30 Years Ago: Barlow project gets trimmed by 8%

Written by Rocco Valluzzo
Thursday, 05 November 2009 12:35

The following is taken from the Nov. 1, 1979 issue of The Redding Pilot:

The Regional Board of Education voted on Oct. 30 after a public hearing to reduce the price of the proposed athletic facilities expansion at Joel Barlow High by 8%, from $2,688,000 to $2,480,000, and bring the project to referendum by Dec. 1.

The price cut eliminated 400 bleacher seats and paving the proposed parking area north of the school.

Because the reduction was not greater that 10%, the entire project would not have to be put out for a bid a second time, and therefore receipt of state funds would not be jeopardized.

But before reaching its almost unanimous decision, the board was taken to task on a number of counts. One person accused the board of having a “public-be-damned attitude,” and Michael Buccieri of Olmstead Road felt the board’s decision to bring the project to another referendum showed no respect for the voters and taxpayer. “I’m shocked and appalled at what you did,” he said. “I think every one of you should resign.”

Vote drives ends

The lines were drawn on several issues brought forth at the candidates’ debate sponsored by the Georgetown Businessmen’s Association in the Georgetown Firehouse. Republican and Democratic candidates for the Board of Selectmen expressed divergent views on issues such as the new Route 7, how to clean up the Norwalk River, and how to best alleviate the problems special to Georgetown.

The candidates also clarified some of the accusations and counteraccusations that have peppered the campaign, including the two parties’ positions on the town’s growth and where the town’s taxes stand in comparison with other towns in the area.

The Republicans, Theodore Dachenhausen, candidate for first selectman, and Charles Nash, candidate for selectman, came out unequivocally in favor of the new Route 7.

The Democrats gave a qualified, if not hesitant, endorsement of the superhighway.

Engineer likes bridge plans

The town engineer had concurred with the proposal for repairs to the Simpaug Turpike Bridge. The Connecticut Department of Transportation had found the plan “satisfactory” and sent it on to the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) for funding approval.

The bridge work awaited word from the FHA.

In a letter last week to First Selectman Mary Anne Guitar, Town Engineer Dudley Ashwood concurred with the findings of a recently completed engineering study by Charles H. Mackie Associates of Norwalk. But Mr. Ashwood suggested the bridge be widened to 25 feet rather than 24, as the study suggested.

The study showed there had been deterioration of the deck and “stringers” of the superstructure, surface deterioration of the steel piers, and that there was serviceability of the concrete pier footings although they could require surface refinishing.