New Roof at Fairfield Senior Center Tops List of Town Infrastructure Projects in 2011-12

A new roof at the Fairfield Senior Center is the most expensive and immediate project identified to improve the town's infrastructure in a report from Town Public Works Director Richard White, who compiled a list of $11.3 million worth of projects from fiscal year 2011-12 through fiscal year 2015-16.

The new insulated membrane roof on the former Oldfield School building at 100 Mona Terrace was estimated by White to cost $725,000 and he recommended it be installed in the 2011-12 fiscal year, which begins July 1.

First Selectman Ken Flatto, in his recommended capital financial plan, proposed $8.75 million be spent on projects from White's list, and Flatto anticipated that the amount would be reduced to $4 million through the town receiving grants.

In addition to replacing the roof at the Senior Center, White's proposed the following 23 projects, totaling $2.03 million, also be done in the 2011-12 fiscal year:

* Rebuild the elevator in Old Town Hall at a cost of $25,000;

* Remove asbestos tiles and replace carpeting on the first floor of Old Town Hall at a cost of $112,000;

* Replace a severely-rusted fire escape on Fire Station 3 on Jackman Avenue at a cost of $20,000;

* Abate lead, and paint Fire Station 4 on Main Street in the town's Southport neighborhood at a cost of $35,000;

* Install a new hot water heater and solar panels at the Fairfield Police Department at a cost of $20,000;

* Install a new air conditioning unit for the Fairfield Public Library's Information Technology area at a cost of $20,000;

* Supply heat to the warehouse at the Fairfield Theatre Company, which is in a town-owned building at 70 Sanford St., at a cost of $40,000;

* Rebuild the restroom at Ye Yacht Yard and connect it to the town's sewer system at a cost of $30,000;

* Rehabilitate the concession area and restrooms at Lake Mohegan, including making them conform to the Americans With Disabilities Act at a cost of $40,000;

* Replace the roof at the Tunxis Hill Garage at a cost of $175,000;

* Upgrade restrooms at the Fairfield Senior Center at a cost of $30,000;

* Replace the remaining original roof at Sullivan-McKinney Elder Housing with an insulated membrane roof at a cost of $20,000;

* Install a new boiler in the Eunice Postol Memorial Recreation Center on Mill Plain Road at a cost of $20,000;

* Dredge South Benson Marina near the gas dock at a cost of $50,000 (the area was dredged on an emergency basis last spring, but White said it still needs work;)

* Rehabilitate the Henry Moore Fishing Pier at South Benson Marina at a cost of $38,000;

* Remove underground storage tanks at various town facilities at a cost of $70,000;

* Install a larger culvert at Grasmere Brook and Holland Hill Road as a flood-control project at a cost of $200,000;

* Upgrade various parts of the town's 186 miles of drainage systems at a cost of $50,000;

* Rebuild the infield drainage system at Tunxis Hill Park's lower field and replace or repair the backstop at a total cost of $75,000;

* Rebuild the drainage system at Burr Elementary School's soccer field at a cost of $56,000;

* Begin to remove a pile of soil, stones, concrete, asphalt and rebar that totals 40,000 cubic yards from the DPW's yard at a cost of $40,000;

* Re-pave and curb the parking lot at Sullivan-Independence Hall at a cost of $125,000;

* Replace the fire sprinkler system and oil/water separator at the Transfer Station on One Rod Highway at a cost of $20,000.

The only project that exceeds the cost of the Senior Center's new roof on White's overall list is construction of a detention basin for stormwater near Nordstrand Avenue and Villa Place, at an estimated cost of $1.25 million. That project isn't proposed to take place until the 2015-16 fiscal year.