Hurricane Sandy Expenditures, Street Lights, Academy School Subject Of Special Meeting, Public Hearing Monday Night

There will be a special town meeting Monday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. in the Upper Level of Memorial Town Hall to consider and take action on two special appropriation requests.

The first is a request of $75,000 to purchase street lights from Connecticut Light & Power. The town currently rents street lights from CL&P for $88,000 per year plus the cost of electricity. Purchasing the street lights will save the town about $28,000 per hear, which will result in a 2.5 year payback on the purchase, according to the town's Energy and Efficiency Committee.

The second request would provide the town with $250,000 for emergency expenditures related to Hurricane Sandy.

Following the special meeting, there will be a public hearing at 7:15 p.m., also in the upper level of the Memorial Town Hall, to all the public to comment on support and opposition for the future use and/or disposition of Academy School.

The Ad-Hoc Academy Advisory Committee has been meeting to discuss the future of Academy School. Members of the Board of Selectmen, after conferring with that committee, have said they are inclined to keep the building for town use, rather than sell it to a developer or for another use.

The Academy Advisory Committee has developed the following information in conjunction with its work:

• Academy School Repair Needs (March 2012)

• Academy School Options & Decision Issues (June 2012)

• Interim Status Report: A Discussion of Options & Opportunities (September 2012)