$1.2 Million Road Repair Project on Agenda

Town officials will likely set a town meeting date to discuss a proposed $1.21 million road improvement project for Great Hill Road during a meeting scheduled for tonight.

The Board of Selectmen has posted an agenda that states it will act upon a resolution to bond up to that amount for the project, which First Selectman Mary Ann Drayton-Rogers said is necessary to ensure safety of drivers.

"I will push for this," she said at a meeting with selectmen last month, adding that she will urge the many residents who have called to complain about the conditions of the road to support the project through a referendum process, which is necessary anytime the town borrows money through a long-term bond.

Tonight's selectmen meeting will be held at 7:30 in the meeting room at Stephen B. Church Memorial Town Hall, 486 Oxford Road. It is the regularly scheduled meeting of the board, so therefore the road repair project isn't the only topic on the agenda. Still, it is the topic that is expected to dominate discussion.

Great Hill Road has many bumps and cracks that make it unsafe since the road, by nature, is hilly and winding. Town officials say the road also has a drainage problem that causes road fissures and other problems with the street. Drayton-Rogers said the town should not wait until there is an accident before acting on repairs.

Oxford Finance Director James Hliva says the project would be paid off at an interest rate of 2 percent to 2.4 percent. The payback for the bonds would equate to .061 mills based on the current grand list.

That means a homeowner with a house assessed at $200,000 would pay an additional $12.20 a year in taxes if the measure is approved.

Selectmen aren't the only town officials who will have a say about whether the project goes before voters. The Board of Finance must also approve the plan; it will meet on Dec. 20 to vote.

Drayton-Rogers has already brought forth the proposal to the finance board last week. Most members agreed the road is in poor condition, but it remains unclear whether they will support the bond proposal.

The Board of Selectmen is expected to approve the project tonight.

Tonight's meeting agenda states the following about the project:

"To consider, act upon, recommend to the Board of Finance, set a town meeting date, and take all action necessary to authorize the Great Hill Road Improvement Project and bond financing as set forth in a resolution entitled: Resolution with respect to the $1.21 million Great Hill Road improvement appropriation and bond authorization."