Sam Gurwitt Photo
People in Hamden will encounter freshly paved roads, alongside functioning library elevators and new fire engines, thanks to the town’s first capital improvement plan in four years.
The Legislative Council approved parts of the plan Monday night.
Ten department heads arrived at Monday’s Council meeting with hopes of receiving approval for a collective $10.2 million worth of major projects and investments. Four walked away with roughly half, or $4.2 million, of that funding approved.
The council backed projects proposed by the town library, the fire department, public works, and the engineering department.
Public works was allotted $2.7 million through the plan for road paving over the next year. Another $100,000 was promised to the engineering department to improve street drainage.
Nora Grace-Flood photo
Public Works Director Craig Cesare provides overview Monday night of every street in Hamden that needs paving.
Craig Cesare and Mark Austin, the directors of those two respective departments, are scheduled to return to the council on Aug. 23 to offer more detail about their department plans and ask for additional funding for needs like sidewalks and bridge building.
The fire department and public library were the only departments to get approval for their full amount of requested funding. The fire department asked for $580,000 for a new engine at Station 2, its busiest location in the southern end of Hamden. That will allow them to retire a 27-year-old “back-up” engine.
Sam Gurwitt Photo
Chief Merwede: Time for needed upgrades.
Chief Gary Merwede noted that it is recommended to replace engines every 20 years.
Another $670,000 will go towards a new squad at Station 4 on Whitney Avenue; $60,000 should cover protective gear for firefighters themselves, and $85,000 will go towards maintaining and repairing fleet vehicles.
The library got the OK for a $300,000 plan to get a new elevator in the Miller Library. Director Melissa Canham-Clyne noted that multiple patrons have gotten trapped in the current elevator in the past four years. In addition, $60,000 should help create an “internet plaza,” also in the Miller Library; $70,000 will go to fixing the roof of the Brundage Community Branch.
Once departments receive capital budget funds, they return to the council with specific project details. Then the town will purchase bonds to financially support those plans.
Scott Jackson explained that Hamden has not produced a capital plan earlier because when he came into the role of finance director back in February, the town had a negative fund balance of $2.9 million.
In order to become eligible for bonding, Jackson said, Hamden had to get to a positive fund balance. In July, independent rating agency Standard & Poor changed Hamden’s outlook from “negative” to “stable,” based on the belief that if the town follows their bond restructuring plan it will grow the fund balance to $20 million by 2023. (Read more about that process, and individuals’ interpretations of Hamden’s two bond rating reports, in this New Haven Register story.
Jackson said that as Hamden’s ratings improve, the town may borrow more money for capital investments due to lowered interest rates on those bonds.
In the meantime, the council plans to discuss the remaining capital proposals on Monday and vote whether or not to support the entirety or only part of the improvement plan.
Can we least get a picture of Hamden Fire Fighters & not New Haven Fire Fighters assisting at a job in Hamden?
[Ed.: Thank you. Fixed.]