; a water collection system for landscape irrigation; bike racks; electric car charging stations; and use of recycled pavers and brick, the developer said. The proposal also calls for a pool and clubhouse along with garages and parking.
Peter J. Alter, the developer's attorney, called the site "the most difficult intersection in Glastonbury."CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
New Haven-Hartford-Springfield rail upgrades on track
A U.S. Congressman bound for a train to Springfield paused to behold the golden view above his head inside the grand main waiting room at New Haven’s Union Station.
“I’m just blown away looking at that ceiling,” he said. The Congressman, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal of Massachusetts, was speaking at a stopover press conference held Monday as he prepared to board the Amtrak train to Hartford, then Springfield. The reason for the press conference: to highlight the improvements coming to rail service thanks in part to federal dollars he helped secure along with New Haven U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro; and to look at what else can happen to boost the commuter rail.
A $365 million project is underway CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE