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Capital planning project recommendations presented to Select Board

Date: 3/9/2009

By Courtney Llewellyn

Reminder Assistant Editor



LONGMEADOW -- The Capital Planning Committee (CPC) submitted its review and recommendation of projects for fiscal year 2010 (FY10) on Feb. 13 and Mark Gold, chair of the CPC, presented these recommendations to the Select Board at its March 2 meeting.

"I'm happy to report this year's list [of projects to be funded] is fairly extensive," Gold told the Select Board, even after the board requested in October that capital project funding be cut by $370,000 from its original total of $1,072,213.

The Select Board indicated that more than $702,213 in capital funds may be available, however, at their Feb. 9 meeting.

The completion of projects that have been in progress through annual funding phases was a priority for the CPC. These projects included the decade-long external refurbishment of Center School, the completion of a window replacement project at Glenbrook School and providing funding for the information technology (IT) network systems.

A total of 41 requests were submitted to the CPC, and 14 more were submitted to the Department of Public Works (DPW) for water and sewer projects. The CPC prioritized projects based on seriousness, urgency and growth, and split the submissions into three tiers of priorities.

The top tier of priorities is made up of 20 projects totaling $707,500 from the capital stabilization fund, $67,500 from the water enterprise fund and $67,500 from the sewer enterprise fund. The top five most important projects included a $35,000 fire truck payment, the renovation of the police and fire buildings' exteriors for $40,000, Town Hall gutter repairs for $17,500, the Center School exterior upgrade for $150,000, and the establishment of a Capital Reserve Fund with $25,000.

"For the first time, we're asking the town to appropriate [money] into a Capital Reserve Fund," Gold said. "Our first estimates for FY10 came 18 to 24 months ago [and the numbers have changed]."

Gold explained that two percent of the capital funding being allocated each year could be put into the fund, and that that money could be used to complete projects that may come in a little over the estimated cost.

"I agree with the $25,000 whole-heartedly," Paul Santaniello, chair of the Select Board, said. He noted that many contractors require projects to be paid for up front and that this money could be utilized so projects would not have to be put on hold.

"We need that pool," Santaniello added.

The reserve fund would need to be approved annually, Gold stated.

Select Board member Kathleen Grady inquired about the first tier project of purchasing streetlights. A preliminary study appeared to indicate that the town can save $80,000 a year by purchasing the streetlights that it now leases from Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECO). The CPC has approved $10,000 from the capital stabilization fund to finance a more complete study regarding this purchase.

"We need to get a handle on what it would cost to do this and what the savings would be," Gold said. "Since capital money will be used for this eventually, we thought we should back it. [The study would] serve as a catalyst."

Gold said a "very preliminary number of $175,000" would be the total to purchase the streetlights.

Select Board Clerk William Scibelli noted that the $480,500 did not include the interest that would be generated from bonding the larger projects.

"We recommend the projects, not the bonding [necessarily]," Gold replied. "The [water and sewer] enterprise funds need to be used for system requirements." These requirements include installing an emergency connection, the painting of the interior of the water tank and valve replacements.

When Gold finished his presentation, Town Manager Robin Crosbie commented, "Capital planning needs to be a year-round process. I see some areas that need to be addressed that aren't. We need a 360-degree approach." Gold and the Select Board agreed.

The capital projects will be brought before the town at the Annual Town Meeting on April 28. To see a complete listing of the first, second and third tier projects, along with the DPW projects, visit www.longmeadow.org/towngovt/CapPlanning.html and click on "Final Report to Select Board" in the FY10 box.