Voters Pave Way For Second Farmington HS Vote

FARMINGTON, CT — Voters, many skeptical, gathered for about an hour Monday night to discuss and formally approve sending to the polls a $9.7 million appropriation for the Farmington High School construction project.

As a result, the appropriation will be decided Thursday, Dec. 8, with polls open from 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. at regular polling places. Absentee ballots are available at the Farmington Town Clerk’s Office.

The FHS funding would be the second time in as many years voters were called to the polls for a multi-million referendum on the project.

In June 2021, voters said "yes" to spending $135.6 million for a new, state-of-the-art Farmington High School building at Monteith Drive.

This vote would be for an additional $9.7 million, funding local officials claim is necessary to help bring the project up to original standards and secure additional state reimbursements.

According to the town, construction projections alone were nearly $6 million over budget, something attributed to the supply chain inflationary issues impacting nearly all construction projects.

Now, voters will have to vote "yes" again if they want the same project they approved in 2021.

Monday night, residents at the meeting, which took place in the FHS auditorium, heard multiple presentations on why another vote was being sought.

Meg Guerrera, chairperson of the Farmington High School Building Committee, said inflation issues pushed the project about $5.9 million over budget.

Meanwhile, she said the committee opted to add in some other features, including tennis courts, for an additional $3.75 million.

On Oct. 25, the Farmington Town Council approved the $9.7 million total figure.

According to municipal officials, spending the added money now might result in a net project cost decrease in the long-run, a byproduct of an increase in the state's share of the project.

After crunching the numbers based on a better reimbursement rate for the town, Farmington Assistant Town Manager Kathryn Krajewski said taxpayers would, actually, save $4.6 million in what it would owe for the project.

Krajewski said the anticipated tax impact for the project would now amount to $491 over five years compared to $466 over five years with the second referendum.

That, she said, equates to an added average $25 over five years or $5 a year, a byproduct of anticipated increased interest rates.

Farmington Town Council Chairman C.J. Thomas quoted Paul Stanley of KISS, who he said was a "philosopher" as well, in urging folks to go to the polls.

"Your life and destiny are determined to a large extent by your participation in the outcome," Thomas said. "I would like to ask everyone to, please, do your best to go out and show up for the referendum on Dec. 8."

When taxpayers spoke, the skepticism was clear, even among those supporting the referendum.

Peter Jones of Briarwood Road ripped the building committee, accusing it of mismanaging the project to the detriment of taxpayers.

"I'm just a middle class taxpayer. I don't know much," Jones said. "What you are creating is a blank check."

"How outrageous, how an incompetent use of our tax dollars," Jones said.

Pierre Guertin, a resident of Henry Commons, said he supported voting "yes," but only because the town was already committed to a large, high school building project.

He said the work of the committee must improve.

"We've progressed to this point. Unfortunately, I'm not sure we have the opportunity to say no," Guertin said.

"But hopefully, we do a better job managing the project when its underway than through this initial process."

After a nearly an hour, the town meeting adjourned, with voters now deciding the additional funding next month.

From Nov. 25: 'Farmington Meets Monday On High School Project Vote'

To watch the special Farmington Town Meeting Nov. 28, click on this link.