Ware Town Manager Mary Tzambazakis said the town's capital improvements plan will include building construction and repair work and possibly vehicle replacement.
WARE – The town charter calls for having a capital improvements plan and
Town Manager Mary T. Tzambazakis said she will be working with other town officials putting together one that makes sense.
Tzambazakis said the town is filling vacancies on the capital plan committee with people who bring expertise in construction and finance, and she envisions important roles in the process being played by the town planner, public works director and the Finance Committee.
Like many communities throughout the state Ware has faced decreased state appropriations and lean budget years in recent history, but Tzambazakis said there are projects that need to be undertaken and with some longterm loans being paid down, this is a time to put together a realistic program for a bond to cover current needs.
She listed the proposed new fire station, improvements at Town Hall and some solution for the intersection of Doan Road and Route 9 as obvious items to be looking at in a comprehensive way.
Federal stimulus funds will cover $5 million worth of the cost of building a new $7 million fire station at 200 West St. and the state will put in another $1 million, leaving the town to cover the $1 million balance.
In November 2010 borrowing money for the town’s share of the fire station and proceeding with design and construction were approved by a vote at a special Town Meeting.
Tzambazakis said the town has not done much in the way of capital improvements in recent years except for some projects done with Community Development Block Grant money and some road work with the annual state funding through Chapter 90.
In addition to the fire station, Town Hall and Doan Road, Tzambazakis said she would expect the Capital Plan Committee to consider extending municipal water and sewer lines, catch basins, improving accessibility in town buildings and traffic signals downtown.
“We have done a signalization study, and we want to do something with traffic signals,’’ she said.
Another consideration will be looking at replacement vehicles and other capital equipment through a long-term plan rather than buying them outright or leasing when needs arise.
“When you spend money like that in one shot, it impacts the operating budget,’’ Tzambazakis said.