Greenwich BET breaks several 6-6 ties, approves multiple capital and operating amendments after long debate

The Board of Estimate and Taxation on a long session reviewed dozens of capital and operating amendments and broke several 6-6 ties to approve and amend portions of the town’s capital plan and operating budget.

The board’s discussion focused on several high-profile items: a reduction to an open-space appropriation, funding tied to an RTM leaf-blower ordinance and the town’s support for private landscapers, sidewalk and ADA funding, timing and size of the asphalt paving program, a request to update the Holly Hill Resource Recovery Facility master plan, future EV-charging infrastructure for town fleet use, multiple motions on the Dorothy Hamill rink project and a contested choice for HVAC replacement at Hamilton Avenue School (geothermal vs. conventional systems).

Why it matters: those votes affect how fast public works and school projects move forward, whether the town helps contractors comply with a new RTM ordinance, and how the town plans capital spending in later years. Several decisions also change how taxpayers will see large future projects reflected in the capital plan.

Open space and RTM plan Motions to reduce an open-space appropriation drew a sustained debate on the town’s Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD) and the appropriate role of the BET versus the RTM. Opponents said the cut would signal a repudiation of the POCD; supporters said the item lacked a sufficiently developed plan to justify funds now. The board ultimately approved the proposed reduction after the chair broke a 6-6 tie.

Leaf-blower ordinance funding and business impact A heated exchange addressed whether the town should fund electric blowers for town crews and private landscape contractors who must comply with an RTM-passed ordinance limiting gas blowers. Supporters of the RTM ordinance cited public quiet, health and climate reasons and said the RTM is the legislative body that set the rule; opponents warned of costs to small businesses and said the town should not force unfunded compliance. The BET voted to reduce a $211,000 appropriation for leaf-blower conversions; that reduction passed after a 6-6 tie was broken by the chair.

Sidewalks, paving and traffic safety The board also considered cuts to ADA sidewalk funding and a proposed $500,000 reduction to the asphalt paving program. Members warned that cutting ADA funding and paving appropriations would extend implementation cycles, raise legal and safety risk and potentially increase future costs. Both the ADA sidewalk reduction and the asphalt paving reduction drew close roll calls; the chair again broke a 6-6 tie in favor of the amendments as presented to the board.

Holly Hill Resource Recovery Facility Two motions on Holly Hill failed to gain majority support. One motion to add $100,000 to refresh the Holly Hill master plan resulted in a 6-6 tie and did not pass. A separate motion to accelerate the timing of the renovation likewise failed to receive the votes needed. Members who argued for moving the study forward cited landfill and incinerator permit uncertainty in the region and the time needed to develop alternatives for the town’s waste stream.

EV charging for town fleet A proposal to leave placeholder capital funding in future out-years for town EV charging infrastructure (to support an expanding electric fleet) was debated. Some members argued for continued placeholder planning dollars so the town can meet its energy-management goals and reduce long-term operating costs; others said building public charging is a private-sector function and questioned adding multi‑year out-year placeholders now. The board approved removing those out-year line items after a 6-6 tie, resolved by the chair.

Hamill rink A series of motions on the Dorothy Hamill rink produced extensive debate about process, scope, public benefit and private partnership options. The newly formed rink task force sought study money; the BET rejected a larger A&E add in a tie vote but later approved adding $50,000 back into the budget conditioned on BET review and approval of the specific use of funds. Members said the task force needs modest study resources to proceed, while others said the RTM and broader public ought to see clearer scope and costs before committing capital dollars.

Hamilton Avenue HVAC: geothermal vs. conventional A major, detailed debate centered on Hamilton Avenue School HVAC replacement. The Greenwich Public Schools and an outside engineering firm (AECOM) presented an analysis comparing refurbished geothermal versus a conventional HVAC approach. Supporters of reusing and refining the geothermal system argued the ground loop already exists and lifecycle costs favor geothermal; opponents called past geothermal performance and maintenance problems into question and urged a conventional system. The BET approved a motion that reduced one line amount and conditioned release of remaining funds pending further documentation and a detailed CIP sheet; that motion passed after the chair broke a 6-6 tie.

Other capital changes and the capital plan The board approved motions moving or postponing various traffic-safety studies, traffic signal infrastructure assessments and smaller park and road projects. In several cases members emphasized the need for a clearer capital-planning process (a standing capital-planning committee) so the 15-year capital plan and large out-year placeholders better match the town’s fiscal plans.

Votes at a glance - Open-space fund: motion to reduce a $75,000 appropriation (motion passed after chair broke 6-6 tie). - Leaf-blower / private contractor funding: motion to reduce $211,000 (motion passed after chair broke 6-6 tie). - ADA sidewalk program: proposed reduction of $200,000 (motion passed after chair broke 6-6 tie). - Asphalt paving program: proposed reduction of $500,000 (motion passed after chair broke 6-6 tie). - Holly Hill master plan add $100,000 (motion tied 6-6; did not pass). - Holly Hill acceleration (move schedule earlier) (motion tied 6-6; did not pass). - EV charging out-year placeholders removed (motion passed after chair broke 6-6 tie). - Hamill Rink: addition of $50,000 conditioned on BET review of specific use (motion approved by the BET with conditions). - Hamilton Avenue HVAC: motion to reduce a short-term item and condition release of remaining funds pending an engineering/CIP package (motion approved after chair broke a 6-6 tie). - Removal of a large out-year placeholder for a North Street school construction block (motion approved after chair broke tie). - Sewer plant flood-hardening out-year deletions: motion approved after roll call.

What’s next Board members asked for clearer capital planning, more coordinated documentation of grant reimbursements and for departments to provide CIP-level detail before large out-year sums are left in the book. Members set a short timeline to resume budget deliberations; several said they will reconvene quickly to finalize the operating mill-rate calculations and to get a clear projection for RTM review.

Ending Several members said the meeting revealed the need for a more formal capital-planning process and better cross-agency briefing before votes. The board left the meeting with many line-by-line changes enacted, and with instructions that conditioned items must return to the BET with the specific documentation listed in the motions before funds are released.