Capital Improvement Program Proposes $13.5 Million In Spending

The proposed Capital Improvement Program, which is under review, proposes $13.5 million in spending for the coming fiscal year, including $8.65 million from potential bonds that would go to referendum.

Projects include $445,000 to remove asbestos from Charles Barnum Elemenary, $250,000 to come up with the next school construction referendum and $75,000 to study the feasibility of building an indoor recreation facility with a pool. 

Projects for the coming fiscal year include:

Education

• $445,000 to remove asbestos from Charles Barnum Elementary School

• $250,000 to continue developing plans for the next referendum on new school construction. Plans would address issues such as racial balancing, redistricting, renovations and maintenance.

• $82,000 to replace lighting in the Fitch High School auditorium and upgrade lighting at Mary Morrisson Elementary to improve energy efficiency.

Roads

• $118,000 to dead end Vergennes Court at Route 1 (near Claude Chester Elementary School) while still providing access for pedestrians and emergency vehicles.

• $96,000 to provide the 10 percent match needed to rebuild the intersection of Crystal Lake Road and Military Highway, the main route to Naval Submarine Base New London.

Sidewalks

• $85,000 to repair sidewalks on High Meadow Lane, Heather Glen Lane, Deerfield Ridge Road, Capstan Avenue and Oslo Street, and replace the sidewalk and granite curbing on Pearl Street in Noank, from the intersection of Palmer Court to Chesbro Avenue.

• $80,000 to build a sidewalk from West Mystic Avenue to Orchard Lane.

Police

• $90,000 to plan and construct a replacement boiler at the Groton Town Police station.

Parks & Recreation

• $75,000 for a feasibility study of building a multi-use, indoor recreation facility including a pool for competitive swimmers, instructional programs and aquatics therapy.

Other

• $75,000 to replace the boiler plant at the Town Hall Annex.

• $105,000 to buy devices that would upgrade the town’s computer network.

Bond Referendum Questions

The CIP also includes these potential bond referendums for the Nov. 2013 ballot:

• A $5.3 million bond referendum to upgrade the Groton Town Police station.

• A $1.66 million bond referendum to improve the drainage at Judson Avenue.

• A bond referendum to extend utilities up Flanders Road. The estimated cost, depending on which section is built, ranges from $5 million to $16.9 million.