By:Chris Munzing
The bonds were being sought to fund a number of capital improvement projects throughout the city, including $1.1 million for reconstruction and maintenance of city buildings, $2 million for the reconstruction and resurfacing of streets, $650,000 in Recreation Center rehab, and $2.9 million for the reconstruction of three sewage pumping stations in the city.
"The debt service will be too expensive," Remo said. "If we borrow $9 million, we've got to pay back a huge amount over the course of time." Remo said that he would like to see the figure reduced from $9 million to about $5 million, because he said some of the projects being bonded are not absolutely necessary, specifically the resurfacing of the pool deck, the relining of the pool and a new filtration system at the rec center.
Remo asked why the money for that project was being bonded now when the actual work wouldn't be done until the pool closes next summer for maintenance. While he believes the rec center maintenance will benefit the city, Remo suggested looking to community-development funds to finance that project next year. He also questioned whether bonding for city vehicles was necessary.
Hennessy had the same concern. "Do we need three more garbage trucks?" he asked. "Do we need a new pickup truck?" He did not provide a target figure he would like to see reached.
Hennessy added that the public hearing and council vote on the bonds at Tuesday night's council meeting would be shelved while the council works to find ways to pare the bond total down at that evening's work session, and at future council meetings. Hennessy could not give an exact date for when the item would be voted on.
Both councilmen said, however, that there were certain projects that needed to get done, namely the sewage pumping stations and road reconstruction. Remo advocated adding more money to the road-reconstruction plan and continuing to repair a certain number of streets every year.
City Manager Glen Spiritis said that the $9 million figure was offered as a starting point, encompassing a capital projects wish list of things the city would like to do. Spiritis said he would make recommendations to the City Council on which projects to include and which to leave out, but he said that street reconstruction and the sewage pumping stations are extremely important. Spiritis said he anticipates the figure to be between $4 million and $5 million.
