The Town and Schools Needs Assessment Priorities Committee (TSNAP) met Wednesday evening (Nov. 13) to continue crafting the recommendations it will make to the Board of Selectmen for capital spending priorities across Town facilities.
The committee members have yet to find firm footing as they work their way through a dizzying list of building needs and the daunting task of prioritizing them. Although the committee appears to have inched closer to consensus on a final list of recommendations, a few sticking points continued to vex some members at the latest TSNAP meeting.
Fine-tuning The List
The committee focused the discussion on a prioritized list of projects drafted by the leadership of Wilton’s Department of Public Works. The list was revised by DPW after it was first proposed on Oct. 9, and reflects a substantial reduction in the overall cost, from $11.4 million to $9.7 million in bonded capital requests for FY 2026. (Specifically, the $9.7 million reflects a reduction of $1.3 million due to carryover of unused road restoration funds, and $418,000 in parking lot paving at the Town Hall campus and Comstock, which could be paid from annual Road Aid grants.)
The committee agreed to further reduce the list by removing the proposed generator for Wilton High School from among the top priorities after Wilton Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Kevin Smith said he felt the need for the generator ought to be further studied.
Committee member Rich Santosky said the $750,000 cost estimate for the generator — which he judged as “not a plausible number” — was cause for concern.
“That brings into question my confidence in the rest of the numbers,” he said.
Santosky, a construction professional, also pressed Assistant DPW Director Jeff Pardo on the roughly $300,000 cost for the Fire Department apparatus room, which includes replacement of the slab floor. Santosky expressed strong skepticism about the conclusion that the slab has failed and requested more information before the priority list is finalized.
Board of Finance Chair Matt Raimondi said he appreciated the cost reductions in DPW’s proposed list but remains concerned about increasing debt service levels at the proposed level of bonding.
Raimondi also raised questions about the nearly $2 million proposed for Ambler Farm buildings, which was itemized on the list separately from the rank-ordered projects. The ensuing discussion revealed confusion about whether the committee should be considering the Ambler Farm projects relative to other school and municipal building needs. TSNAP Chair Patti Temple told the committee that First Selectman Toni Boucher, who was unable to attend the meeting, could give more guidance on the members’ questions about prioritizing Ambler Farm.
Committee members hope to resolve the outstanding questions at their next meeting (which is not yet scheduled) and then be in a position to provide their recommendations to the Board of Selectmen.
Town Hall Study Update
Eric Kaeyer of KG+D Architects attended the Nov. 13 TSNAP meeting to update the committee on a study of Town Hall and various alternative scenarios for renovating the landmark building. GOOD Morning Wilton will be reporting on that discussion in a separate story.