Campbell Dips $38K Into 'Rainy Day Fund'

Monday evening's Board of Selectmen meeting heard Director of Public Works Robert Steeger share news of First Selectman Dave Cambpell's plans to sign a proposal for a $38,000 study of alternative flood mitigation efforts.

"The First Selectman has requested a proposal from Leonard Jackson based on alternatives laid out at our last meeting," said Steeger.

The proposal appropriates $38,000 of leftover flood-funds, previously allocated for Dewberry's engineering of the Baker Park detention pond, to study Campbell's flood-fix vision: a combination of smaller, less expensive alternatives to the Baker Park Project, still within the vicinity of flood-prone Heights Road. Leonard Jackson, an engineer involved in the Baker Flood project, has been commissioned for the study; he will submit his report by Feb. 16, said Steeger.

Campbell's desire to move flood mitigation out of Baker Park is no secret. Since campaign season, Campbell has communicated his dislike of plans put forth by the previous administration to build a detention pond in Baker Park at the expense of over three acres of forest and neighbors' chagrin.

Last December, Steeger addressed the board as to Campbell's new tact and the nine proposed alternatives: removing the existing sewer pipe under the railroad, maximizing detention under Heights Road, Stop & Shop or the railroad parking lot.

"Or some combination of the above," said Steeger. "The other five are permutations of the first four."

The Department of Environmental Protection requires a water diversion permit for any change in the instantaneous flow, part and parcel of any detention project, said Steeger. Campbell said that Tom Golden who owns the Stop & Shop property is "more than willing to work with town."

Still, Selectman David Bayne said he was taken aback by news of the $38,000 study.

"I was basically reading and reacting to the proposal on the fly," said Selectman David Bayne. "I am concerned that we are paying taxpayer money on solutions that are not designed to standard."

In its recent permit-approval report of the Baker Park project, the DEP ruled the proposed alternatives as inadequate solutions to the standard 100-year-storm; but Steeger says that's no longer the goal.

"That's not relevant, because we're looking at less intensive solutions than the one that's already been looked at," said Steeger.

Instead, Jackson will draw up hydraulic and hydrologic analyses of the effectiveness and related costs of new designs suffice to withstand a two, five, ten, 20 and 50-year-storm, said Steeger.

"The goal is to capture or hold water some place for enough time so that it can be let out in a controlled way to mitigate the level of water on Heights Road," said Steeger. "The question is how much water, and how much will it cost?"

Selectman Callie Sullivan, an advocate of the Baker Park Flood Mitigation Project, asked a number of specific questions—both legal and architectural in nature. She said after the meeting that she, like Bayne, was also surprised by news of the proposal.

"I had no idea, " Sullivan said. "This has been a problematic issue. I would have liked more of an opportunity to be involved in the process of finding the consultant and defining their scope of work."

Per Town Charter, invitations for sealed bids or proposals are not requisite for professional services or contracts involving the state. 

Selectman Jerry Nielsen said while he had not seen the proposal, news of the study was hardly surprising. Selectman Jayme Stevenson expressed similar sentiment.

"I wasn't surprised at all that the monies have been appropriated; it's necessary in order to move forward, and I'm looking forward at what Leonard Jackson has to say," Stevenson said.

According to Town Administrative Officer Karl Kilduff, Campbell's signing off on the proposal does not require the Board of Selectmen's vote.

"I wanted to have a discussion first, and now I'm going to sign it," said Campbell.

In the meantime, the Baker Flood Mitigation Project continues to inch its way through the DEP permit process. A written exception filed by Jim Tatum on behalf of the Coalition to Save Baker Woods on Jan. 15 is pending review by the commissioner.

"There could be a rather lengthy period of time before this comes to a head once and for all," said Steeger.