CHESHIRE — Education officials pitched their plan for overhauling the town’s schools during a public meeting Thursday night.
The plan includes $423 million in new or renovated buildings over the next 15 years. School district leaders said state grants, maintenance savings and staff reductions would make the total cost of the project for Cheshire taxpayers closer to $231 million.
Delaying the plan would also increase the cost of construction as well as add years to school buildings that are on average more than 66 years old.
Residents at the meeting questioned funding for the plan, the future of individual schools and the addition of sixth grade students to a new middle school.
The first part of the plan calls for the construction of a new middle school that would accommodate sixth, seventh and eighth grades. Darcy and Humiston schools would be closed. Chapman may be closed or repurposed, according to the recommendations adopted by the Board of Education. A new Cheshire High School would be built and the old one demolished.
School Superintendent Jeff Solan said the restructuring of grades at the elementary and middle school levels would offer more opportunities to sixth grade students, in particular science and technology labs.
“There’s definitely educational merit for sixth-graders in making the transition. They won’t be shortchanged in that process,” he said. “To have access to full lab classes, a range of world language coursework, advanced technology, these are some of the programming focal points that we have for our sixth-graders transitioning to middle school.”
Regina Thornton said she had children who graduated from the town’s schools and asked why sixth-graders couldn’t remain at the existing elementary schools and avoid a rebuilding of Dodd. She was pleased with the education her children received.
“Maybe they don’t have all the opportunities they have at Dodd but they have good opportunities,” she said.
Solan said in addition to the educational reasons for the change, it’s more efficient to consolidate sixth-graders and reduce the number of elementary schools in town. Teachers and other staff can be more efficiently assigned within one building than spread throughout town. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
About 50 residents of Preston and other towns along with Preston officials attended the public hearing and expressed opinions and asked questions on the plan Thursday during a one hour, 15-minute public hearing hosted by the Preston Redevelopment Agency prior to its unanimous vote to adopt the plan.
The conceptual plan also has to be approved by residents at an upcoming town meeting.
Many comments and concerns expressed urged protection of Poquetanuck Cove, the rural character of the town of Preston and protection for the site where two World War II fighter jets crashed in a wooded area atop the hill on the east side of Route 12.
The Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority unveiled the proposed plan for the property on Jan. 17, showing development throughout the 393-acre property, including a 40-acre theme park, an indoor water park, synthetic skiing facility, outdoor adventure park, large chain outdoor-themed retail store, a sports training complex, hotels, senior housing, time share units, a public park near the Thames River and a marina with possible water shuttle service across the river to the Mohegan Sun Casino.
At the start of the hearing, PRA Chairman Sean Nugent told the audience that negotiations on the Property Disposition and Development Agreement are proceeding vigorously, with lawyers for both parties “locked in a room” for the past two days with instructions to get the agreement done, Nugent said. The official exclusive negotiation deadline between the town and the tribe passed on Feb. 19.
First Selectman Robert Congdon said earlier Thursday evening that the parties set a target date for the attorneys to complete the agreement by the end of business on Thursday. While the town received a revised draft of the roughly 150-page document Thursday afternoon, the final draft was not yet ready.
In response to a question at the hearing, Nugent said he was reluctant to set new tentative dates for public information sessions, the necessary town meeting and referendum — two sets of tentative dates have been canceled this month — before the final agreement is ready. Congdon said the town also must hold two public hearings prior to the referendum on any proposal to sell town property.
Several residents of Preston, Bozrah, North Stonington and Gales Ferry all said they love the rural character of Preston and would want to preserve that character in spite of the proposed dense development of the former hospital property.Anne Nalwalk of North Stonington and Anne Roberts-Pierson of Gales Ferry and others stressed the need to protect Poquetanuck Cove, a bird sanctuary and surrounding undeveloped open space land. Roberts-Pierson said any development on the property would affect all the towns on both the east and west sides of the river. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Tribes renew pitch for third casino, say they'll name site in days
The tribes running the state's two casinos will announce within days where they want to build a satellite gaming facility in north-central Connecticut, casino leaders announced Thursday.
Executives from Foxwoods Resort Casino and the Mohegan Sun casino visited the Legislative Office Building on Thursday to make a final pitch to the Public Safety Committee before that announcement.
And while Felix Rappaport, Foxwoods president and chief executive officer, and Mohegan Tribal Chairman Kevin P. Brown, stressed their plan's potential to save thousands of jobs, committee members offered mixed reactions to the idea of a third casino in Connecticut.
"We're days — not weeks or months — from announcing a decision," Brown told reporters minutes before testifying before the Public Safety Committee.
Following a process set up by the legislature in 2015, the Mashantucket Pequots — who run Foxwoods — and the Mohegans, are planning a new facility to blunt the anticipated loss of business tied to ongoing development of MGM Resorts International's $950 million casino and entertainment center in Springfield, Mass.
Brown said two communities still remain under consideration. The plan could not proceed unless approved by the General Assembly and by the local community. Brown added that one of the municipalities under consideration would require a referendum to decide whether to site the casino. The second would need the approval only of the local legislative body.
An analysis prepared for the tribes by gaming consultant Clyde Barrow estimates that the MGM facility — which is more than halfway complete and expected to open in 2018 — would cause the loss of 9,300 jobs and $702 million in revenue to Connecticut's casinos during its first three years of operation.
Barrow's projections are that a satellite facility would recapture 46 percent of the jobs and 53 percent of the revenue the Connecticut industry otherwise would lose. The tribes also say the new casino would create almost 4,300 new permanent jobs — either at the casino or at surrounding related businesses — and 2,300 temporary construction jobs.
"Over the last decade, Connecticut and our industry has stood still in the face of competition from Rhode Island and New York," Brown said. This has cost both Connecticut casinos thousands of jobs and has cost state government tens of millions in casino revenues.
Rappaport said Foxwoods, which opened in 1991, once employed 12,000 workers, and now has about 6,500 people on payroll. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Pipeline developers pursue multi-pronged approach
Utility Eversource said Wednesday that it – along with developers – will continue to pursue the proposed expansion of a natural gas pipeline that crosses Connecticut.
Several legal rulings last year effectively blocked a proposed financing mechanism for the Access Northeast project, which would expand the Algonquin Gas Transmission pipeline and add liquified natural gas facilities.
Developers wanted to include the construction costs into electric rates across New England, but a Massachusetts Supreme Court ruling effectively blocked the proposal.
Lead developer Spectra has said in recent months that it shifted its focus to securing contracts with natural gas utilities, or local distribution companies (LDCs), to help finance and move the project forward.
But LDC contracts alone won't be enough, Leon Olivier, an Eversource executive vice president, told analysts this week.
"We cannot make it work with just LDC load," Olivier said. "There's not enough LDC load to do that."
So the development partners, which also include National Grid, are simultaneously appealing a to the New Hampshire Supreme Court and attempting to convince lawmakers in Massachusetts -- a crucial state for the project because it uses 42 percent of New England's power -- to change state law.
A third option includes applying for a tariff through the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Eversource said.
Olivier referred to an outlook published this week by grid operator ISO-New England, which he said bolsters the case for Access Northeast.
In the report, ISO NE CEO Gordon van Welie wrote that he is concerned about keeping the lights on in future winters, particularly after 2019, when two non-gas power plants -- which the region relies on during cold spells -- are set to retire. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Dillon Stadium Debacle Spurs Bill To Make Bidders Swear They’re Not Crooks
Hartford's Dillon Stadium debacle has fueled a proposal for a new law to require bidders on government projects to sign sworn affidavits that they've never been convicted of corruption charges such as fraud, embezzlement and bribery.
"Such a requirement, in my opinion, protects public-sector resources, funding and projects from convicted, unscrupulous bidders," said Shay Atluru, president and CEO of an engineering consulting firm that says it wasn't paid for $70,000 worth of work it did on the failed stadium job.
However, construction industry representatives and the state commissioner in charge of contract procurement for most executive-branch agencies are opposing the bill, calling it unnecessary and redundant to existing safeguards in Connecticut law and regulations.
Whether the bill wins approval, it serves as evidence of the shock waves that the Dillon disaster has sent through the construction community. And it illustrates the process by which state laws are sometimes amended based on current events. Atluru and his minority-owned firm, Diversified Technology Consultants (DTC) – which has offices in Hamden, Boston and Sarasota, Fla. – still want the bill to go through, saying it would strengthen existing protections.
"I know a large majority of bidders are honest, honorable individuals and companies," he said, but "[Senate Bill] 424 would capture the very small 'bad apples' that exist."
The CEO made his comments in written testimony submitted to a General Assembly committee for a Feb. 15 hearing on the pending bill, "An Act Requiring a Written Certification From Contractors Bidding on Public Works Projects."
That was a week after Mitchell Anderson, one of the Dillon project's two developers pleaded guilty to federal fraud and money laundering charges and agreed to repay $1.1 million siphoned from the job. His fellow developer, James C. Duckett Jr., was indicted along with him last June but has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.Anderson and Duckett had Hartford officials' approval for a plan unveiled two years ago to redevelop the deteriorated old Dillon Stadium into a $30 million to $50 million arena and bring professional soccer to the capital city. But it all fell apart after The Courant revealed irregularities in the project's financing. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Manchester Leaders Speeding Up School Projects
To save time and money, town leaders plan to accelerate school construction and renovation projects and begin planning the next phase of school building upgrades.
The boards of directors and education are to discuss the plans at a joint meeting on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in Lincoln Center.
Under the accelerated schedule, the $84 million school modernization project that voters approved in 2014 would be completed by the fall of 2019, instead of 2020 as originally planned. The main motivation, General Manager Scott Shanley said Thursday, is to save money on construction costs, which have been rising faster than inflation.
Under the 2014 bonding plan, Bennet Academy is being joined with the Cheney Building to create a new fifth- and sixth-grade school. The project also includes "like-new" renovations and additions to Verplanck and Waddell elementary schools. Robertson and Washington elementary schools are to be closed. With state reimbursement, local taxpayers are to be responsible for no more than $37.6 million.
The new schedule calls for work to begin at Waddell in the spring while the school is occupied, and to be completed by fall 2018, instead of 2019 as originally planned. Initial work is to be done on a section that is easily blocked off. The renovation and expansion of Verplanck is to be finished by fall 2019, instead of 2020. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Murphy talks $1T infrastructure bill at Greenwich roundtable
GREENWICH — Town residents had a chance to join in a brainstorming session about transportation and infrastructure Thursday with U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy.
Nearly 75 people were on hand for Murphy’s “community conversation” at Town Hall as part of a joint program of Murphy’s office and town officials.
The format was informal, with Murphy talking about the $1 trillion package proposed by Senate Democrats to fix the country’s decaying infrastructure and add thousands of jobs.
The effort could win bipartisan support, he said. During his campaign, President Donald Trump said he wanted to spend more money on projects to replace failing roads, bridges and other transportation links.
“Every time I criticize the Trump administration for things I disagree with, whether it be immigration or health care, I try to say there are places like this where, if they took it, we could find agreement,” Murphy said. “I think Connecticut will do well if we make a big investment.”
“Right now, the United States is spending about 3 percent of its (Gross Domestic Product) on infrastructure,” said Murphy, who is on the Senate’s Appropriations Committee and Transportation Sub Committee. “Europe, even in the midst of all these economic crises, is spending twice that at 6 percent of its GDP. China is spending 12 percent of its GDP on infrastructure. It’s no wonder they have the high speed trains and we have trains slower than they were in 1950.”
A trillion dollars “is a scary number, but you have to explain to people that we’re going to have our economic lunch handed to us if we don’t start to spend in a manner that is at least close to consistent with all of the other economic powers,” he said.
“At any moment this could accelerate very quickly and we could be in a debate ...about a big, major transportation investment project,” Murphy said. “If that happens, I want to make sure we get everything we need here in Connecticut.“
The Greenwich members of the bi-partisan panel included Selectmen John Toner and Drew Marzullo, Board of Estimate and Taxation member John Blankley, town Director of Zoning Katie DeLuca, Commissioner of Public Works Amy Siebert, Chairman of the Greenwich Housing Authority Board of Commissioners Sam Romeo, Greenwich Preservation Trust Chairman Jo Conboy and town Chamber of Commerce CEO Marcia O’Kane.
The panel also included Stamford Mayor David Martin, Darien First Selectman Jayme Stevenson, Westport First Selectman First Selectman Jim Marpe and State Rep. Gail Lavielle (R-143rd).
The event was organized locally by Marzullo.
“A trillion dollars is a lot of money, but when divided by 50 (states) with thousands of competing projects, how will Connecticut rank?” Marzullo asked. “Senator Murphy is committed to making sure our state sees its fair share. As dysfunctional as Washington D.C. is, infrastructure is an area where Democrats and Republicans may just agree.”
Siebert said a 2009 infrastructure bill required projects be “shovel ready” before money was granted, which left Greenwich at a disadvantage. She asked if the new infrastructure bill would have those same restrictions.
“I will be advocating that any transportation infrastructure bill that we do not prioritize shovel-ready projects,” Murphy said. “The stimulus bill was a different moment in time when it was really about restarting the economy as fast as possible. This bill should be about priority projects that have the biggest long-term benefit for the economy.”
Romeo said he wanted Congress to consider alternatives to simply replacing older roads and bridges.
“Anybody who travels I-95 in Fairfield County from the 287 corridor all the way up to Bridgeport will know what a nightmare it is to travel during the morning rush hour and evening rush hour,” Romeo said. “I think we should be looking at elevated platforms and a monorail system.”
Conboy suggested getting goods shipped by barges to reduce truck traffic. He also worried major highway expansions or high-speed rail could damage historical landmarks along the I-95 corridor.
kborsuk@greenwichtime.com
Connecticut’s transportation congestion a hurdle for businesses, commuters
rocky hill >> The typical Connecticut commuter travels about 24,000 miles per year getting to and from work, enough to travel the circumference of the Earth, according state Department of Transportation officials.
(Transportation) congestion is an issue that is plaguing our economy,” Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner James Redeker told about 100 people attending the agency’s Transportation Showcase at the Sheraton Rocky Hill.Traffic congestion is an issue that officials at the Mohegan Sun Casino wrestle with around the clock. Because the casino is a 24-hour operation in a remote part of eastern Connecticut, Mohegan Sun heavily promotes ride-sharing among its employees who work similar shifts, said Jeff Hamilton, assistant general manager of Mohegan Sun.The casino also offers a mass transit alternative for those who don’t want to have to deal with the congestion on Interstate 95, Hamilton said. Individuals who want to visit the casino can take the Shoreline East commuter rail line to New London and take a shuttle bus to Mohegan Sun, he said. The casino provides a gift card to visitors who use the mass transit option, Hamilton said. “Congestion definitely impacts our business,” he said. “If it’s not easy to get somewhere, you’re probably not going to go.” Melissa Goodall, associate director of Yale University’s Office of Sustainability, said the school operates 18 different shuttle buses to get students and staff where they need to go. Later this year, Goodall said Yale officials will begin assessing the feasibility of creating a shared transportation service with the other colleges and universities in the New Haven area. “We haven’t started the analysis and it’s going to be a multi-year endeavor because if we’re going to do it, we want to do it right,” she said. Redeker said getting people not to drive to work is difficult.
“It’s hard to break historic patterns, whether you are an employee who is commuting or someone looking to locate a new business in our state,” he said. “A lot of people don’t think about whether they could commute to work on mass transit if they had to.”Goodall said 53 percent of Yale employees commute to work by themselves. The university is hoping to reduce that number in the coming years, she said. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE