Magical Mystery Bus Tour I
It was the summer of '07 and the Cheshire Town Council began its annual Magical Mystery Bus Tour. First stop was Church Drive, but I wasn't home from work yet so missed it.
Second stop was the south end fire house... which seems to be coming along well. I got there after much of the discussion, so I skipped the questions and will ask them later.
Third stop was CHS. I guess the main project there is a new ADA-required elevator. It was explained that if the schools are to be reaccredited next year, they'll need to update the (probably) original elevator in the science wing (the back of CHS). The estimated cost is to be $400,000... which would go to referendum ($350,000 cutoff). Due to space constraints where the original elevator exists, this project would likely be entirely new construction... inside the library courtyard. And if you don't recall/know... this courtyard is only "one story" near the library, but over near the science wing... the property drops down and creates a "two story" courtyard. So no excavation would probably be needed. We would however need to build a two story shaft to house the elevator. A brief mention of the window project was also given.
The final stop was Bartlem Park. The requests include $340,000 to tile the pool (the paint is chipping) and $60,000 for some sort of "ultraviolet system" to reduce bacteria in the pool water... or something like that. We got the explanation in the "motor room" which was cramped and a bit noisy and I didn't quite follow everything. I'll get the details during the meetings in Town Hall.
We also got to see these new "shade structures" that are located on the south lawn of the pool. At an estimated $15,000 for the two structures... I was caught offguard by the cost. And frankly I wouldn't have done it... I would have put in a more permanent structure... a structure where we could have installed photovoltaics on the roof. But hey... that's me. And the Council shouldn't be involved in every decision, but... I still am at a loss as to how exactly the funding worked for the $15,000. I was told that it came from $50,000 in state funding... funding that Rep. Al Adinolfi had suggested was intended for a shed to contain the bubble. But now the bubble is stored by DPW... so I guess we "found" $50,000?
Then we went over to the playground to hear about the Kids in Motion Boundless Playground. See details on the playground in these images (click to enlarge):
And click on this sheet to see both the TMs proposal for the "current year" and "5 yr" capital budgets for Parks & Rec: 
Tim White
Town Council, Budget Committee
10 comments:
So if the elevator isn't replaced, then the high school won't get re-acredited? I was hoping the capital budget included some money for oven/kitchen equipment replacement throughout the district as there are many kitchens with inoperable ovens/equipment. The lunch program's budget is separate from the BoE's budget and they can't afford to replace kitchen equipment. If people are so interested in saving "energy" and cutting back on utility costs, they'd consider putting money towards replacing old, inefficient equipment.
Nearly half a million to construct an elevator that maybe 3 or 4 kids will use. It would actually be cheaper to hire fulltime personal attendants to carry them up the stairs. Another unfunded federal mandate. Oooops! Better send the PC compassion police after me!
9:18 I agree. I'll ask to see the "payback analysis" on kitchen equipment.
I'm sure it has been done... since I asked during the budget last year.
DO they have any plans to finish the last ball field and make improvements to the awful field conditions at Bartlett?
Tim you need to pay attention when people are speaking to you
I saw you at a meeting one time and you were off on the side talking to folks while someone was addressing a concern
No wonder you don't understand why certain things are done/
Hey! i'm going to cali this sunday.. gonna be there for a week, this is the site i was talking about where i made the extra cash. later!
"$15,000. I was told that it came from $50,000 in state funding... funding that Rep. Al Adinolfi had suggested was intended for a shed to contain the bubble. But now the bubble is stored by DPW... so I guess we "found" $50,000? "
Pretty smart. Again Cheshire outwits the state taxpayers, and we made an additional $35,000.
When we get the money to replace the ladder truck again, can we sell the latest replacement, and put it into the pool?
"Tim you need to pay attention when people are speaking to you
I saw you at a meeting one time and you were off on the side talking to folks while someone was addressing a concern"
When and what was the topic? It's entirely possible that it was an issue which I had already had extensive discussions on... including with whomever was speaking... I don't know. But without the details, I can't really speak to your concern.
I was disappointed to read in the Herald that they are planning on tearing down the "old" playground. At the time it was constructed (1992) it met all codes for handicapped accessibility--it was state of the art. Money was left to the town to maintain it and clearly that hasn't been done. 15 yrs is not that old that it can't be repaired. Most of our homes are made of wood and are older than 15 yrs. And the organizers of that playground did not get any money from the state or the town. Raised it all themselves. Did all the construction themselves. What a shame. And what about all the people who donated equipment "In memory of..." someone near and dear to them. Torn down after just 15 yrs. Tim can't anything be done to keep the original playground too?
What about the playground at Mixville? Tear that down . Let's tear them all down and start over. We have a surplus. Why not spend it all? The money is burning a whole in our pockets. Spend it this year so we can raise the taxes next year. This is how the current leadership is thinking. We need a change.
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