Simsbury School Project Funds, Trail/Sidewalks Approved By Voters

SIMSBURY, CT — Voter turnout for a Saturday referendum may have been under 5 percent, but the results show those who did vote easily supported added funds for a school renovation as well as a trail/sidewalk project in town.

The town went to the polls Jan. 7 to decide two separate referendum questions, easily approving both with only 4.6 percent of registered voters showing up.

Latimer Lane Elementary School

One question dealt with additional funding for the Latimer Lane Elementary School expansion/renovation.

The final voter tally for that, according to town officials, was 744 "yes" and 144 "no" for an additional $2,261,837 for the project, which is expected to break ground sometime this year after having two ceremonies postponed late last year due to weather.

While voters said "yes" to a $36.7 million appropriation for a building expansion project at Latimer Lane Elementary School in 2021, the supply chain/inflation bugaboo bit the town.

As a result, local officials said in order to build the project approved more than a year ago, the town needs to spend another $2.26 million.

The second school project appropriation will come from the town's capital reserve fund, meaning no cash would be borrowed and taxpayers will not be impacted, especially since some of the project is being reimbursed by the state.

Apart from a roof replacement, Latimer Lane Elementary School hasn’t received any major upgrades since it was originally constructed in 1962, according to the town.

A total of 68,500 square feet of additions and renovations will allow for programmatic changes and address Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility issues, building envelope and structural systems technology as well as new mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems.

It will also feature upgraded food service, library/media center and nursing/health services.

Town officials said it will be constructed in conformance with Connecticut’s High Performance Building Standards.

The project was designed by Tecton Architects, of Hartford. O&G Industries of Torrington is the construction manager.

Trails/Sidewalks

Voters also said "yes" to spending $3,961,272 as part of a three-project infrastructure package covering trails and sidewalks in town.

The final tally there was 760 "yes" votes and 120 "no" votes.

According to town officials, these projects won't impact taxpayers, either, as they're tied to finalized revenue sources such as government grants.

Because of the size of the dollar amount, local leaders said this package still needed to be approved by voters, which it was.

Projects approved were:

• Bloomfield to Tariffville Multi-Use Trail: $1,254,200 from the Local Transportation Capital Improvement Grant Program.

• North End Sidewalk Construction: $913,072.12 from the Local Transportation Capital Improvement Grant Program.

• Firetown Road Sidewalk Construction: $1,200,000 from the Local Transportation Capital Improvement Grant Program.

• $594,000 for the Community Connectivity Grant Program.

For the full Simsbury referendum results summary, click on this link.

From Jan. 3: 'Simsbury Voters To Decide School Funds, Trails/Sidewalks'