The Board of Selectmen (BOS) held its regular meeting last night (Feb. 5) with Ambler Farm, the Wilton Library and more on the agenda.
The board has also scheduled two special meetings — Thurs., Feb. 8, and Mon., Feb. 12 — which will focus specifically on the FY2025 budget. (Agendas, Zoom links and other meeting details may be found on the Town website.)
Ambler Farm
The largest share of meeting time was devoted to discussion about Ambler Farm and the extensive repairs and upgrades needed at the Town-owned buildings on the property, including the Raymond-Ambler House and the Platt Raymond House (also known as the “white house” and the “yellow house,” respectively.)
Friends of Ambler Farm (FOAF) is requesting $2.2 million over the next two years — roughly $1.2 million for the white house and $1 million for the yellow house.
Patti Temple, president of the FOAF board, attended the meeting and reminded the selectmen about the Town’s commitment to Ambler Farm.
“This May’s Annual Town Meeting will be the 25th anniversary of Wilton residents and taxpayers overwhelmingly approving the purchase of Ambler Farm,” Temple said. “Twenty-five years later, the Town’s obligation to the property’s historic buildings remains unfulfilled.”
Temple emphasized that over the 25-year history, FOAF has provided 81% (over $9 million) of the total funding for Ambler Farm’s operations and capital spending, with the Town providing just 14% (roughly $1.6 million) — which she called “a bit of an imbalance.”
She further described the imbalance of the Town’s spending at Ambler Farm compared to the spending on other amenities. That imbalance was outlined more clearly in a funding analysis provided to the selectmen in advance of the meeting, which compared Town spending on Ambler Farm to the Wilton Library, Trackside Teen Center, athletic facilities and open spaces.
“Ambler Farm has received a small fraction of financial support from the Town compared to what some other Town amenities have received.”
“We want it to be our turn for financial support,” Temple told the selectmen. “Both the yellow house and the Raymond-Ambler house are your houses and our houses. They’re valuable town assets that will only be more valuable when the renovations are complete.”
Temple concluded her remarks with emotion in her voice.
“I request that you support the Town in the fulfillment of its obligations to the deed for the Ambler Farm property to make the Farm whole, as it was meant to be,” she said.
Ambler Farm Executive Director Ashley Kineon echoed that sentiment, referring to the Farm as “a town treasure” that “sets Wilton apart from other towns.”
Kineon emphasized that FOAF has not asked the Town to support operating expenses.
“What we’re asking for today is an investment in these Town assets for the use and the benefit of the community,” she said.
Program Director Kevin Meehan also addressed the BOS, speaking passionately about the need for the building upgrades commensurate with the tremendous success the Farm has achieved.
“We have exceeded every expectation,” Meehan said. “We are the model for educational farming in the region.”
Earlier in the meeting, First Selectman Toni Boucher shared a letter from Lori Fusco, chair of Wilton’s Historic District and Historic Property Commission, who advocated for efforts to preserve, repair and maintain the yellow house as “an important part of Wilton’s agrarian history.”
Details supporting the $2.2 million request were not immediately available. Kineon told the selectmen the exact costs were being finalized and would be provided shortly.
“It’s a very big ask,” Boucher said, as she asked the Ambler Farm representatives to consider what the priority projects would be if all of the funding could not be provided.
Selectman Ross Tartell acknowledged “this is a tough year” from a budget standpoint, but said it was time for action.
“We need to be thoughtful, but we need to do something,” he said.
Second Selectman Josh Cole agreed.
“We’ve been talking about this for many years. We’re at the point where we need to make some investment here,” he said. “[But] there’s a lot of things we have to make investments in. This is a piece of the puzzle that we have to put together and figure out how we’re going to deal with all this.”
“It is an asset of the Town, a crown jewel of the Town and a destination,” Cole said. “As a board we have to figure out how we will piece all this together in a way that taxpayers can afford.”
Boucher noted that deferred maintenance eventually comes due.
“It’s been very clear [that] both the school buildings and the [municipal] buildings need a lot of maintenance and repair that have been delayed over many years, and sooner or later you have to address those needs,” Boucher said.
She offered some assurance to the FOAF.
“We value Ambler Farm,” she said. “It has become an institution, and a part of the fabric of the community.”
Wilton Library
The selectmen voted unanimously to approve a proposed amendment to the public-private partnership agreement (PPA) which establishes the Town’s role in the governance and funding of the Wilton Library Association (WLA).
The goals and language of the amendment were the topic of discussion in confidential executive sessions in earlier meetings. The proposed amendment states:
“The Town may nominate one quarter (1/4) of the members of WLA’s Board of Trustees, and WLA shall elect the members nominated by the Town to WLA’s Board of Trustees. Three (3) of the Town-nominated trustees shall serve as members of WLA’s Executive Committee. At least one (1) Town-nominated trustee shall serve on each of WLA’s standing committees, including standing committees existing as of the date of this Amendment and any and all standing committees that may be created in the future. Town-nominated trustees shall report to the Town’s Board of Selectmen on a quarterly basis.“
The proposed amendment will be provided to the WLA’s board of trustees to adopt and execute.
More BOS News
- Just in time for residents making appeals on their recent property revaluations, the BOS unanimously approved two appointments on the Board of Assessment Appeals: Rich McCarty and Kevin O’Brien. Both appointees will serve as alternates for a limited time during the revaluation appeals process.
- The selectmen also voted unanimously to appoint Hillary Morrissy to the Economic Development Commission. Morrissey is the owner of Sweet Pierre‘s specialty chocolate shop located in Wilton Center.
- The selectmen approved a new Master Municipal Agreement between the Town and State of CT DOT. The master agreement is a new standard agreement in the DOT’s process for authorizing projects, which previously involved a separate agreement for each project.
- Board members continued discussion from their Jan. 24 meeting about a policy for naming Town-owned property and other types of commemorations to honor an individual. Boucher presented a draft policy statement which outlined a proposed procedure and criteria the selectmen might employ. The selectmen discussed some changes and agreed to revise the draft for discussion at the next BOS meeting.
- The board approved a contract with Waveny LifeCare Network for nursing services in Wilton Public Schools., effective through June 30, 2025.
- At the recommendation of Wilton Registrar of Voters Annalisa Stravato, the board discussed the Clune Center at Wilton High School as the sole polling location for the upcoming presidential primary elections. In a memo to the board, Stravato said she anticipated low turnout in the primaries — especially with the start of early voting in Connecticut — and reducing the need for multiple polling locations. The BOS approved the measure.