First Selectman’s Update, April 6, 2024: Budgets & Bond Proposals * New Police Officer * and More!

The following is an update from First Selectman Toni Boucher.

Hello, Wilton. An unprecedented and difficult budget process was punctuated by an Earthshaking event. A startling earthquake shook our Town Hall and our neighborhoods, rattling buildings and nerves. Thankfully there have been no reports of injury or damage to persons or property. Let’s hope the tectonic plates that caused it have settle down.

Budgets and Bondable Items

What has been the most challenging budget session in recent memory is coming to a close with the Board of Selectmen, the Board of Education and the Board of Finance coming together in “harmony,” as GOOD Morning Wilton aptly characterized it, to resolve the remaining budget questions. The Board of Finance unanimously voted to adjust the Board of Selectmen’s budget to 3.7%, and the Board of Education’s budget to 4.5%, respectively. This reduction came after an additional cut of $440,000 had been made to the first round of budget figures. I hope this illustrates the level of deliberation that has gone into the 2025 budget. There is not a single item that has not been considered from every viewpoint by numerous commissioners. The bipartisan budget agreed upon will be presented at the Annual Town Meeting in May for the voters’ approval.

[Editor’s note: GMW was quoting BOF Chair Matt Raimondi who said the three boards were “working in harmony.”

The most recent Board of Selectmen meetings have focused on special projects that will also be voted on at the Annual Town Meeting, as Bondable Capital Requests. As noted in recent press reporting, there are long-term repair needs facing our schools, as well as an urgent need to address disrepair and overcrowding in some of our town facilities. These will all require extraordinary expenditures, so they have been spread across a 15-year schedule as bondable items to minimize any impact on tax rates. Only top priorities in FY 2025 will be voted on this year. In terms of the Town’s and schools’ buildings and repairs needs in years two through 15, the Board of Selectmen will be appointing an eight-person needs assessment committee to prioritize the construction schedule and monitor its progress over the 15 years, as things evolve and change.

Among the long list of building repair expenditures, the Board of Selectman have chosen a fraction of the most urgently needed solutions for inclusion in the 2025 Budget as Bondable Capital Requests. These items are deemed to be emergencies by town engineers and their team of consultants. They will be sent to the Board of Finance for review. Although the Board of Finance does not have the authority to approve or disapprove the Bond list, they play a critical role in reviewing and opining on these crucial projects. These Bonded Requests will ultimately be decided upon by the voters at the May Town Meeting. These are the Bond Items for fiscal year 2025:

Department of Public Works

• Seven Miles of Road Restoration, which is part of every annual Bond List. Cost: $540,000
• Scribner Hill Rd. Bridge Replacement. Cost: $1,600,000

Town Hall

• Upgrading the heating system. Town Hall was built in the 1930s and contains many of the original heat-related architectural details, like single-paned glass windows and walls without insulation. This is why Town Hall employees wear woolen hats and run portable space heaters all winter long and the windows are covered in plastic wrap to keep out the wind. Working in a breezeway like this drives up the Town’s energy bills, makes for an uncomfortable work environment, presents Wilton in a poor light when distinguished guests visit Town Hall, and marks us a retrograde governing body when it comes to environmental responsibility. Town engineers recommend:
  • Immediate replacement of boilers that were installed in 1992. These are working well past their effectiveness date, and it is no longer possible to get replacement parts for them because they have aged out production. Cost: $147,540
  • Add supplemental heating in the ceiling, which will be less expensive than adding insulation to all of the walls. Cost: $238,800
  • Replacing the windows on the front and sides of Town Hall. Cost: $441,200
• Addressing structural safety issues
  • Last year, one of the pillars in front of Town Hall collapsed. It was extremely fortunate that the pillar fell inward, smashing into the building, and not outward over the walkway where it could have seriously hurt someone. Upon further inspection, it was discovered that all of the pillars are rotting. In order to secure them, not only do the pillars need to be replaced, but the cracked concrete underneath that supports them, and the plaster at the top, which holds them in place. The concrete steps between the pillars is also cracked. They should be repaired, and a sturdier handrail added, when the concrete around the pillars is redone. Cost: $533,900
  • Replace loose or missing brick from the façade of the building; replace the rotting wood trim on the outside of the building, and the concrete that has fallen from the inside and outside of the building. Cost: $179,520
  • Buttress the flooring beneath the town vault. Cost: $49,560

School Repairs

Middlebrook School must replace the Chiller and Unit Ventilator system that is 7 years past its utility, for which replacement parts are no long available. This system is responsible for dehumidifying the school and without it working properly, mold is likely to develop. Ceiling tiles have been buckling from the humidity, and these will also need to be replaced. Total: $3,861,041

At the start of this budget negotiating season, there were so many things town leadership hoped to include after hearing from all of the departments that make up our town government. Everyone did their best to pare down their budget numbers, and still tough choices had to be made among the many needs and great ideas for Wilton.

As has been said, this is a uniquely challenging year, especially considering the effects of the recent state-mandated property revaluation process. It is important to note, the Town does not realize any increase in tax revenue as a result of the revaluation. Rather, it simply realigns the relative tax burden based on the updated values. This does mean, however, that some residents will see an increase in taxes, others’ taxes will decrease, and some taxes will remain relatively the same.

And then there is the issue of our town’s credit rating, which is so important for Wilton when it comes to securing bonds at the lowest cost, bonds that help us maintain our beautiful town and build upon it. We have traditionally used Moody’s Investor Service and have earned their coveted AAA rating. But Moody’s is changing their requirements to maintain this highest rating. Formerly, they required towns with excess funds to set aside 10% of the town’s fund balance. Their new requirement is that towns set aside 25% to 35% of excess funds, and they discourage using any of this operating capital to offset taxes. In the past two years, Wilton had used excess funds in the budget to hold down taxes. Moody’s new policy is that towns spend excess funds over 35% on a single, one-time item, that would otherwise be a Bondable Request. Not following this guideline could decrease our high bond rating, which would result in higher borrowing costs on future capital projects. It is this office’s policy, and assurance, that we will not let our rating drop, as some have encouraged us to do. This would prove disastrous to Wilton’s long-term financial well-being, as it would cost us more to bond and build in the future.

The good news is that there is significant bonding capacity remaining for Wilton to address its building repair needs. The Board of Finance has stipulated that town leaders keep our debt service to no more than 10% of our town’s budget. Debt service is the total amount of money one pays back to a lender each month. This includes the percentage of money one has borrowed (the principal) plus the percentage of monthly interest. For Wilton’s purposes, there are several bondable projects of the past, the cost to rebuild Miller-Driscoll School for instance, that are being paid off. This gives us room in our debt service to borrow for new projects, without raising taxes to cover the costs, or cut too deeply into our budget.

As Town Administrator Matt Knickerbocker explains, “What we are now doing is looking at all of the projects we need to do as part of the facilities studies, and plan them in sequence so that new cost is added to the debt service number at the same time that older debt is falling off, keeping the total debt service level.”

In short, we are proceeding with care, improving as we can afford to. Unfortunately, this means that some things that are valuable to people in town, like pickleball courts, or that are desperately needed, like the Ambler Farm buildings renovations, have to wait until the following years. But we will get there, keeping our debt service below 10% and our Moody’s rating at a Aaa!

Software Story

The following update might strike some as a little technocratic for a Town Newsletter, but really it is a story about how the right technology can vastly improve the quality of life for our town staff, and we’re pretty excited about it. We will soon be working with Munis, a very powerful ERP suite used by municipal and county governments around the nation. When fully installed (which will be by July 1 for the start of the new fiscal year), it will streamline all payroll, budgeting and accounting functions. It also has the ability to add other public-facing functions like online permitting for land use, building and health departments, and HR management tools. Moving to a more sophisticated software system, like Munis, will alleviate the countless late nights and working weekends our administrative, financial and accounting teams have been shouldering during the Town’s long budgeting process. In terms of workflow efficiency, we think it will be like going from a Schwinn 10-Speed with rusted gears to riding a Cervelo R5, like the one that triumphed at the Tour de France. Huzzah!

Wilton’s New Officer

The Wilton Police Department recently inducted [its] newest member to the force, Ofc. Anthony Fragomeli. Ofc. Fragomeli grew up in Bethel, CT, and is a graduate of Western Connecticut State University, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Justice Administration and Law Enforcement. He has a long history of serving his community as a volunteer coach for youth soccer, and with the Bethel Land Trust, helping to conserve land and maintain trails. He’s also handy in the kitchen, having worked as a cook and server at the Meadow Ridge Assisted Living Center, in Redding, where he is fondly remembered by the residents.

As soon as police officers put on their uniform, they start serving their community. They are often the first responders on the scene, protecting the most vulnerable in our community. The life-or-death situations they are sometimes called to demand that they be able to rely on, and trust, their partners. They, therefore, have to become a team unlike many workforces. Officers face the reality of a house call or a traffic stop turning deadly. At times, they must contend with the possible lack of compliance and respect from community members, especially when confronting repeat offenders. The potential for a crisis situation, like a school shooting, or a hostage-taking, is there every day. They are often the targets of violence. Add to that the constant scrutiny from the press and the public, and the overwhelming workloads, and it becomes evident just how challenging the job of policing is. Fortunately for us all, Anthony and others are willing to do this work and have stepped up. Welcome, Ofc. Fragomeli. Wilton is glad that you’re here.

Campaign Against Distracted Driving

This month, the Wilton Police Department is partnering with the Connecticut Department of Transportation in the nationwide enforcement campaign against distracted driving, “Put the Phone Away or Pay.” From April 1 through April 30, law enforcement will be looking for drivers who choose to ignore Connecticut’s hand-held mobile electronics laws. During last year’s campaign, Wilton Police wrote over 298 citations in their effort to get drivers to put down their phones and pay attention to the road. Violating Connecticut’s distracted driving laws can be costly. Drivers who are ticketed are fined $200 for the first offense, $375 for the second offense, and $625 for the third and subsequent offenses. Protect yourself and others, and your wallet, by keeping your eyes on the road.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The Rowan Center, a sexual assault resource agency founded in 1979, sponsored a Proclamation Day this week, where I and leaders from all the eight towns they serve — Greenwich, Darien, New Canaan, Norwalk, Stamford, Weston and Westport [and Wilton] — publicly declared our commitment to educating the public and supporting the victims of sexual violence. Wilton is lucky that our School Superintendent, Kevin Smith, has developed a close working relationship with the Rowan Center’s Director of Education, who has been bringing age-appropriate curriculum into Wiltons’s K-12 classrooms for several years. This administration will do everything we can to prevent sexual violence, punish perpetrators and advocate for those who have suffered from this devastating crime.

Update on the New Police Headquarters

Since breaking ground in late March, A. Secondino & Sons, the construction firm building Wilton’s new Police Station, has been installing the storm and sanitary systems outside the footprint of the building. Excavation for the building’s foundation will begin shortly. Thank you to the crew who has been working through all weathers to get this work done! We’re excited to see the results.

Wilton Town Talks

If you’re wondering what the youth of Wilton are talking about today, I’d encourage you to visit the “Wilton Town Talks” channel on YouTube. Wilton High School students have posted a series of interviews they’ve conducted with people from the community on topics ranging from how to combat insensitive speech and behavior in schools with teacher Pablo Wolfe; to how to be a successful athlete with football coach EJ DiNunzio.

I sat down with Francesco Tomas, who asked me some wonderful questions about my family’s immigration to America, how I got started in politics and why education is so important to me. The students’ productions are receiving great support from the high school and Wilton’s Economic Development Commission, which, along with Camille Carriero, Executive Director of the Wilton Chamber of Commerce, were especially helpful when the students shot a series of commercials highlighting Wilton businesses. Tune in to Wilton Town Talks on YouTube

Hats Off to Lauren Hughes

Lauren Hughes recently celebrated 30 Years as a member of Wilton’s Social Services team. Lauren is today the Director of Senior Services and, among her many duties, manages Wilton’s food pantry, which serves over 120 families each week. Thank you, Lauren! Your dedication, loyalty and hard work are an example to us all. We hope you enjoyed your well-deserved cake!

Youth Voter Information Day

WHS students Kendra and Lilah organized an Information Day, with some mentoring from the League of Women Voters, where future voters who are 17 but turning 18 by the election day in November, could learn all about voting in American elections. A short history of voting was given, as well as all of the logistical information a first-time voter needs in order to cast their ballot. WHS students have really gotten involved in their local government. Some are interning with the League of Women Voters, and three come in every week to intern with us at Town Hall. We also have three more students set to intern with us over the summer months. It is a wonderful thing to have these students so engaged. Everyone at Town Hall loves having them and the interns seem to love coming in to learn how their town works.

A Heartfelt Message

Finally, we received this sobering note from a friend who sent this to me in the wake of the Key Bridge disaster in Baltimore. I thought it important to share because it is a startling reminder of the workers around us who make our lives possible, whose efforts often go unrecognized until there’s a tragedy.

“I think about what a challenging occupation and conditions for those bridge workers…Let us never forget the people in life who, at times, might seem to have ‘Thankless Jobs.’”

Sincere “Thank Yous.”

Frank Spencer
Past President Wilton, CT Rotary Club
Wilton High School Class of 1976

Thank you, Frank, for this recognition that all of our workers, especially in our Department of Public Works who keep our roads and bridges safe, our Police and Fire Fighters, and everyone who makes Wilton a healthy place to live. We are grateful for the risks you take on our behalf, your late hours and your working weekends in all weathers. Wilton salutes you!

Please encourage your friends and neighbors to sign up for the newsletter. Our community happens here.

With all best wishes,

Very best regards,
Toni

Toni Boucher
First Selectman
Town of Wilton
203.563.0101, ext. 1108
email