Record-Journal
10-31-2007, 09:39 PM
Meriden’s state legislative delegation said it fought hard for the city during bond package negotiations. Now they can point to real numbers and a polished bill to make their point.
The $2.9 billion bond package passed by the General Assembly Tuesday includes more than $13 million for Meriden.
While the money is not guaranteed, Meriden is one step closer to getting $9 million in flood control money for the Hub site and MidState Medical Center is slated to receive $1 million.
Gallery 53 could get $50,000 for structural improvements and the Meriden-Wallingford Red Cross could also see $50,000.
The Rushford Center could get $800,000 to pay for renovations and a roof replacement at the former World War II Veterans’ Memorial Hospital.
Meriden also could get some help with its streetscape projects. The bond package includes $2.5 million for the West Main Street streetscape project and $250,000 for other city streetscape initiatives.
Gov. M. Jodi Rell is expected to sign the two-year bond package. She will then set the agenda for state Bond Commission meetings. The commission must approve all money given out.
Meriden City Manager Lawrence J. Kendzior said he was pleased with how much money was included in the bond package for Meriden.
“I think the delegation did a great job this year,” he said. “They really came through.”
Sen. Thomas P. Gaffey, D-Meriden, said Democrats did well during lengthy negotiations with Republican lawmakers and the governor.
The General Assembly passed a $3.2 billion package in September, but the governor vetoed it.
She then proposed her own $2.73 billion package earlier this month, and Democrats were not pleased but revisited negotiations.
Ultimately, the newly passed package is less than Democrats wanted, but Gaffey said many of the projects that are important to communities such as Meriden are included.
“They got on the list because we fought hard,” Gaffey said.
House Majority Leader Christopher G. Donovan, D-Meriden, agreed, adding that Meriden has real projects that need to get done.
Donovan said lawmakers cut down the overall spending number by reducing some of the money allotted to specific projects.
For example, in previous proposals, Meriden was slated to receive $10 million for the former Hub site.
Donovan also said Democrats eliminated some projects that were no longer timely and a priority for municipalities. Meriden was slated to get $1 million to purchase open space rights at Mountainside.
With the sale of the Mountainside property, that allocation is no longer necessary, Donovan said. Meriden no longer intends to buy any piece of that land, Kendzior said.
Along with Meriden, Southington also got some projects included in the bond package.
The town could get $250,000 to renovate the Southington Drive-In, and $3.3 million for the Lake Compounce Water Park expansion, which includes the relocation and straightening of Mt. Vernon Road.
There were no projects for Cheshire in the package, and Wallingford will be in line to get money only for the Meriden-Wallingford Red Cross.
Rep. Mary G. Fritz, D-Wallingford, said she is happy about the money for the Red Cross.
“It’s something I’ve tried to do for three years,” she said.
But Fritz is disappointed that money was not included for the Cheshire High School athletic complex. She was pushing for $850,000 for the complex. Athletics can keep children out of trouble, Fritz said.
Sen. Leonard A. Fasano, R-North Haven, the Senate’s minority leader pro tem, who was critical of past Democratic bond proposals, said he is satisfied with the package passed by lawmakers Tuesday.
He said he is still worried about the state’s level of spending, but is pleased millions were shaved off the Democrats’ original proposal.
Fasano is not concerned that Wallingford, a town he represents, had few projects listed in the bond bill.
The town is right in not asking for money before it has plans, and more towns should operate the same way, he said, reiterating that projects in the bond bill are not automatically funded.
“This is still the Santa Claus wish list,” Fasano said.
The $2.9 billion bond package passed by the General Assembly Tuesday includes more than $13 million for Meriden.
While the money is not guaranteed, Meriden is one step closer to getting $9 million in flood control money for the Hub site and MidState Medical Center is slated to receive $1 million.
Gallery 53 could get $50,000 for structural improvements and the Meriden-Wallingford Red Cross could also see $50,000.
The Rushford Center could get $800,000 to pay for renovations and a roof replacement at the former World War II Veterans’ Memorial Hospital.
Meriden also could get some help with its streetscape projects. The bond package includes $2.5 million for the West Main Street streetscape project and $250,000 for other city streetscape initiatives.
Gov. M. Jodi Rell is expected to sign the two-year bond package. She will then set the agenda for state Bond Commission meetings. The commission must approve all money given out.
Meriden City Manager Lawrence J. Kendzior said he was pleased with how much money was included in the bond package for Meriden.
“I think the delegation did a great job this year,” he said. “They really came through.”
Sen. Thomas P. Gaffey, D-Meriden, said Democrats did well during lengthy negotiations with Republican lawmakers and the governor.
The General Assembly passed a $3.2 billion package in September, but the governor vetoed it.
She then proposed her own $2.73 billion package earlier this month, and Democrats were not pleased but revisited negotiations.
Ultimately, the newly passed package is less than Democrats wanted, but Gaffey said many of the projects that are important to communities such as Meriden are included.
“They got on the list because we fought hard,” Gaffey said.
House Majority Leader Christopher G. Donovan, D-Meriden, agreed, adding that Meriden has real projects that need to get done.
Donovan said lawmakers cut down the overall spending number by reducing some of the money allotted to specific projects.
For example, in previous proposals, Meriden was slated to receive $10 million for the former Hub site.
Donovan also said Democrats eliminated some projects that were no longer timely and a priority for municipalities. Meriden was slated to get $1 million to purchase open space rights at Mountainside.
With the sale of the Mountainside property, that allocation is no longer necessary, Donovan said. Meriden no longer intends to buy any piece of that land, Kendzior said.
Along with Meriden, Southington also got some projects included in the bond package.
The town could get $250,000 to renovate the Southington Drive-In, and $3.3 million for the Lake Compounce Water Park expansion, which includes the relocation and straightening of Mt. Vernon Road.
There were no projects for Cheshire in the package, and Wallingford will be in line to get money only for the Meriden-Wallingford Red Cross.
Rep. Mary G. Fritz, D-Wallingford, said she is happy about the money for the Red Cross.
“It’s something I’ve tried to do for three years,” she said.
But Fritz is disappointed that money was not included for the Cheshire High School athletic complex. She was pushing for $850,000 for the complex. Athletics can keep children out of trouble, Fritz said.
Sen. Leonard A. Fasano, R-North Haven, the Senate’s minority leader pro tem, who was critical of past Democratic bond proposals, said he is satisfied with the package passed by lawmakers Tuesday.
He said he is still worried about the state’s level of spending, but is pleased millions were shaved off the Democrats’ original proposal.
Fasano is not concerned that Wallingford, a town he represents, had few projects listed in the bond bill.
The town is right in not asking for money before it has plans, and more towns should operate the same way, he said, reiterating that projects in the bond bill are not automatically funded.
“This is still the Santa Claus wish list,” Fasano said.