Southington's Three Referendum Questions, What You Need To Know

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Voters in Southington have some important choices to make on Election Day Tuesday — and that doesn't even include the state and local legislative races up for grabs.

Southington has three local referendum questions on the ballot, questions that impact how the town's library will be operated in the future and questions that will impact taxpayers to the combined tune of nearly $24 million in two, separate bonding issues for Southington High School.

Here is a breakdown of Southington's referendum questions:

• Shall the fown of Southington appropriate $6,920,000 for costs related to the Southington High School roof project and authorize the issue of $6,920,000 bonds and notes to finance the appropriation; the amount of the bonds or notes to be reduced by the amount of grants received by the town?

School officials say the roof project is a necessary one given the amount of wear and tear on the school facility, as there is still a piece of SHS roof slated for replacement following a 2019 overhaul.

• Shall the Town of Southington appropriate $16,945,000 for costs related to the Southington High School athletic fields project and authorize the issue of $16,945,000 bonds and notes to finance the appropriation?

This project would, essentially, modernize and bring up to code all SHS athletic facilities for both athletes and spectators.

Primary sports impacted by this project, which would also include new turf fields, are baseball, softball, track, football and soccer, as well as new tennis courts.

• Shall Chapter 284 of the Southington Town Charter he amended to permit the Board of Directors of the Southington Public Library and Museum to be responsible for the activities, programming, materials and usage policies of the Southington Public Library and Museum and the town manager to be responsible for management of staffing, finances, building operations and collective bargaining of the Southington Public Library and Museum operations?

This charter revision, essentially, finalizes responsibilities of how the library and museum is operated and staffed.

This measure has proven to be a bit controversial, with debate over the summer centering on a town's center of information being subject to town government, which some claimed can be swayed by political leanings.

Southington's town council is dominated by Republicans and the 6-3 vote to send this charter change to referendum was under straight party lines, with six Republicans voting "yes" and three Democrats voting "no."

From June 30: 'Southington Charter Changes On Library Cause Political Divide'

For details on the Southington High School roof and athletic fields projects, click on this link.

For Southington ballot and referendum question information, click on this link.