By Beth Barhydt
In a significant development for the Central Middle School (CMS) building project, the school recently received Municipal Improvement (MI) status, and key players are now looking at ways to keep the project on track amid rising costs and community concerns.
The MI status, granted unanimously at the P&Z meeting, has bolstered hopes of those supporting the project. Joe Kelly, Chairman of the Board of Education, emphasized the strong community support for the new building, noting the unanimous decision.
“So we got the MI unanimously, and tremendous support from the community. And now we’d like to get the funding to move forward. The Board of Ed, we’re not unanimous on it, we’re 6-1-1 on the last vote in support of asking for the interim. One abstention was basically one of the members feels that we could do it a little more cost efficiently. And another member who voted against it believes that it’s not in proper scope. But the six members do believe it’s exactly what our students need in order to give them the best education possible. So we voted in favor of that,” Kelly explained.
This latest development has seen the Central Middle School Building Committee (CMSBC) push for the Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET) to hear the interim funding request as soon as possible. Tony Turner, Chairman of the CMSBC, said that the committee requested a special BET meeting within an hour of receiving MI status for the project. “I wrote to the BET letting them know… and reiterated our request for a meeting.”
In a letter to BET leaders, Turner outlined what he believes is the urgency of the situation, highlighting various concerns, including rising construction costs, concerns over the school’s current state, and the looming potential for winter construction which could further delay and add costs to the project.
The project’s hefty price tag has raised eyebrows in the community. Addressing this concern, Joe Kelly said this issue is state wide. “There’s a forum for the Board of Ed chairs to speak to each other across the state. And all of us that have building projects going on, all share the same thing. It’s the price sticker shock.”
Despite the concerns, Turner remains optimistic. “The wonderful thing about it is, we’re all talking, the channels are open. We’ve done a great job of that,” he said, highlighting the continuous communication between key figures involved in the project.
Dan Ozizmir, Chairman of the BET, acknowledged the strides taken by the building committee. “Congratulations to the board and building committee for achieving MI,” Ozizmir said, underscoring the project’s rapid pace despite perceived delays even though it is the most expensive construction project in the Town’s history.
While setting up a special BET meeting presents logistical challenges, Ozizmir remains optimistic, “The building committee requested a special meeting, and I agreed to hold one. We’ll conduct it as soon as possible. I would hope it would be no later than next week, which I think is doable.”
Adding to the chorus of voices supporting the project, First Selectman Fred Camillo spoke in favor of the MI and CMS. “From day one, I said that at the end of the day, whatever the price is, after you’ve asked all of your questions – and most of them are really good questions that you want asked for a hundred million dollar project – but at the end of the day, we all know that with inflation and supply chain issues, the prices escalate, but if you keep delaying, it’s going to get worse. So whatever it comes to we have to do it and I support the renovation of it. You got to get it done.”
As the community and leaders rally behind the CMS building project, the focus remains on navigating the challenges ahead and ensuring that students have the facilities they need for a top-quality education. The upcoming weeks are expected to be crucial as decisions are made to keep the project on track and address the various concerns raised.
Turner noted the constant line of communication between key players. “Dan Ozizmir and I and Joe Kelly and I talk at least once a week or communicate just to keep the channels open,” he said. This constant dialogue also extends to First Selectman Fred Camillo. Turner shared, “Today, I’ve texted with Fred a couple times to keep him in the loop.”
While the pathway to progress is often filled with differing views, the town’s leaders emphasize the importance of open dialogue.
“We’ve had very strong disagreements, but we came right back the next day and said, ‘I hear you, I got it. Let’s keep going,’” Turner said.
It’s this spirit of mutual respect and commitment to the community that has allowed the Central Middle School project to move forward, even in the face of challenges. The Chairman of the Board of Education, Joe Kelly, highlighted the myriad meetings he’s attended. “For Central Middle School specifically, I’ve sat in at least 200 meetings.” Kelly’s dedication to ensuring the best for the students is evident.
The consensus on transparency and open communication is shared by Ozizmir. This level of responsiveness points to a commitment to ensuring that the Central Middle School project remains on track in spite of concerns to the contrary.
The unity among the town’s leadership, underscored by their dedication to open communication, serves as a testament to the importance of the Central Middle School project as the community waits for the next steps to unfold.
