Knickerbocker Assures Bd. of Finance Wilton’s in “Pretty Good Shape” on Storm Cleanup Costs

First Selectman Toni Boucher and Town Administrator Matt Knickerbocker attended the Tuesday, Sept. 10 Board of Finance (BOF) meeting to update the board on the damage from the historic Aug. 18 storm and flooding.

Boucher noted the damage to school and municipal facilities was extensive. She specifically cited the following:

• The Wilton High School sports complex, including the turf at Fujitani Field, the track and surrounding playing fields
• Merwin Meadows, including the playground, pond area and adjacent soccer field
• Schenck’s Island
• The Gilbert & Bennett building — which was already in need of extensive repairs, according the building needs assessment completed last year
• Scribner Hill Rd. —which was also in need of repair before the storm, and is now closed in both directions due to exacerbated instability on a sloped section of the road
• Minor damages at Trackside Teen Center and Ambler Farm

Boucher estimated the municipal facility costs at nearly $2.6 million. In the immediate aftermath of the storm, she suggested the Town would have difficulty paying for the necessary cleanup and repairs due to BOF decisions reduce the selectmen’s budget for FY’25. On Aug. 21, Raimondi issued a statement in response to Boucher’s comments, clarifying that both the BOF and BOS have access to Charter Reserve funds, which are “precisely for unforeseen circumstances like this.”

In addition, as Knickerbocker explained to the BOF, the Town carries insurance through CIRMA, the Connecticut Interlocal Risk Management Agency. He assured the board that insurance funds are expected to cover most of the Town’s costs after meeting a $200,000 deductible — which is high because of various facilities’ proximity to floodways.

“There may be some minor exclusions as we start submitting bills, but it looks like $2.6 million minus $200,000 [deductible] is going to be what’s covered,” Knickerbocker said. “We should be in pretty good shape.”

“The Town did not have [this] insurance in the past, but now it does, which is very fortunate,” Boucher added. (Knickerbocker, who Boucher noted also serves on CIRMA’s board, was instrumental in obtaining the new flood insurance after an insurance risk assessment early in his tenure.)

When similar storm damage occurred at the stadium turf field and track in 2021, the town was reimbursed for the roughly $300,000 cleanup costs by FEMA. Boucher noted the “mad rush” following the more recent storm to gather damage estimates and track the Town’s expenses in order to meet state and federal thresholds for emergency funds.

Boucher informed the BOF of visits and site tours by a number of state and federal elected officials as well as FEMA and SBA (Small Business Administration). representatives.

“We’re going to try to tap into whatever we are able to with the state of Connecticut and with the federal government as well,” Boucher said.

Boucher also highlighted the storm’s impact on numerous nonprofits and businesses — notably the Riverbrook Regional YMCA and others along the Norwalk River, in Cannondale Village and Wilton Center — where heavy damage was reported. Of course, residential properties also suffered damage, Boucher noted.

More BOF News

The BOF voted unanimously to approve a BOS move to use $88,433 from the Charter Reserve to pay higher-than-expected taxes due to the Georgetown Fire District. Boucher told the BOF she believes the Town should consider revisiting the terms under which Wilton participates in the agreement with the Georgetown volunteer fire department for additional fire support. She publicly urged representatives of the Georgetown department to meet with Wilton officials to discuss details of the agreement in order for Wilton officials “to have a comfort level with it if we intend for this arrangement to continue going forward.”

Wilton Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Kevin Smith attended the BOF meeting to share a detailed list of grants and gifts received by the schools. The information was sought as the BOF considered its own policy for reviewing and approving grants received by the Board of Selectmen. It was for informational purposes only — the BOF does not have authority over receipt of BOE grants.

The BOF voted unanimously to continue the BOF’s standing policy for approving BOS grants above $20,000.

Looking ahead to FY 2026 budget preparations, the BOF is compiling the data it needs to issue budget guidance to the BOS and Board of Education. Raimondi indicated that more data would be available for the BOF’s Oct. 8 meeting.