Kimmel: Norwalk Must Consider All Capital Needs
by Bruce Kimmel
April 30, 2006

The Common Council did the right thing when it refused to approve an initial outlay of $1.7 million for a new central fire station on Fairfield Avenue. Council members simply did not have enough reliable information on the total cost of building the facility. I agree with the Council's decision to form a bipartisan committee to examine the proposal in depth to determine how much a new headquarters will really cost. However, I do not believe the cost of a new facility should be the make-or-break criterion on which to make the final decision. Here's why.

Norwalk has a number of pressing capital needs that must be addressed in the near future. It would be premature, some might say irresponsible, to push ahead for a new central fire station without first forming a consensus regarding the city's capital priorities. Several years ago, when the Matrix Group was hired to analyze the needs of the fire department, they were provided a four million spending limit on construction because Norwalk had a host of other capital needs, and money needed to be allocated accordingly.

For instance, it's no secret that the northern part of the city needs a fire substation. Fire response times for the Cranbury and Silvermine communities are too long, and thus fire insurance rates are exceptionally high for that part of the city. Back in the late 1990's, after some brush fires in Cranbury Park, fire officials described what was deemed a dangerous situation in that part of town. How much longer can we wait before building the substation?

Another example is the condition of our roads. It's common knowledge among residents and city officials that we have been fighting a losing battle when it comes to major road reconstruction. Our capital budget allotments, supplemented by federal and state grants, have not been nearly enough to make a dent in the backlog of roads in need of repair. How much longer can we wait before adopting, and funding, a comprehensive road repair and maintenance program?

Coincidentally, in April when the Council's Planning Committee addressed the capital budget and debated the merits of a new central fire facility, it also discussed the redevelopment of West Avenue. Over the years, as officials modified various plans for West Avenue, one thing remained constant: the expectation that Norwalk would provide a rather large subsidy, i.e., capital expense, for the project. Are we prepared to do that? Will we have enough funds in our capital accounts to make that kind of subsidy?

A few years ago, city officials initiated a process that would ultimately lead to the acquisition of an emergency radio communication system; a system that would allow city departments and personnel to communicate with each other in the event of an emergency. (Stamford recently allocated more than $10 million for such a system.) After the initial decision to move forward, this expensive and necessary project remains in limbo. How long can we put off such an important program?

So what do we need -- a new central fire facility, a new fire substation, a major road reconstruction program, an emergency communication system, a large subsidy for West Avenue -- and when? Naturally, we can't have them all at once, without jeopardizing our AAA bond rating and increasing the city's debt burden, which in turn could lead to higher property taxes down the road. (The above are just several examples of pressing capital needs. I have not even mentioned our waterfront and beaches, both of which could require major infusions of capital funds in the near future. Nor have I discussed the need to increase the city's open space fund, which currently is part of the capital budget.)

One final point: The Mayor and other officials have noted that a new fire facility would technically not cost the city an estimated $14 million because proceeds (about $4 million) from the sale of the existing facility on Connecticut Avenue would be applied to the cost. Fair enough. They have also stated that several million dollars of surplus funds from existing capital accounts could also be applied. True, but depleting our capital accounts without first developing a comprehensive capital program for the city is not the responsible way to govern.

I am sure the bipartisan committee will do an excellent job determining the real cost of building a new central fire facility. But, once done, the city must determine its capital priorities before moving forward on this project.

Bruce Kimmel is a member of the Norwalk Board of Education, and previously served as a Common Coucil Member from Norwalk's District D.

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