At Tuesday evening’s (June 4) Board of Selectmen (BOS) meeting, the selectmen heard updates on the new police headquarters currently under construction and the cell tower approved for construction, among other board business.

Police Headquarters Construction Update

Assistant DPW Director and Facilities Manager Jeff Pardo reported generally good news on the construction schedule and cost.

“The job’s going well,” Pardo said. “We’ve had a hiccup or two but that’s very common in construction.”

With foundation work and excavation in progress, Pardo anticipates steel work to begin in mid-July. Though the project is on track for completion in July 2025, Pardo forewarned of the potential for some slowdowns in the schedule due to limited space on the Town Hall campus for material staging areas.

“Right now we’re on time, but you know, things could change,” he said.

Pardo assured the BOS the project was not over budget, with only a few small change orders.

Selectwoman Kim Healy told Pardo she hoped to see monthly updates.

“I’ll have the three same questions every time… Are we on time? Are we on budget? And have there been any change orders?” Healy said. “We don’t want to be surprised. At the end of the day, people expect us to kind of keep an eye on it.”

Cell Tower Update

Town Administrator Matt Knickerbocker reported that plans for the long-awaited new cell tower in Wilton — which were approved by the CT Siting Council in 2023 — appear to be caught up in a little bureaucratic red tape.

Knickerbocker said the project’s certificate to proceed was transferred to a new entity, prompting the need for another approval from the Siting Council. He expressed hope that the tower would still be constructed within the 18-month limit the original approval included.

Public Hearing on Tax Credit Program

The selectmen held a public hearing on the list of Wilton-based non-profit organizations seeking to participate in the 2024 Neighborhood Assistance Act (NAA) Tax Credit Program.

Under the program, businesses receive tax credits for making contributions toward the non-profits’ approved program proposals. A list of the applicants and their proposed projects — which range from $3,000 to $150,000 — is posted on the Town website.

No members of the public offered comment. The BOS voted unanimously to submit all of the applicants to the State of Connecticut Department of Revenue Services for possible approval.

EDC Survey

The selectmen reviewed the Economic Development Commission‘s plans to survey Wilton business owners about their satisfaction with the local business climate.

EDC Chair Joe Favarolo and commissioner Tom Shimko attended the BOS meeting and responded to questions and suggestions from the selectmen as the EDC makes final preparations for launching the survey.

Tax Deferrals

The selectmen voted unanimously to keep the interest rate unchanged at 2.75% for tax deferrals for the elderly and individuals with disabilities. The Board of Finance will be informed of the BOS decision.

Semi-what?

July 4, 2026 will be the 250th — or semiquincentennial — anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Governor Ned Lamont has established a commission responsible for the America 250 Celebration which will include “civic, cultural, and historical education events and programming” in Connecticut’s cities and towns throughout the year.

First Selectman Toni Boucher informed the board that Parks and Recreation Department Director Steve Pierce would be Wilton’s liaison for scheduling activities in Wilton, which she hopes will be planned and led by a number of Wilton groups and organizations.

“I think this is a wonderful opportunity for us to do something terrific for the Town and build community spirit around it,” Boucher said.

Looking Ahead

The selectmen briefly discussed the nomination of Joe Fiteni to the Inland Wetlands Commission, but delayed a vote on the appointment, citing a desire to conduct an interview with the candidate at the next BOS meeting.

The next BOS meeting is scheduled for June 18.