Projects Move to Referendum

On Monday, the Ellington Board of Selectmen adopted resolutions to send the , and the to a town meeting and referendum.

The town meeting will be held on Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium. That meeting will then adjourn to the referendum, which will be held on Feb. 14. On that day, residents can vote on the referendum from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. at Ellington High School.

At the meeting, residents will have a chance to hear about the projects to be voted on and will have a chance to ask questions.

Currently, has 29,600 square feet and the two-story addition would add approximately 18,350 more square feet. The school is currently a K-4 school, but it would be made a K-6 school.

The classrooms would be improved, some spaces would be moved around within the building, and everything would be upgraded. A couple of the goals on the site would be to separate the bus and car loading zones, respond to poor sight lines, and improve and expand the parking.

With this proposal, would see some alterations. There would be no additions or site work – with the exception of perhaps a pre-kindergarten playground. The alterations would include changing classrooms around to better suit the grade that is in it, using current space more efficiently, and improving toilet and storage facilities.

The proposed new would be approximately 10,600 square feet. The Senior Center Steering Committee has set out to get a new center for the town because they don’t feel the current center adequately serves the needs of the town’s seniors (residents over age 60) – or prepares for future growth in the number of seniors.

The current center is small, doesn’t have an ideal location or the best amenities, and costs $3,132 a month to rent.

The referendum question on the school projects will read as follows:

“Shall the town of Ellington appropriate $21,040,000 for costs related to the design construction, furnishings, and equipping of renovations, additions, alterations, and improvements to Crystal Lake School and to Windermere School, and to authorize the issue of bonds, notes, and other obligations to finance the portion of the appropriation not defrayed by grants?”

The referendum question on the Senior Center project will read as follows:

“Shall the town of Ellington appropriate $2,500,000 for costs related to the design, construction, equipping and furnishing of a senior center to be located on property owned by the town at 22 Maple St. in Ellington, and authorize the issue of bonds, notes, and other obligations to finance the portion of the appropriation not defrayed by grants or donations?”

A legal opinion came back recently saying that the projects should be . Selectman Rachel Wheeler-Rossow voiced her support for both projects.

“I just so hope that everyone committed to the Senior Center will be equally committed to the Crystal Lake project and that everyone so committed to Crystal Lake will be equally committed to the Senior Center,” she said. “We are one town. My view of the future is that youngsters and elders go arm in arm into the future – trusting each other, helping each other, sharing our experiences with each other. I hope that the town gives a resounding yes to both of these.”