Salem considers its capital needs for 2010-11

Salem — The Board of Selectmen reviewed the proposed fiscal 2010-11 capital improvement plan Monday before sending it to the Board of Finance Thursday.

It's the first year the board is looking at the plan and giving recommendations to the Board of Finance.

"This is a way for us as managers of the town to look a little deeper at how our money is spent," First Selectman Kevin Lyden said.

The proposed plan contains about 20 requests from town departments and the Board of Education. Selectmen identified some items they thought should be reprioritized.

The town's fire companies - Salem and Gardner Lake - combined their requests this year. They are asking for six sets of gear (some for new members and others to replace older sets), a 100-foot hose and replacement of emergency lighting for the tanker. Selectmen suggested removing the lighting from the plan.

The Salem Recreation Commission wants money to repair drainage on the soccer field because the current conditions are a safety threat. The commission also wants a portable ice rink, which selectmen didn't express support for, but they did not suggest removing it from the plan.

The Public Works Department wants computerized salt/sanders, replacement of the salt shed roof and the town hall parking lot and a pre-owned sweeper to replace the current one, which is more than 30 years old. Selectmen suggested ranking the sweeper as a low priority on the plan.

Some of the other town department requests include technological upgrades at the town office building and a new roof at the town house.

The Board of Education wants a new hot water heater and exhaust hood in the Salem School's kitchen to get the building code compliant. The board is also asking for floor abatement and new flooring in some rooms in the school, three new servers, 36 desktop computers and Smart Boards with associated laptop computers.

A proposal for a concept plan related to the Salem School renovation project for $70,000 garnered a lot of discussion among the selectmen. Selectmen were opposed to the amount being asked for the plan, but most agreed that some sort of plan should be funded.

The Board of Finance, which determines the plan that will go forward to the voters, is meeting Thursday at 7 p.m. in the town hall.