Friday, November 8, 2019
www.southingtoncitizen.com
Volume 14, Number 45
School board proposes plan for surplus funds
ELECTION DAY 2019
By Jesse Buchanan Record-Journal staff
A new high school stage curtain and lighting system, new flooring and drapes are among the items slated for funding with a school district budget surplus. The Board of Education approved a priorities list for the $586,464 left unspent from the previous fiscal year’s budget. The list was proposed by Superintendent of Schools Tim Connellan.
Republican candidates Missy (Soncerae) Cipriano, right, and David Falvo, left, celebrate with others after winning seats on the Southington Board of Education in the Nov. 5 election. Republican candidates and supporters gathered at Friends Cafe in Southington to watch live results come in. Bailey Wright, Record-Journal
GOP celebrates clean sweep
Board members debated whether to fund a new lighting system for Southington High School for $190,000 or a high school parking lot expansion for $207,000. The board voted 7 to 1 late last month to buy the lighting system and put off the parking lot work. Board chairman Brian Goralski, a Republican who is stepping down this year, said the discussion was lively. “Every single thing we talked about we need,” he said.
Republicans win majorities on school, finance boards and PZC
The spending still requires approval from the Board of Finance.
By Jesse Buchanan Record-Journal staff
so passed Tuesday, allowing the town to buy the John Weichsel Municipal Center on North Main Street for $3 million.
Sherri DiNello, business and finance director, said none of the projects had been bid yet and that the price tag attached to each item is
See Election, A13
See Surplus, A3
Republicans took majorities on the Board of Education, Board of Finance and the Planning
and Zoning Commission in a major victory Tuesday night, according to unofficial results. A referendum supported by candidates from both parties al-
Sports complex site on market By Jesse Buchanan Record-Journal staff
A 112-acre parcel on West Street slated for a sports complex is still on the market as the founder of Ignite Sports looks to secure an investor. Developer Lee Dibble, a former Southington firefighter, had an option to buy the parcel from the Sepko fami-
ly, but that expired and the property was listed for $7,840,000. The land has been on the market for more than a year. Matthew O’Hare, a broker with CBRE, said the industrial-zoned property could be a distribution center. “We’ve seen activity levels increase from places like Amazon and FedEx and
UPS,” he said. “We’re hoping to get something done See Complex, A2
Property bordering West Queen Street across from the Southington Water Department on Sept. 26, 2014. A field located behind the tree line, far right, is the property proposed for a sports complex. Record-Journal file photo