Natural Gas Line Coming to Woodbridge, Projected Increases to the School Budget, Golf Club Progress and More

A quick synopsis of what happened at the meeting last night for those who want to know what’s happening in town.

The board voted to approve multiple contingency requests to transfer funds, including:

• $10,000 for a computer consultant for the firehouse to address any issues they encounter. In the past there was no need for this as the former fire chief did all the computer work.
• For the firehouse, a line-item transfer of $6,004.63 for repairs to the air conditioning system.
• Also for the firehouse, $4,000 to fund physicals that are required for firemen.
• $6,240 to match the amount raised by Woodbridge Human Services for their programs. The town had allotted a maximum of $10,000 for this purpose.
• A $20,000 transfer to cover maintenance for the town golf course.
• $50,000 to the road maintenance account to hire a contractor to catch up on tree removal, as there are still many broken limbs, etc. from the previous storms.

From Edward Sheehy in the First Selectman’s Report:

• Sheehy said the town has received a $500,000 STEEP grant from the state to do needed renovations on the police station. Sheehy said he has already spoken with Governor Malloy to thank him.
• There are five bidders for the job of running the town-owned Country Club of Woodbridge. The interview process has begun and should be completed in time to discuss interviews and vote at next Monday’s meeting.
• Town Administrative Officer Joe Hellauer met with Southern Connecticut Gas to discuss extending the natural gas line into Woodbridge. The town will get an estimate to convert the buildings in the town center, as well as Beecher Road School and Amity Regional High School, to natural gas. Sheehy said the project should begin in the spring.

From Matthew Giglietti, liason to the School Board:

• At the last Amity Board of Education meeting the board discussed having the towns vote on the school budget by town meeting as opposed to electronic voting machines in the hopes of having a larger turnout. The consensus was that the board would rather stay with electronic votes.
• The current budget is operating with a $381,000 surplus.
• Superintendent Dr. John Brady suggested that $244,000 designated for future repairs to the school roof be used for several other projects such as the expense of converting the school to natural gas and replacing old computers. Brady’s hope was to reduce the budget and ease the sting of the projected 2.88 percent increase. The consensus of the school board was to leave the money in the account for the roof and leave the above discussed items in the budget.
• The projected increases for each of the school districts are as follows: Bethany, $386,413; Orange, $1,308,046. Woodbridge would decrease by $92,299. Giglietti said Orange First Selectman James Zeoli already said the town could not afford an increase of that size and that Orange would fight it. Zeoli projected that his town would vote against an increase of that magnitude. Giglietti said it was possible that Bethany would also argue the increase.