Three Questions to Appear on Suffield Referendum

A three-question referendum will come before Suffield voters on Thursday, Oct. 8.

Residents will be asked to vote on road and drainage improvements, Town Hall renovation and conversion of the Bridge Street School to a community center.

Voting will be held from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Suffield Middle School gymnasium.

The actual referendum questions, and an explanation of each, are:

“SHALL THE TOWN OF SUFFIELD APPROPRIATE $9,100,000 FOR ROAD AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS AND AUTHORIZE THE ISSUE OF BONDS, NOTES OR TEMPORARY NOTES OBLIGATIONS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $9,100,000 TO FINANCE SAID APPROPRIATION?”

This appropriation for road and drainage improvements will be used to repair and in some cases add drainage to approximately 18 miles of roads to ensure the safety and comfort of the traveling public. A new, updated pavement management study will be conducted to rank road condition. Those roads with the lowest condition values will be recommended for reconstruction.

The appropriation may be expended for purchase costs, site improvements, landscaping, design and construction costs, restoration, reconstruction and repair costs, excavation, inspection, evaluation and surveying costs, equipment, furnishings, materials, professional fees, including engineering fees, administrative, financing and bond issuance costs and for other costs related to the projects. In addition to repaying the $9,100,000, the Town will be obliged to pay an estimated $3,081,000 in interest costs for a total estimated cost of this project of at least $12,181,000.

“SHALL THE TOWN OF SUFFIELD APPROPRIATE $5,130,000 FOR RENOVATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS TO SUFFIELD TOWN HALL AND AUTHORIZE THE ISSUE OF BONDS, NOTES OR TEMPORARY NOTES IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $4,385,000 TO FINANCE SAID APPROPRIATION?”

The appropriation for renovation and improvements to Suffield Town Hall will address concerns with the building, constructed in 1962. The heating, ventilation and air conditioning system will be replaced along with the replacement of the main electrical panels. The building code compliance issues will be eliminated. Ground floor bathrooms will be replaced to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. An addition of approximately 1,200 sq. ft. to the west side of the building will expand and upgrade the Town Clerk vault to be compliant with State requirements, will house the Town’s computer network server, and provide an area for record storage. Asbestos floor tile and pipe insulation will be removed. Note: The Town will finance the appropriation by issuing the Town’s bonds or notes in an amount of not more than $4,385,000. The remaining funds will come from a capital project account that has a balance of $745,000.

The appropriation may be spent for design and construction costs, demolition costs, fixtures, equipment, furnishings, materials, site improvements, architects’ fees, engineering fees, professional fees, administrative, financing and bond issuance costs and for other costs related to the project. In addition to repaying the $4,385,000, the Town will be obliged to pay an estimated $1,480,100 in interest costs for a total estimated bonded cost for this project of $5,865,100.

“SHALL THE TOWN OF SUFFIELD APPROPRIATE $8,400,000 FOR RENOVATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS TO BRIDGE STREET SCHOOL FOR CONVERSION TO A TOWN COMMUNITY RECREATION CENTER AND AUTHORIZE THE ISSUE OF BONDS, NOTES OR TEMPORARY NOTES IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $8,400,000 TO FINANCE SAID APPROPRIATION?”

That the Town of Suffield appropriate $8,400,000 for the conversion of the Bridge Street School, dating from 1924, to a Town Community Recreation Center. The appropriation may be expended for renovations and improvements to the Bridge Street School which include, but are not limited to, construction of an 8,200 sq. ft. addition to the gymnasium, including locker rooms and bleachers, rearrangement of the interior floor plan, replacement of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, removal and replacement of bathrooms, removal of asbestos and other hazardous materials, replacement of windows, repairs to existing roof and gutter systems, and installation of a new electrical system and playground equipment. The appropriation may be spent for design and construction costs, demolition costs, fixtures, equipment, furnishings, materials, site improvements, architects’ fees, engineering fees, professional fees, administrative, financing and bond issuance costs and for other costs related to the project.

In addition to the costs to refurbish the building and grounds, the cost to operate the facility (additional employees, heat, lights, water, maintenance, etc.) will exceed $155,000 annually. This amount is in addition to the annual net cost to the Town to operate the Parks and Recreation Department of more than $252,000 and is not part of the bonding but, instead, would be added to the Town’s operating budget. The Parks and Recreation Department currently serves an average of 2,800 program participants annually with an average of 200 programs scheduled and 50 scheduled programs cancelled due to insufficient participants, weather and similar reasons (a 25% cancellation rate). In addition to repaying the $8,400,000, the Town will be obliged to pay an estimated $2,844,000 in interest costs over the life of the bond for a total bonded cost of this project of at least $11,244,000.

Photo courtesy of Town of Suffield