Selectmen recommend $11.3 million appropriation for Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center; referendum set for Sept. 29

The Old Saybrook Board of Selectmen on July 14 voted to recommend an $11,300,000 appropriation for an addition and renovation to the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center and to recommend bond authorization not to exceed $6,300,000 to finance part of the project.

The chair said the project team and outside consultants, including Centerbrook Architects and a predevelopment cost estimator, revised the scheme over the last two years and trimmed the original cost to the figure presented. The appropriation would be funded by the bond, grants and capital-campaign funds, the chair said.

The board was told the project estimate includes contingencies and that the capital campaign is progressing. The chair said the likely schedule is a Board of Finance review in late July or August, a selectmen recommendation to a town meeting on Sept. 9 and a referendum on Sept. 29. "We've engaged bond counsel and are coordinating with the town's financial advisers," the chair said.

Board members asked about timing, approvals and community outreach. A project representative described the multi-year design and cost-estimating process and said the team has worked to reduce scope and costs while preserving functionality.

The board voted to forward the recommendation to the Board of Finance for consideration; if the Board of Finance approves, selectmen will place the appropriation and bond question before the town meeting and a subsequent referendum as described.

Next steps noted at the meeting included Board of Finance hearings (dates to be set), a selectmen meeting to certify the article for town meeting and town-level outreach ahead of the September referendum. If approved by voters, the bond would be issued under terms set by bond counsel and the town's financial advisers.