Close to 30 Capital Projects Currently Under Consideration for Fiscal Year 2027

For your consideration — a constellation of capital projects all vying for funding. Only some will receive the coveted award of approval by the Board of Selectmen for presentation to the Annual Town Meeting in May.

There are 29 projects on the table that the Wilton Capital Planning Committee will be considering at its next meeting, planned for Wednesday, Feb. 4, with a total estimated cost of $57,647,591, though that figure does not include estimates for two of the projects. 

The jury is still out on whether the committee will strictly recommend items only from the two original facilities needs assessments — one completed for the school buildings and another for municipal buildings — or if a wider range of projects — including items like road restoration and a large dump truck, which are currently at the literal top of the list itself — will be part of its push for bonding recommendation to the BOS.

It’s also not clear exactly how much the BOS will want to bond this year, though the figure is likely to be less than the $9.56 million in capital projects put forward last year.

8 Department of Public Works Projects …

There are eight DPW items on the list of considerations, two of which — $2,127,170 for seven miles of road restoration and $330,000 for a large dump truck — represent annual needs, according to DPW Director Frank Smeriglio, that will continue recurring each year ad infinitum. 

While last year the town approved bonding $700,000 for road restoration and $330,000 for a dump truck and accoutrements, some town officials argue that both of these items should be part of the town’s operating budget and not paid for through borrowing. 

There has also been confusion around the current road paving account, as the town’s previous chief financial officer stated last year that it held several million dollars in unused funds. The town is still waiting to get clear answers from the new CFO Dawn Savo on what’s held in certain accounts in order to help with the decision-making process.

Smeriglio is also requesting $576,000 for the Kent Rd. Bridge rehabilitation project and $940,000 for a culvert replacement on Old Huckleberry Rd. 

… Including 4 Highway Garage-Related Items

Though it’s split into two separate items on the project list — $200,000 for design and $1 million for construction — the underground fuel tank replacement at the Highway Garage represents another DPW project.

While Smeriglio presented it to the WCPC as something that had to be done by the town in order to keep the DPW fleet running, especially during snow events, committee member Rich Santosky proposed that it might not be the most cost-effective solution. He suggested the town investigate the possibility of teaming up with an existing fuel business before embarking on this project.

Santosky also indicated that the $940,000 for the culvert replacement seemed exceptionally high.

Smeriglio is also looking for $5,031,290 for an addition to the Highway Garage for offices, and a separate $1,023,770 for building renovations there. 

While the Facility Condition Assessment of town buildings prepared by Marx-Okubo Associates close to two years ago suggested there were no significant issues in need of immediate remediation, it gave an overall estimate of $1,145,104 for work that would be needed over the next several years for various repairs at the Highway Garage, thought the report made no mention of an addition.

3 Municipal Building Project Items

Along with the Highway Garage, both Town Hall and the Fire Department headquarters have appeared as items for consideration.

Renovations to the existing fire headquarters is estimated to cost $1,606,880, but in a presentation to the WCPC, Fire Chief Jim Blanchfield presented an argument that an addition estimated at $4,346,771 is also needed.

The original needs assessment listed only $3,000 for immediate repairs at the fire headquarters, with $1,046,000 to follow over the next couple of years. It estimated total renovation work there at $1,782,394. The assessment also cited $546,270 for renovation work at Fire Station No. 2 over the course of the next 10 years.

In his presentation Blanchfield and DPW officials noted that the $4.3-million addition would result in some savings on the renovation work.

According to the Marx-Okubo report, shared in February of 2024, Town Hall was in need of $81,300 in immediate repairs, with $1,641,000 in the couple years to follow, and a total of $2,857,907 through the decade.

While some money has already been allocated for renovation work by the BOS, Smeriglio and his team are putting forward a $600,000 request for design work on what would become a much more expansive project, possibly including construction of a new building. The WCPC noted that the BOS would need to give this more consideration before moving forward.

$29 Million in School Projects

A separate facilities assessment was prepared regarding the Wilton Public Schools by KG+D Architects and released in November of 2023. The report cited a total of $132.1 million in repair projects over the following 10 years at Cider Mill, Middlebrook and Wilton High School. $10.4 million were considered top priority, with an additional $77.6 million in second-tier priorities.

There are six separate Board of Education line items totaling $29 million currently under consideration by the WCPC for a range of work primarily at Middlebrook and Cider Mill Schools as presented by Superintendent Kevin Smith. He and his team have sought to bundle multiple repair projects that were listed in separate detail in the report into larger ones in order to meet bonding qualifications.

“Continued School Improvements” at Middlebrook are earmarked at $13,436,569. In a separate item, $8,689,594 is designated for site work, doors and windows at Middlebrook, for a total request of $22,126,163 at that school.

A total of $6,556,298 is being requested for Cider Mill in three different project allocations, including $2.9 million for partial roof replacement, $2,701.268 for exterior envelope renovation, and $955,030 for site work, doors and windows.

The BOE is also asking for $265,500 for sidewalk, drainage and pavement work at the parking lot adjacent to the Guy Whitten Field at Wilton High School.

Last year voters approved more than $6.5 million in school-related projects for bonding, including $2 million for the library roof replacement at WHS, $1,646,314 for various Middlebrook improvements including floor tiles, ceiling tiles and lighting replacements,$373,000 for a Middlebrook exhaust fan replacement, $250,000 for an HVAC system replacement at the Middlebrook gym, $1,547,678 for a water chiller replacement at Cider Mill, and $725,000 for miscellaneous sidewalk, drainage and pavement work.

10 Different Parks & Recreation Projects

While last year voters approved $700,000 to fund turf field replacement at Memorial Stadium at WHS, this year Parks and Recreation Department Director Steven Pierce is requesting $1,200,000 for turf replacement at Lilly Field.

Although it was rejected by voters two years ago, the department is back requesting $2.5 million for another new synthetic turf field. Simultaneously, the department wants $1 million for irrigation and drainage work on some of the town natural grass fields.

Pierce made it clear to the WCPC recently that the department’s priority is the creation of four new pickleball courts — something the Parks & Recreation Commission believes will receive strong community support. He has estimated the project at $300,000, although Santosky said that based on his experience it would likely cost more.

The needs assessment report previously cited several Parks & Rec projects as in need of prioritization, including structures at Veterans Memorial Park, Merwin Meadows barn and bathrooms, and repairs at Comstock Community Center.

Pierce is proposing construction of a full-size gymnasium at Comstock for an estimated total of $2,750,000, along with a separate request for $500,000 for replacement of Comstock’s HVAC system and elevator. He is also requesting $500,000 for renovation to the Merwin Meadow bathhouse, as well as $600,000 for replacement of current field lighting with LED lights. There is $200,000 also being requested for lighting repairs at Memorial Stadium.

While he does not have a dollar figure suggested for the work, Pierce also wants to see funding for renovation work and possibly a new building for the Grounds Department.

Other Town Properties

While it was never part of the town’s original facilities assessment reports, the Yellow House at Ambler Farm has perhaps received more attention than any other building in town. Last year it was on the short list for consideration by the BOS, which opted to recommend $1,286,618 for Ambler Farm’s White House while postponing the Yellow House for at least a year. 

This year saw an extended controversy regarding a first lease between the town and Friends of Ambler Farm — the nonprofit that operates at the property. While sentiments of support are regularly cited for the farm and its historic building, with a $1,367,749 estimated price tag and some details relating to use, revenue and the lease itself still floating in the air, the project will likely receive additional scrutiny.

The Gilbert & Bennett School, meanwhile, which was on the facilities assessment report, did not at first make the project list at all for the WCPC to consider. Recent events, however — including a disclosure from First Selectman Toni Boucher that she was in private discussions regarding its future — have invited renewed attention to the historic Georgetown building and property.

The Marx-Okubo report cites some immediate repair needed for the building starting at a $63,000 estimate, with an additional $1,417,500 needed in the first couple of years, and a total estimate of $2,292,772 to do repairs throughout the decade.

In the case of both historic properties, some discussion has touched on public-private partnerships in helping to raise funds for repairs, as well as private fundraising.