By Gretchen Webster

WESTPORT — The Board of Finance on Wednesday heard a wish list of big-ticket town and school projects in a multi-year Capital Forecast presented by First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker and Supt. of Schools Thomas Scarice.

“This is a living, breathing document that we are going to discuss in more detail as the year goes on,” board Chair Lee Caney said as an introduction to reviewing the projects. “We will focus on the bigger items, especially those coming up over the next two to three years,” he said, “and will follow up with them at work sessions.”

Tooker’s list included:

• Working on traffic and safety issues, including improving pedestrian and cycling safety as well as improvements for motorists, “ensuring that Westport becomes safer,” she said.
• Beginning work on the Longshore Club Park capital plan as soon as a new director of the Parks and Recreation Department is appointed, which should be soon, Tooker said. The first step will be to relocate the maintenance shed to a new site in the park. Work to construct the shed will begin in December or January she said. 
• Addressing issues with downtown parking “continues to be a priority — and a little bit of a disappointment. A number of people have purposely obstructed our progress downtown,” Tooker said when listing her third priority. “I don’t think there is a resident in this town that doesn’t believe Parker Harding needs to be updated. We need to move the project forward without obstruction.” When board member Danielle Dobin asked if cost figures for possible construction of a downtown parking structure were included in Tooker’s capital forecast, the first selectwoman said no.

• Flood resilience and stream management is a problem that also needs to be to addressed for the longterm, Tooker continued. The town continues to apply for state funding to help offset the cost of bridge projects.
• Construction of a new Long Lots Elementary School. “We are making great progress and work on the design of the school. It’s a project which this community should be very excited about,” Tooker said. 
• Completing a feasibility study for a joint public protection building that would house Westport’s emergency police and fire departments, and emergency medical services.

“There are a lot of variables,” Tooker said about the capital forecast. “We will continue to be transparent and strategic with this document. We will continue to come before you with every single appropriation,” she told the finance board.

Scarice explained that prioritizing school district expenses is different than setting goals for municipal projects.

“Keeping our buildings, dry, warm and cool” is the most important expense for the school district, he said. 

School improvements and other projects must either be timed to take place over the summer, or in one-week time allotments during holiday breaks, which can complicate plans and possibly increase costs, the superintendent said.

“I think this document focuses on the priorities of both of our administrations,” concluded Tooker. “I’m dedicated to a competitive mill rate. I know how important it is.”

Freelance writer Gretchen Webster, a Fairfield County journalist for many years, was editor of the Fairfield Minuteman and has taught journalism at New York and Southern Connecticut State universities.