Council Unanimously Approves Town Improvements

Town Council members were presented with a few proposals to increase efficiency and safety measures in town Tuesday night, and both sides of the table were in agreement that all should be approved.

Of the expenditures approved was the purchase of a new hybrid vehicle. The council's action gave Town Manager Peter Souza permission to enter into an agreement with the state of Connecticut to receive grant money to offset costs associated with choosing to purchase a hybrid vehicle.

The hybrid Honda Civic will be the ninth alternative fuel vehicle the town has purchased — all having been purchased through the state's grant program, which have provided the town with upwards of $54,000 in savings.

The new vehicle will replace a 1994 Ford Crown Victoria, which was originally a police cruiser, and later recycled as a town employee car.

The council also approved the loaning out of the public building commission's services and heating improvements to Poquonock School's cafeteria and gymnasium.

The public building commission has been granted permission to assist the Windsor Library Association in the installment of sprinklers in the Wilson Branch Library.

The association, which owns the building, has committed $58,000 to the project. No town funds will be utilized in the project.

The Poquonock School cafeteria and gymnasium project will cost $61,000 with a 5 percent contingency, and continue an upgrade that, according to Public Works Director Brian Funk, has provided the town with considerable savings.

Energy savings from the multi-phase project netted $70,000 in savings in 2012, Funk told council members Tuesday.

The $61,000 will be taken from the town's assigned capital projects fund, which has a balance of just under $610,000.