Preston — About 50 residents quickly approved town matching funds for two environmental assessment grants for the former Norwich Hospital property and approved two new appointments to the agency.

Residents also forwarded a proposed $126,861 playground for children in grades two through five at the Preston Veterans' Memorial School to a Sept. 23 referendum with little comment and no debate. Polls will be open from noon to 8 p.m. at Town Hall Sept. 23.

The playground project calls for spending $98,861 from the town capital non-reoccurring account and $28,000 from the town general fund. The $28,000 is money the Board of Education returned to the town at the end of the 2013-14 fiscal year with a request that the funding be used as the board's share of the playground project.

The Board of Education also agreed to maintain the playground and open it to the public during off-school hours.

A group of parents led by Melissa Lennon researched playground equipment options, bringing them to students to rank before compiling prices and designs. The project went through six design phases before both the price and selection were acceptable to town officials. The base would be a poured rubber surface, more expensive than wood chips but with less maintenance.

Resident Andy Depta was the only speaker on the project during the town meeting. Depta told other residents that he attended meetings and witnessed how Lennon pared down the project to a reasonable price. He urged residents to support the project at the town meeting and at the upcoming referendum.

By voice vote, voters unanimously approved sending the item to referendum.

After the vote, First Selectman Robert Congdon thanked Lennon and others who worked on the project for their "incredible job" in putting the project together. Residents responded with applause.

Residents in attendance also unanimously approved the $59,000 in matching town funds needed to receive two $200,000 federal Environmental Protection Agency grants for the former Norwich Hospital property.

The town must provide a 20 percent matching share, and $21,000 of that was placed in the budget prior to learning whether the town would receive the grants, Preston Redevelopment Agency Chairman Sean Nugent said.

A town ordinance governing the PRA also requires that agency vacancies be filled with approval by residents at a town meeting. Residents Andy Depta and William Cummings were approved unanimously Thursday to fill two five-year vacancies.

c.bessette@theday.com

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