Board to Discuss $81M High School Renovation

A to renovate Naugatuck High School at a cost of $81 million is the top item on the Board of Mayor and Burgess agenda Tuesday evening.

The joint boards is expected to continue its discussion from late August, after to see what parts could be renovated under this proposal. When the board meets tonight at 7 p.m. at the Hall of Burgesses in Town Hall, the topic will be whether to formally pass along the proposal to the Board of Finance, and then the joint boards.

The Board of Finance is due to meet Thursday at the same place at 6 p.m., and the joint boards is scheduled to follow.

Under the proposal, would be renovated-to-new. This means the Grades 9-12 school will be brought up to all state and federal codes. Also, the proposal calls for a construction of new athletic fields, the repairing of the fields’ drainage system, replacement of all ceiling and floor tiles and the replacement of all window to make them energy efficient.

While the cost of the project is estimated at $81 million Naugatuck is likely to be reimbursed by the state for the majority of that. According to Mayor Robert Mezzo, Naugatuck’s reimbursement rate is around 75 percent, meaning the total cost could wind up being around $21 million.

It will ultimately be up to the voters to decide on whether the project should go through or not. Borough officials . There will also be public hearings before the item heads to the ballot.

Below is the question that could appear on the ballot, however this could be changed depending on borough officials’ discussion tonight.

Shall the Borough of Naugatuck appropriate $81,000,000 for the cost of the Reconstruction and Renovation of the Naugatuck High School, including, but not limited to, construction and reconstruction to the Naugatuck High School, the replacement of windows with energy efficient windows, replacement of all ceiling and floor tiles, the removal of hazardous materials, the construction of new athletic fields, the repair of drainage systems, the purchase and installation of new furniture, equipment and computers and all related costs and authorize the issuance of bonds and notes in the amount of $81,000,000 or so much as may be necessary after receiving grants or other funds available therefore to finance such appropriation?

Editor's Note: See the attached PDF for an agenda and the full breakdown of the proposal.