By MARK SARDELLA
WAKEFIELD — Voters at the May 16 Annual Town Meeting will be asked to approve $2.1 million in tax levy-funded capital appropriations along with $875,000 in Water Division enterprise funds and $862,000 in Sewer Division enterprise funds for capital spending.
The Town Council last night approved the FY 2023 Capital Outlay recommended by the Capital Planning Committee.
DPW Director Joseph Conway pinch hit for Capital Planning Committee Chairman Frank Leone and presented the highlights of the capital spending plan recommended for next year. Conway works closely with the committee by researching costs, scheduling town department heads’ attendance at meetings and tracking the budget numbers.
At last night’s meeting, Conway reviewed the process that the Capital Planning Committee uses to arrive at its annual capital spending recommendations.
Each fall, Conway noted, town department heads submit requests to the CPC for consideration. The requests are then compiled into a spreadsheet for evaluation and review.
This year’s initial requests for tax levy-funded capital outlay totaled $3,847,664.
The CPC invites all department heads to a meeting to discuss their requests. The CPC then evaluates the various requests and establishes a rank and prioritization for funding. The CPC explore’s options for efficiency and savings as it develops an annual capital spending plan that meets the town budgeted expense of about $2 million, Conway said.
Conway noted that every year some of the highest price tag items are under the “Fleet” section of the Capital Plan. This year’s plan includes $191,500 for two cruisers and one prisoner transport van for the Police Department.
Also in the “Fleet” section is a $30,000 Ventrec SSV sidewalk snowblower for the high school along with a $270,000 front-end Loader with snowplow for the Public Porks Department. The latter replaces a 1990 machine.
Under the “Buildings” section, the Capital Plan calls for $25,000 for Woodville School Gym Floor Refinishing, $20,000 for Civic Center bathroom renovations and $51,000 for Beebe Library carpet replacement.
Other items on the FY 2023 Capital plan include an aggregate screener for $150,000. This piece of equipment will live at the Nahant Street Yard Waste Facility and will be used to screen material brought to the Pit.
A force sewer main replacement on Spaulding Street for $125,000 is also on the list, along with $160,000 for Walton School Playground upgrades.
The Town Council approved the Capital Planning Committee’s recommended capital plan totaling $2,100,000.
Capital Planning Committee members are Frank Leone (chair), Daniel Calore, David Whitham, Philip Renzi, Tracey Cleversey, Jeffrey Giunta and Frank Conte.
