Capital Improvement Plan is Approved by Selectmen

Monday night the board of selectmen approved the 2011-2012 through 2016-2017 capital improvement plan, which will now move to the board of finance.

The plan's most pressing projects are for the 2011-2012 year. The proposed projects for the upcoming fiscal year include a $2.8 million renovation to the main building, including the pool decking; $120,000 for Memorial Pool improvements and $125,000 for parking lot improvements by Memorial Park/that is being done in conjunction with the board of education.

The Simsbury Farms project would have to be approved by voters to move forward.

Of the several people at the meeting, most who spoke were in favor of the Simsbury Farms project.

Stephen Gellman, president of the Simsbury Youth Hockey board, said the organization supports the project. There are 350 families involved with Simsbury Youth Hockey.

David Bush from the town's culture, parks and recreation commission said the board supports the proposal. 

One person who spoke said he thought the Simsbury Farms building was fine and he did not want the town spending money to improve it. The money could be better spent elsewhere or saved, he said.

The facility, which is 40 years old, is not code compliant for those with disabilities, and is not energy efficient. It was built as a seasonal facility and has no insulation. The roof is original and is leaking in spots and there are some safety concerns.

The facility is used by 100,000 visitors annually, said Gerry Toner, director of the culture, parks and recreation department.

There were two options that were discussed at the Monday night meeting. The proposed renovation that is in the approved capital improvement plan is scaled back. It includes a 1,300-square-foot addition versus a 4,100-square-foot addition, which means it costs less..

Town engineer Richard Sawitzke told the board that the main difference between the two options is reflected in the public spaces. In the option that is moving forward the lobby, sitting area and main entrance have been reduced. The rest of the project is basically the same.

Some of the improvements include making the facility code compliant for accessibility, creating an energy efficient building (the goal is to make it Energy Star rated — which would be a first for a town building), creating team rooms, replacing the pool decking, creating a designated first aid area, creating a new program room, improving the building's traffic flow and creating access to the pool from the parking lot.

"It works for us," Toner told the selectmen of the scaled back renovation. "I think it addresses all of our major needs."