While Wilton’s Board of Selectmen (BOS) dealt with a wide variety of business matters at Tuesday night’s (June 18) meeting, the fledgling Facilities Advisory Committee was among the key topics.

Earlier this year, the BOS identified the need to create a new committee dedicated to the difficult task of prioritizing the significant upgrades required at Wilton’s schools and municipal facilities over the next 10-15 years — at a cost that could top $100 million.

“It’s a Priority Recommendation Mission”

First Selectman Toni Boucher began the meeting by circulating a statement which she read aloud, explaining the new committee’s purpose:

“The Wilton Facilities Advisory Committee will be an ad-hoc commission of seven voting members comprised of elected officials and volunteers from the community, plus professional non-voting advisory [staff] members, to be appointed by the Board of Selectmen. The purpose of the committee is to analyze the needs assessments of the Town’s schools and municipal buildings and to serve as an advisory board to the Board of Selectmen with regard to the setting of project priorities, and to enhance governmental transparency and community involvement.”

“It’s a priority recommendation mission,” Boucher emphasized.

Voting members will include:

  • Toni Boucher (BOS)
  • Bas Nabulsi (BOS)
  • Rudy Escalante (Board of Finance)
  • Kevin Smith (Wilton Public Schools Superintendent)
  • Patrick Pearson (Board of Education)
  • Patti Temple (community member)

The selectmen clarified that “voting” refers to the committee’s internal process of reaching agreement on recommendations; only the Board of Selectmen has authority to take action on specific projects.

The BOS also appointed the following non-voting members:

  • Frank Smeriglio (Department of Public Works Director/Town Engineer)
  • Jeff Pardo (Assistant DPW Director/Facilities Manager)
  • Jose Figueroa (Wilton Public Schools Facilities Director)
  • Dawn Norton (CFO)
  • Matt Knickerbocker (Town Administrator)

“Other members [are] to be determined. This is fluid and can change,” Boucher said. She indicated that additional community representatives — and at least one more voting member — are being considered.

Several details about the committee’s function and governance — such as who will chair the committee or whether public notice of meetings is required, for example — are still being ironed out. Boucher said she believes the committee could begin work in July or August.

Boucher also noted that some of the needs assessment reporting is still forthcoming.

“Already a lot of work has been put in and [we’re] getting more information from the consultants [who] have not yet completed their entire work. We’ll be getting more information on the [municipal] side,” Boucher said.

The municipal needs assessment was conducted by Marx |Okubo Associates, Inc. Their preliminary report and executive summary are posted on the Town website. (A separate assessment was completed for Wilton’s school buildings.)

Financial Matters

Wilton’s CFO Dawn Norton attended the BOS meeting and gave a financial update similar to what she presented at last week’s Board of Finance meeting, when she shared projections for a favorable end to the current fiscal year.

In other good news, Norton highlighted the May 23 credit opinion by Moody’s, which reaffirmed Wilton’s top Aaa rating.

The selectmen also tended to several financial matters, notably including:

  • Fuel costs for FY25: Smeriglio shared the latest quotes for gasoline and heating oil, which would enable the Town to lock in at lower prices for FY 2025. The selectmen voted unanimously to enter the recommended contracts.
  • Elevator cost escalation: Knickerbocker and Smeriglio discussed the planned replacement of an elevator at Cider Mill, for which the Town approved a bonding referendum for $250,000. However, cost estimates have come in roughly $79,000 higher than expected. The selectmen agreed to approve the request, but the source of funding will be determined once the fiscal year-end accounting is more complete.
  • A contract amendment for the Police Station Project: Knickerbocker assured the selectmen the amendment was within budget, but required some “housekeeping” for the section of a contract dealing with furniture, fixtures and equipment. The selectmen voted unanimously to approve the amendment.

More BOS News

The selectmen unanimously approved the plan for the annual controlled deer hunt. Details of the plan, including locations and dates, are posted on the Town website.

The selectmen voted unanimously to renew the Town’s five-year agreement with Norwalk Hospital, as part of its participation in the Wilton Weston Advanced Life Support Association (WWALS), which provides paramedic services from Norwalk Hospital to Wilton and Weston. The new contract will be effective July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2029.

The selectmen voted unanimously to authorize Boucher to execute a contract for a temporary easement at 64 Musket Ridge Rd. during the replacement of Bridge No. 161-006 over Belden Brook.

The BOS re-appointed the following members of the Economic Development Commission, whose terms were ending: Joe Favarolo, Peter Squiteiri, Marty Avallone, John DiCenzo, Tom Shimko, Donna Peterson and Alison Smith.

The BOS also re-appointed Penny Maxwell and Liane Acosta-Rua to Wilton Library’s board, along with approving Sara Zawoiski as a new appointee.