Inflation is a concern as Brookfield embarks on capital projects

By Scott Benjamin

BROOKFIELD – The Great Inflation is apparent in the supermarket at the gas pump and First Selectman Steve Dunn says also at construction sites.

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Brookfield is planning two projects that still don’t have final recommendations.

Yet, Dunn said it is apparent that prices “have gone through the roof.”

An ad-hoc committee is studying putting a community center at the former Center Elementary School along Obtuse Hill Road/Route 133.

Dunn said it appears that at minimum it will cost $45 million, much more than had been anticipated.

Residents just completed payments on renovations to Brookfield High School that were approved at referendum in 2003. Payments are being made on the $78.1 million construction of Candlewood Lake Elementary School, which opened in 2023.

Dunn said he is still “in favor” of the concept of building the community center, which would likely include a new library to replace the facility on Whisconier Road that opened in 1975.

“However, $45 million seems high to me,” he said following the Board of Selectmen’s July 6 regular meeting. “I don’t know if the voters would approve a $45 million project.”

The community center is not even Brookfield’s top capital priority.

Sitting above it is the call for expanded police facilities. Candidates for first selectmen have discussed it since at least 2017.

The ad-hoc Police Building Committee delayed its scheduled recommendation from July to the August 3 selectmen’s meeting.

Said Dunn, “They wanted to be able to provide more information and more costing so residents can understand the options.’ I think that is a good thing.”

Jay Purcell, a former police chief and the chairman of the ad-hoc committee, said during a May public input session that he would prefer building a new headquarters on the corner parcel along the Silvermine Road portion of the municipal campus, near the current headquarters, which opened about 40 years ago.

Purcell said the facility would be about 25,000 square-feet – almost twice the size of the current facility. He said there also would be more parking.

The police force had 25 officers in 1986 and now has 39.

Dunn said the current headquarters doesn’t conform to federal standards.

He has said he wanted the expanded facilities to cost $25 million or less, but doesn’t know if the ad-hoc committee’s recommendation will meet that figure.

Dunn had initially said he wanted to get the police facilities expansion on the ballot in November. Now he says there won’t be a vote until 2027 since municipal officials will need time to inform voters about the importance of the project.

Dunn emphasized that many residents are not familiar with the daily functions at a police headquarters.

“It is not just a ‘want’ to have,” he declared. “It is a ‘need’ to have.”

On another topic, the selectmen scheduled a public hearing for August 3, in room 209 of the town hall on the proposed fire commission/ordinance.

Selectman Bob Belden has been discussing the proposal for more than a year with the volunteer firefighters and emergency medical personnel.

Objections were raised at a public hearing in Au gust of last year and further action was tabled by the selectmen.

Belden said at the July 6 meeting that the “rank and file” firefighters now have more information on the proposal and their recommendations have been included in the draft ordinance.

He described the feedback as being “very positive.”

Dunn said the establishment of the commission/ordinance will benefit the fire companies and the emergency medical services personnel.

He commented, “Just like we have a Capital Committee that looks at every project, the Fire Commission would be an advocate on what our fire companies need.”