Budget presentation on ice

Town Finances released documents highlight capital improvement plans

WILMINGTON - Mondays annual Budget Presentation to the Board of Selectmen meeting was cancelled in the wake of the second major storm in as many weeks. Ice covered roads and snow accumulation closed schools and businesses and left commuters out in the cold.

Officials did post the budget online though, allowing residents to review the documents in advance of public meetings. The Town of Wilmington is scheduled to discuss a five-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), for the purpose of identifying and prioritizing investment in the town's assets. The CIP is guided by town goals and policies, and reflects the needs and expectations for the management of infrastructure, buildings, vehicles, equipment and technology.

The CIP aids in communicating to the Board of Selectmen, the Finance Committee, and the public about capital investment needs and enables the town to anticipate and schedule larger capital investments and evaluate new needs.

Town departments submit anticipated investment needs in various types of assets including buildings, infrastructure such as roads and drainage, equipment, vehicles and technology.

Requested projects have been evaluated based on priority, need, and impact on the towns ability to deliver critical services to residents, businesses and schools.

Investments are expected to cover a broad range of needs including support of a 21st century education for Wilmington students, reduction of energy consumption through efficiency improvements in buildings and vehicles, and utilization of technology to improve service delivery to the public by providing infrastructure improvements including road and sidewalk improvements, resurfacing of the Shawsheen School parking lot, and various drainage and water related projects.

Building projects include replacement of the Shawsheen School heating system, replacement of the Public Safety Chiller, roof replacements at the Shawsheen and Woburn Street schools, demolition of the Whitefield Building, and a Facilities Master Plan study, which was originally proposed for FY2015. The Facility Master plan will be a critical step in developing the long-range plan for municipal buildings.

With the exception of the new high school, middle school, and public safety building, the remaining municipal facilities are all in excess of 40 years old, necessitating improvements to work space, accessibility, electrical, and HVAC systems.

Vehicle investments include large items such as replacement of two dump trucks for Public Works, replacement of police cruisers, and backhoe for the Water Department. Technology funding includes for a large-scale server and desktop replacement program, which is required to bring all staff onto a consistent and supported operating system and a consistent version of Microsoft Office to ensure more seamless communication.

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Budget presentation on ice