WETHERSFIELD - The Town Council has set a bonding cap on a four-school facilities overhaul, setting the stage for a November 8 election day referendum.

       While the roughly $279 million limit represents the total cost of a new Hanmer and Highcrest and the renovation of Emerson Williams and Webb �" with $1 million for debt service �" local officials anticipate securing a $168 million offset through school construction grant reimbursement.

       But Council sentiments ranged from supportive, to ambivalent, to vehemently opposed, as local officials kicked the matter around following a lengthy public hearing that saw voices from all sides come to the podium.

       Ultimately, the Council consensus �" despite some trepidation on the Republican side �" was to leave it to the voters.

       “This is the largest referendum in the history of Wethersfield,” said GOP Councilor Dan O’Connor, a former deputy mayor. “It’s above my paygrade.”

       The project is anticipated to take 10 years, with Charles Wright to close permanently and its student population redistributed in a redistricting.

       A four-year Phase I involving the construction of a new Highcrest and Hanmer �" after which the current Hanmer facility will be demolished.

       Phase II begins in 2024, with the renovation of Emerson Williams �" that’ll wrap up in 2029.

       Renovation at Webb begins in 2027 �" with a 2032 finish line.

       The last two years of the timeline are reserved for the demolition of Charles Wright and the current Highcrest buildings.

       In a subsequent redistricting, Highcrest’s student population would be split between Emerson Williams and Webb.

       The Highcrest rebuild would carry a $67.6 million budget, for 85,195 square feet of new construction and a program that serves 644 students.

       The new $59.6 million Hanmer facility will accommodate 439 students over 71,844 square feet.

       Both projects assume an 8% cost escalation.

       The work at Emerson Williams will renovate 56,830 square feet while adding 11,772 square feet of new construction �" to the tune of $53.8 million. Enrollment will total 463 students.

       Webb’s $83.2 million renovation will add 21,341 square feet, for a total of 94,974 square feet �" to serve 461 students.

       Project advocates say the work is long overdue �" and that the aging buildings are wrought with leaks, space shortages, and faulty HVAC systems.

       “We’ve been hearing this for years, as far as the repairs that need to be done, and all the problems with the schools,” said local parent Marjorie Carson, whose kids attended Hanmer. “You can just lean on it, and it’ll fall over. It needs to go. I understand it’s a lot of money, but it’s only going to get more expensive. This referendum will make sure every part of the town will benefit from this process. Just having new schools alone will be an excellent selling feature. We have this chance right now, and I just think we need to run with it.”

      

       But the price tag was a nonstarter for other residents.

      

       “I think that’s outrageous,” said town resident Robert Young. “I think we should slim it down to one school at a time. It puts us at risk, and we’re at risk enough. I just don’t see any reason to vote yes on this.”

      

       Wethersfield retiree Bob Woodruff says he can sympathize with both sides of the debate �" but that the cost, for him, was a dealbreaker.

      

       “I don’t debate that the schools need fixing, [but] you’re a town council for all of us,” Woodruff said. “The wording frightens me because it seems to leave us with all of the $278 million. If it passes, we are on the line for all the money, should the state vote not take place or the vote be no.”

      

       Local officials that spoke out in support of the project are confident in their grant prospects, but the timing is tricky �" the state’s process for dedicating Bond Commission dollars doesn’t wrap up until late December.

      

       When neighboring Newington voted last fall on the renovation of Anna Reynolds Elementary School, the start of construction and bond issue was contingent on the attainment of state reimbursement, and Democratic Councilor Matt Forrest envisions a similar hedge in Wethersfield’s case.

      

       “It’s not like $278 million gets spent the following day,” Forrest said. “The approval of the reimbursement happens before we bond out.”

      

       But GOP Deputy Mayor Tom Mazzarella said he was concerned with financial uncertainty of a different kind.

      

       He pointed to the Wethersfield High School (WHS) renovation overrun �" one that required state legislators to secure an $11 million space waiver to cover unanticipated PCB abatement costs.

      

       "Then we found out the costs were out of control, and what did we do? We cut back, cut back, cut back. There’s no geothermal. No solar system. We couldn’t afford it,” Mazzarella lamented. “If things go south, we’re gonna get one or two buildings built and realize we’re running out of money, and what are we gonna end up with? Two Highcrest schools on one property?”

      

       While overruns are a possibility on any major construction project, it’s not an excuse to sit back and settle for status quo, Forrest contended.

      

       “There could always be things that go wrong, in fact we expect it, but if you always have that pessimistic mentality, we won’t as a community take the opportunity to do great things,” he said. “I’m not afraid to allow our citizens to say, ‘we think our town and education system is worth it, and this is going to be a great step forward’. Do I want to be this town that relies on portable classrooms? I don’t think that’s who we want to be. I think we can be better than that.”

      

       The district can �" by keeping up with building maintenance �" Mazzarella said.

      

       “We can make our school system better without tearing it down,” he said.

      

       Others admitted that they were torn �" which they said was more reason for Wethersfield voters to decide.

      

       “I agree with a lot of what you’re saying, but it’s not my job to speak on behalf of 27,000 [residents],” Democratic Councilor Ryan Biggs told the Deputy Mayor. “I think we have to let the residents make this decision.”

      

       Republican Councilor Pat Pentalow agreed.

      

       “I do have concerns with this, [but] when you’re talking about this amount of money, it’s only fair for the 27,000 people to have the chance to vote on what they want to do with it,” Pentalow said.