The findings were part of a national poll commissioned by AEM to gauge voter perceptions and attitudes about United States water infrastructure broadly and the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2016 specifically, a major water infrastructure resource authorization bill currently awaiting final passage in the lame-duck Congress.
“Improving and modernizing U.S. infrastructure overall, and in this case, water infrastructure, continues to be a bipartisan priority among voters,” said Dennis Slater, AEM President. “Congressional leaders in both the U.S. Senate and House are to be commended for taking action on their respective versions of a 2016 WRDA bill, but should reach consensus on a final version before the 114th Congress adjourns.”
The national poll identified a number of key findings, including:
• A majority (54 percent) of registered voters say that U.S. water infrastructure is in fair or poor condition.• Nearly seven out of 10 (67 percent) of the surveyed population believe that the federal government should spend somewhat more or much more on water pipelines and waterways.
• More than seven out of every 10 (74 percent) registered voters either support or strongly support Congress passing WRDA.
• A clear majority (73 percent) of registered voters are either somewhat or much more likely to support WRDA when they learn that it might prevent drinking water crises such as the one in Flint, MI. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Stonington PZC to continue hearing Tuesday on West Vine Street School plan
Stonington _ The Planning and Zoning Commission will continue its public hearing on the special use permit needed by the town to expand and renovate West Vine Street School on Tuesday at 7:30 at Mystic Middle School.
When the hearing began last month, commission members criticized the school’s parking plan of 180 spots as excessive. They continued the hearing until Tuesday so the K-12 School Building Committee, along with the architects and engineers for the $67 million elementary school project, could review the location and number of parking spots.
Also on Tuesday night, the commission will hod a public hearing on an application by Stone Acres Farm to create an Agricultural Heritage District, a floating zone that would allow an expanded list of agricultural-related uses in an effort to preserve historic working farms. Stone Acres is located on North Main Street just north of Route 1. By Joe Wojtas
Connecticut labor agency finds $7.1 million in unpaid wages
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — The state Department of Labor has recovered approximately $1 million more in unpaid wages owed to Connecticut workers compared to the previous fiscal year.
Agency officials say wage enforcement staff got back more than $7.1 million that was owed to workers during the fiscal year which ended June 30. Of the $7.1 million, approximately $1.79 million stemmed from complaints from workers about unpaid wages.
Approximately $1.14 million was provided to employees who did not receive required minimum wage or overtime, while more than $2.57 million was recovered for workers who were paid incorrect amounts while working at public contract construction sites. Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced the latest figures last week, saying it’s “important to the financial strength of this state” that working men and women are paid properly.Penfield Pavilion nearing completion
FAIRFIELD — Four years after it was shuttered due to damage sustained in Superstorm Sandy in 2012, a rebuilt Penfield Pavilion is close to reopening to the public.
Building Committee Chairman James Bradley said the $7.4 million project is on schedule to reopen in February, on time and, at this point, under budget. “It’s coming along really well,” he said.
The construction began in March with the demolition of the east wing of lockers.
Bradley said the committee will have a more definitive figure when it meets next week, but said the project is a “low, six figure number” under budget.
The town’s share of the project cost will be offset by a 75 percent reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as well as a $1.75 million insurance settlement.
“A lot of the landscaping is in place,” Bradley said, but there is still some exterior and interior painting in the locker wing. “They’re working on finishing the east wing locker bathrooms.”
Crews are cleaning the facility and doing repairs to some of the sheetrock. “About mid-month, they will start at the west wing and go through the entire facility to clean it,” Bradley said. “It looks good, considering we had to do a lot more in the way of repairs.”
An inspection for a certificate of occupancy is scheduled for Dec. 27. “The town agencies have really been helpful, as far as the inspections,” according to Bradley. Plans also call for the installation of acoustic panels in the facility’s function room.
The parking lot has been paved and striped. Originally, the committee had hoped to reuse the porous pavers that were in the lot, but about 60 percent were damaged. Instead, he said, they decided to use typical asphalt but install rain gardens for drainage.
The finished pavilion, Bradley said, should show the town that volunteer building committees “can do it right. That is a strong committee, and I think we handled ourselves well.” By Genevieve Reilly