Politics & Government

Directors Approve One Multi-Million Referendum Project, Table Another

The town could spend up to $30 million in bonding projects come November.

The Manchester Board of Directors advanced a $10 million municipal bonding project Tuesday to voters in November, but tabled a $20 million project that would see the existing Elisabeth M. Bennet Academy combined with the neighboring Cheney building to form a fifth/sixth grade academy for the town's public school students because questioned still remained. 

Deputy Mayor Jay Moran asked for the $20.265 million Cheney/Bennet project to be tabled after a public hearing on the matter and a report by the architects on the project. The final price tag for the school project is about $17.4 million, but the final bond of $20.265 million also includes $1.5 million for district wide school safety and security upgrades and an additional $1.3 million to finance design work on one of two plans to upgrade either Washington or Roberston elementary schools. 

"It would allow for the other projects to continue forward," Shanley said of the $1.3 million design study. 

But Moran and other directors had questions about that aspect of the bond funding, and the board decided to table a vote on the $20.265 million school referendum question. Shanley said that, in order for the question to be included on the ballot in November, the board would need to approve it by their first meeting in September. 

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013. 

The board unanimously approved the $10 million in municipal bonding projects, which was reduced from $11.725 million. Public Works Director Mark Carlino said the money would be used to fund road and sidewalk repairs, renovations to the historic Cheney Hall, upgrades at Charter Oak Park and half the funding for a downtown parking lot upgrade (the other half will be funded by the state) and half the funding to repair the Hartford Road bridge (with anticipated matching funding coming from the state). 

In other news Tuesday, the board 8-0 to approve a resolution to grant trash collection rebates to all condo owners in town, but cease the rebates for apartment owners. Previously, apartments and condos that met the criteria before Dec. 31, 1996 were "grandfathered" into the rebate system, while all others were excluded. The rebates are funded through the town's Sanitation Fund, which is paid for through tipping fees at the town's landfill. Director Steve Gates recused himself from the vote because he is a condo owner. 


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