Although it was a bit mired in pedantic procedure and lengthy presentations, Tuesday night’s (May 7) Annual Town Meeting unfolded with nary a hitch, peppered by public praise for how town officials handled things this year.
Wilton residents now have the chance to cast their ballot for the recommendations made at the Town Meeting, including $140,339,906 town budget for fiscal year 2025, which represents a 4% increase, along with five separate bonding resolutions that total almost $9.5 million, and a new town ordinance that would allow beer breweries in town.
Residents are encouraged to cast their votes on Saturday, May 11, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Clune Auditorium (at Wilton High School, 395 Danbury Rd.), with absentee ballots also available through Town Hall.
There are three voting options for the budget vote: Yes, I approve the budget; No, budget is too low; or No, budget is too high. ‘No’ votes will be combined to determine a majority between ‘Yes’ and all ‘No’ votes. If less than 15% of registered voters cast votes, the budget will automatically pass.
The five referendums under consideration include $3,862,000 for a new chiller, unit ventilator and ceiling tiles at Middlebrook School; $1,903,000 for roof replacement also at Middlebrook; $1.6 million for reconstruction work on Scribner Hill Rd.; $1,585,000 for renovations at Town Hall; and $540,000 for general road restoration.
No minimum turnout is necessary for referendum questions — they are decided on a straightforward ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ vote, regardless of how many people vote.
“I think you’ve done a great job,” resident Deborah McFadden told the panel of town officials in attendance, which included members of the Boards of Education, Finance and Selectmen. “I support the budget.”
“I’m grateful for all that you’ve done and I encourage those that have friends and neighbors that aren’t in this room, that they turn out on Saturday to vote.”
Resident Steve Hudspeth echoed praise.
“I’ve been so impressed this year with how all three boards have worked … so cooperatively,” he said, calling it “very, very heartwarming.”
“We’re tremendously appreciative of them,” he said.
Wiltonians in attendance Tuesday night spoke almost solely in favor of the budget, with more comments centered around the bonding referendums, the ordinance, and general changes in town spending.
“I think we should take care of our police better than we are,” said resident James McSweeney, who said the town, perhaps in cooperation with other area towns, should fund extra limited liability insurance for police following state cuts.
“I think that it would be money well spent,” he said.
Resident Charles Phippen cautioned that with close to 1,000 new units under consideration for development, residents had to become aware of long-term costs that could follow.
“My suggestion is for everyone to think about all the building that is going on in town,” he said, warning that taxes will go up 100%, with demands for more services for more residents.
“It’s gonna get a lot worse,” he said, earning some applause from the audience.
On the other hand, resident David Tatkow encouraged the town continuing to grew its commercial base.
“We need more development,” he said, including housing and infrastructure in order to attract more commercial tax dollars.
Residents also spoke for and against the new ordinance that would allow breweries, which would also be allow to serve alcohol.
Nicholas Bamonte, town counsel, shared about Wilton’s history as a dry town, and how changes to the alcohol rules follow a slightly different path. He told the Town Meeting that while the Board of Selectmen, which has been considering the question since the fall and has the authority to approve the ordinance, it decided instead to put the question out to residents.
He said that while local laws currently allow for alcohol sold through country clubs, restaurants and package stores, “This new proposal would add another category to our allowed alcohol services, which again would mean breweries … only entities that have been granted a state brewery permit (which) only allows for on-premises sales and off-premises sales of beer manufactured on the property.”
He said that, if passed, the Planning and Zoning Commission would engage the authority to define where in town they were allowed, as well as how many could locate in Wilton.
“That is, in fact, what the next steps would be,” Bamonte said.
“I’m voicing my support for this measure,” resident Spencer Robinson said, explaining that it would result in opportunities for social gathering and community.
Resident Nestor Cortes disagreed, citing Wilton’s unique character.
“I love beer as much as everyone else, (but) if I want a brewery I’ve got one across the border,” he said.
In presenting details on the five referendum items, First Selectman Toni Boucher gave an impassioned plea for funding, detailing issues of decay and disrepair both at Middlebrook and Town Hall, including sharing photographs.
“This is a heavy burden, but one we must shoulder if we want to preserve Wilton’s quality of life,” she said of infrastructure issues that have been deferred for several years.
“Some things that were very strongly desired by some people in town, like pickleball … must wait until next year or the following,” she said, owing to an estimated $130 million in facility-repair costs currently facing the town, as well as a new requirement to keep a higher amount of money in reserve in order to maintain the town’s Aaa bonding rate.
Asked about the town spending some of its reserve in order to offset some of these costs, Boucher shared her opposition.
“It is not a good idea for the town to pursue a lower downgrade … and it is not something I would support,” she said.
Resident Patti Temple spoke in favor of fixes at Town Hall, including window repair and exterior cosmetic work.
“As a taxpayer, I’m embarrassed at the working conditions we have for our employees,” she said, following pictures that Boucher shared of town employees working during winter months while wearing hats to stay warm.
Resident Shereen Moubayed suggested there might be more opportunities for employees to work remotely, but Boucher said these options were already exhausted, also citing a need for the public to interact with town employees.
“I think we’ve maximized the ability to do remote,” she said.
Both BOE chair Ruth DeLuca and BOF chair Matthew Raimondi also made presentations on the BOE budget and the BOF recommendations, respectively.
While the procedures weren’t televised live by the town itself — with GOOD Morning Wilton providing the sole live feed for residents on its news site — residents can re-watch the three-hour meeting on the town’s website later this week or see the recording on GMW as well.
Please explain why you said “pedantic” – do you know the rules/regulations surrounding a public meeting?