At last night’s (Sept. 3) Wilton Board of Selectmen (BOS) meeting, the BOS members received an update on the costs and timing for the restoration of the track and turf field at Wilton High School’s Veterans Memorial Stadium, along with several other town facilities that were damaged during last month’s flooding.

Track and Turf Update

Parks and Recreation Department Director Steve Pierce updated the selectmen on the status and costs of restoring the turf at Fujitani Field, which suffered extensive damage from flooding caused by historic rainfall on Aug. 18.

Pierce reported that Shaw Sports Turf, the field’s manufacturer and installer, is in the process of completing the necessary repairs. He said he expects it will be “playable” again in “a week or so.”

That seems to be beating expectations for what many feared would be a lengthy restoration process. When similar damage occurred in 2021, the field was closed for six weeks.

The total cost for the turf field restoration is expected to be $207,430 — somewhat higher than the roughly $171,537 initially approved on an emergency basis by First Selectman Toni Boucher. The board voted unanimously to ratify that initial funding approval as well as the incremental amount that is ultimately needed to complete the work.

Track repairs are on a longer timetable. Pierce reported that the cost estimate to restore the track is still being finalized. He anticipated work would not begin for another two to three weeks, and the goal is to get the track to as near-to-new condition as possible.

Pierce emphasized that Parks and Rec staff, Department of Public Works staff and the Wilton Fire Department all pitched in to help with the cleanup effort.

“We’re also fortunate to have good contractors,” Pierce added, referring to Shaw Sports Turf as well as track installer Cape and Island Tennis & Track.

It is unclear whether the Town will be reimbursed by FEMA as it was in 2021, when the track and turf field experienced similar flooding damage. The Town does carry insurance, though the deductible is $200,000. Town officials point out that the cost of the damage to municipal properties beyond just the track and field far exceeds the deductible.

More Reopenings

Boucher announced the following facilities are now reopened:

  • Walking trail through Merwin Meadows
  • WHS Varsity baseball field
  • Guy Whitten Field
  • WHS Varsity and JV softball fields
  • Middlebrook fields 1, 2 and 3

In addition to the track and stadium turf field, Boucher noted the following locations remain closed:

  • Merwin Meadows beach, pond and soccer field
  • Merwin Meadows playground
  • WHS JV baseball field
  • Lions Park

More BOS Business

Wilton’s Communication and Community Relations Coordinator Hadley Boyd attended the meeting to discuss a grant application for remediating the lead paint contamination in the ground outside the Platt Raymond House at Ambler Farm, also known as the Yellow House. Boyd explained that in order to qualify for any reimbursement by the State Historic Preservation Office grant, the funding for the project costs must be guaranteed. The board members voted unanimously to approve the grant application with a guarantee the BOS would include $110,000 for the project in next year’s budget. The grant, if awarded, would reimburse $55,000.

The selectmen also discussed “paperwork and procedures” issues at Wilton Commons, a congregate housing facility at 21 Station Rd. that created a tax dispute with the Town. Town Administrator Matt Knickerbocker explained the payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) which Wilton Commons normally claims under Connecticut statutes, but failed to file for, thus prompting Wilton’s tax assessor to process a tax bill to the property. With assurances that Wilton Commons will file its PILOT claim appropriately going forward, the selectmen agreed to waive the taxes, interest and other fees in the amount of $70,336 as a “one-time” occurrence.

The selectmen voted unanimously to approve an annual grant application by Wilton Youth Council as Wilton’s designated Local Prevention Council. The $4,152 grant will help support programming aimed at reducing vaping use by 12-18-year-olds.

The board held two confidential executive sessions — one on the subject of the Town-owned Gilbert & Bennett School property, and another on Knickerbocker’s annual review. (In the open meeting, Boucher recommended a $5,000 bonus for Knickerbocker, the maximum allowed under his contract. The board members voted unanimously to approve the bonus.)

The next BOS meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 17.