March 8 Hearing Set on the Capital Improvement Plan

The board of finance will hold a public hearing Tuesday, March 8 at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium at, 34 Farms Village Road, on the proposed capital improvement projects for 2011-2012.

Residents can have their say in regard to the proposed projects.

The amount under consideration for 2011-2012 is $3,061,000. This number includes renovation to the main building at , which includes replacing the pool decking, at an estimated cost $2,836,000 and improvements at an estimated cost of $225,000.

The main building at Simsbury Farms is 40 years old. It's not code compliant for those with disabilities and it 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 renovations would address these issues, and add 1,300-square-feet of additional space.

Gerry Toner, director of the culture, parks and recreation department, has said annual fuel costs for the building would be cut in half — from $14,000 to $7,000 — with the proper heating and insulation.

Some of the other improvements include creating team rooms, 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.

Improvements to the facility have been considered since 1998, when it was first identified as an aging building.

The proposed $225,000 in golf course improvements includes mostly large maintenance concerns, such as drainage issues and work to the sand bunkers. Rounds of golf played at the facility have dropped off and these improvements are a way to bring people back, said Toner.

Pursuant to Section 506 of the Town Charter an appropriation amount in excess of 2 percent of the annual budget for the then current fiscal year shall be subject to an automatic referendum by all qualified voters of the Town of Simsbury.

But before that can happen, the board of finance must refer to project to town meeting.

A special meeting of the board of finance will be held immediately following the public hearing where the board will discuss and take possible action on the proposed capital projects and the six-year capital improvement plan.

The six-year plan contains $31.8 million capital plan includes projects for schools, sewers, roads and town and recreational facilities.

To read more about the 2011-2012 budget and the capital improvement plan, click here.