Sprague approves bond authorizations and appropriations for roads, utilities, senior center and land purchase

The Town of Sprague approved a series of bond authorizations and appropriations at a Special Town Meeting on June 9, 2010, voting to fund road and streetscape projects, communications upgrades, senior-center refurbishment, water and sewer preliminary work, financing costs, several grant-funded projects and a proposed land purchase. First Selectman Catherine Osten, serving as moderator, said copies of the full resolutions were available to those in attendance.

The largest borrowing measure approved authorized the town to issue bonds or notes not to exceed $314,000 to finance the Fiscal Year 2010–11 Road Upgrades and Streetscape Improvements Program. The resolution lists specific appropriations within that total: $200,000 for pavement overlays on Parkwood Road, Hazelwood Drive, Bay Street and Pearl Street and related drainage work; $48,000 for chip sealing on Salt Rock Road, Mission Street and Fifth Avenue; $16,000 for ribbon guardrail installation on Bay Street, Ridge Road, Baltic–Hanover Road and Fifth Avenue; and $50,000 for streetscape improvements on Upper High Street and High Street, including drainage, widening and sidewalk work. Andy Trudelle moved the item and Christian Mueller seconded; after discussion the measure was adopted by a show of hands.

The meeting also authorized borrowing up to $30,667 to cover the town’s net cost of replacing the communications system among Town Hall, highway vehicles and emergency vehicles, with $15,333 of the project to be funded from grant proceeds included in the fiscal 2010–11 budget. Christian Mueller moved the item and Andy Trudelle seconded; the resolution passed by voice vote.

A $13,500 authorization to finance refurbishment of the Senior Center at One Main Street in Baltic was adopted by voice vote after Edward Meadows moved the resolution and David Gustafson seconded. The town may use those funds for renovations, equipment and related costs.

Voters approved a $35,000 bond authorization to cover preliminary design and grant-application work for water and sanitary sewer improvements, including contemplated work at the Baltic Reservoir (demolition and reconstruction of the east dam/spillway), upgrades to the water filtration plant for surface water filtration, removal of abandoned fire hydrants, water-line upgrades, purchase of spare pumps, construction planning for a 500,000-gallon storage tank, potential improvements or replacement of the sewage treatment plant, rehabilitation of several sanitary sewer pump stations, and an inflow/infiltration study. The resolution notes the town anticipates pursuing U.S. Department of Agriculture grant awards to fund the balance of project costs.

To cover the costs of issuing bonds, notes and temporary notes related to the aggregate capital appropriations, the meeting appropriated $81,761 and authorized issuance of bonds or notes up to that amount; Glenn Cheney moved the item and Christian Mueller seconded, and the motion was approved by voice vote.

Several other appropriations approved by voice vote included $25,000 received from Cascades Boxboard Group for a waste treatment study; a $90,000 grant from the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism to renovate the third floor of the Grist Mill for museum and archival space; and $21,855 in proceeds from the sale of fire apparatus for the Fire Department’s capital expenditures.

On land acquisition, the meeting voted to appropriate $500,000 for purchase of the Watson Property, with the appropriation contingent on a DEP Land Acquisition Grant application to cover the purchase. Members moved to vote on the question, the motion to proceed passed by more than a two-thirds show of hands, and the original motion to appropriate the funds was approved by voice vote.

All motions were made and seconded by members present and were adopted either by voice vote or show of hands as noted; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript. The meeting adjourned at 8:24 P.M.

Votes at a glance: Item 1 — authorize bonds/notes up to $314,000 for road and streetscape improvements; adopted (show of hands). Item 2 — authorize bonds/notes up to $30,667 for communications system replacement; adopted (voice vote). Item 3 — authorize bonds/notes up to $13,500 for Senior Center refurbishment; adopted (voice vote). Item 4 — authorize bonds/notes up to $35,000 for water and sewer preliminary costs; adopted (voice vote). Item 5 — appropriate $81,761 for bond issuance costs and authorize bonds/notes up to that amount; adopted (voice vote). Item 6 — appropriate $25,000 from Cascades Boxboard Group for a waste treatment study; adopted (voice vote). Item 7 — appropriate $90,000 grant for Grist Mill renovation; adopted (voice vote). Item 8 — appropriate $21,855 from sale of fire apparatus for Fire Department capital expenditures; adopted (voice vote). Item 9 — appropriate $500,000 for purchase of Watson Property (DEP grant application pending); adopted (show of hands/voice vote).