Ballot questions for approval of the $6,000,000 appropriation for the City of Norwich Infrastructure Improvement Program and the approval of the $44,750,000 appropriation for the City of Norwich Police Headquarters Project.
City of Norwich - Municipal Election
Tuesday, November 7, 2023
POLLING PLACES
District Polling Place Address
1 Norwich Worship Center 165 Lawler Lane
2 Rose City Senior Center 8 Mahan Drive
3 V F W - Norwich Industrial Park 30 Connecticut Avenue
4 Beth Jacob Synagogue 400 New London Turnpike
5 Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church 247 Washington Street
6 Ahepa-110 - Community Room 380 Hamilton Avenue
EDR Planning & Neighborhood Services 23 Union Street
(lower level conference)
CITY OF NORWICH EXPLANATORY TEXT #1
The Norwich City Council, at its meeting of June 5, 2023, adopted an appropriation and borrowing ordinance in the amount of $6,000,000 in connection with the City of Norwich Infrastructure Improvement Program (2023) and further voted to submit the appropriation and bonding authorization, in accordance with the City Charter, to the voters of Norwich for approval or disapproval at a referendum to be held in conjunction with the November 7, 2023 election between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Pursuant to Sec. 9-369b of the Connecticut General Statutes, as amended, the City Council has authorized the City and Town Clerk to prepare an explanatory text with respect to the question. The explanatory text is set forth under the question below. This explanatory text will be furnished to each applicant for an absentee ballot and will be made available for public distribution and at the polling places. The full text of the appropriation and bonding ordinance, as approved by the City Council, is on file and available for public inspection at the Office of the City and Town Clerk, City Hall, 100 Broadway, Room 215, Norwich, CT 06360, during the City’s regular business hours. The appropriation and bond authorization to be voted on shall be placed on the ballot under the following ballot heading:
Question: #1
Shall the $6,000,000 appropriation and bond authorization for the planning, acquisition and construction of the City of Norwich Infrastructure Improvement Program (2023), which consist of the improvement or new construction of roads, bridges and bridge structures, sidewalks, piers and wharves, and appurtenant areas throughout the City, as may be accomplished within said appropriation, pursuant to the ordinance adopted by the City Council on June 5, 2023, be approved? YES or NO
This appropriation will be used for the planning, acquisition and construction of roads, bridges and bridge structures, sidewalks, piers, docks and wharves, in appurtenant areas throughout the City. This appropriation is part of the City’s effort to annually upgrade the quality of the City’s transportation infrastructure which includes approximately 162 miles of City maintained streets, 9 major bridge structures with spans in excess of 20 feet, 30 smaller bridges and major culverts to ensure the safety and welfare of the public. The specific improvements to be funded with this appropriation and bond authorization shall be determined from time to time by the Public Works Director and the City Manager. This appropriation shall be in addition to grant funding and all prior and future appropriations for said purpose.
CITY OF NORWICH EXPLANATORY TEXT #2
The Norwich City Council, at its meeting of September 5, 2023, adopted an appropriation and borrowing ordinance in the amount of $44,750,000 in connection with the City of Norwich Police Headquarters Facility Project and further voted to submit the appropriation and bonding authorization, in accordance with the City Charter, to the voters of Norwich for approval or disapproval at a referendum to be held in conjunction with the November 7, 2023 election between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Pursuant to Sec. 9-369b of the Connecticut General Statutes, as amended, the City Council has authorized the City and Town Clerk to prepare an explanatory text with respect to the question. The explanatory text is set forth under the question below. This explanatory text will be furnished to each applicant for an absentee ballot and will be made available for public distribution and at the polling places. The full text of the appropriation and bonding ordinance, as approved by the City Council, is on file and available for public inspection at the Office of the City and Town Clerk, City Hall, 100 Broadway, Room 215, Norwich, CT 06360, during the City’s regular business hours. The appropriation and bond authorization to be voted on shall be placed on the ballot under the following ballot heading
Question: #2
Shall the $44,750,000 appropriation and bond authorization ordinance for the planning, acquisition and construction of the City of Norwich Police Headquarters Facility Project be approved? YES or NO
This appropriation will be used for the planning, acquisition and construction of an approximately 50,000 square-foot police headquarters on a new site to replace the current 22,000 square-foot police headquarters which was constructed in 1979.
The Proposed Facility
The proposed facility would contain approximately 50,000 square feet on new site. The facility will be able to accommodate the growing number of female officers and non-sworn employees, and will contain a parking lot of sufficient size to provide space to accommodate Police vehicles, as well as citizen and employee parking. A professional space needs assessment was prepared to forecast the department’s needs for the next 20-50 years, utilizing International Chiefs of Police (IACP) Planning and Design Guidelines. Those guidelines include prisoner holding cells, booking facility, dispatch, communication equipment and locker rooms and materials and construction standards to withstand 24 hour/7 day a week use of a modern police facility. The proposal is to construct a Police Facility that will meet the recommendations for size and scope of the project included in the report submitted to the Public Safety Committee by the citizen-led Police Station Committee on July 9, 2014.
How Will the Project be Funded?
The appropriation and bond provides for a maximum amount of $44,750,000 to be spent on the project. If the project were approved, the City would seek competitive bids to complete the facility. If bids come in at less than the full authorization, the City will not borrow the maximum amount authorized. Any Federal or State Grant funding received for the project will reduce the amount that the City borrows for completion of the project. The cost of borrowing is paid from tax dollars.
How was the Cost of the Project Identified?
A professional construction estimator developed the cost estimate for construction of the building and soft costs (e.g., design, fixtures), utilizing the standards that apply to the special facilities within a Police Facility (e.g. jail) and its 24/7 facility use.