DERBY – The members of the city’s capital planning commission added four projects to this fiscal year’s “to do” list.

The additions to the list still have to be approved by the Board of Aldermen & Alderwomen.

The four projects total approximately $343,500.

The projects and spending include:

* $235,000 toward the modernization of the elevator at the Derby Senior Center on Main Street

* $80,000 for a new fire department chief vehicle

* $18,500 to replace recording equipment at the police department

* $10,000 for tree removal on school grounds

The positive recommendations happened at a meeting of the capital planning commission March 23.

The elevator at the Derby Senior Center has had issues for several years. In August 2025, state lawmakers announced they had secured a $167,000 state grant to go toward the elevator project, which has a total estimated cost of $400,000. The money recommended from the capital planning commission covers the difference.

Regarding the Derby Fire Department chief’s vehicle, Derby Finance Director Brian Hall said the chief and assistant chiefs all have Derby Fire Department vehicles. That is four vehicles total, assuming the information on the city website is correct.

Derby Fire Department Commissioner Gary Parker said the department has the chance to buy a used “demonstrator vehicle” from Fleet Auto Supply in West Haven for $80,000. A “demonstrator vehicle” or “demo unit” is a working vehicle that sellers show to potential buyers. Parker said buying it for $80,000 is cheaper than buying a new chief’s vehicle.

Parker said the fire department plans to give the current chief’s vehicle to replace an assistant chief’s vehicle. The assistant chief’s vehicle to be replaced is a 2013 Ford Taurus that is riddled with mechanical issues, including a failed transmission.

Regarding the $18,500 being spent on recording equipment, Derby Police Department Deputy Chief Brian Grogan said state law requires the department to have equipment that can record all phone calls, texts, and other communication that comes into the department. The current system is some 15 years old and is beyond its lifespan.

The $10,000 for tree removal is part of an ongoing effort at Derby Public Schools to get rid of dead or dying trees, and to remove impediments to security cams.

The members of the commission did not move forward a $45,000 allocation from the police department toward a new cruiser. The department is trying to bring back its canine unit, and has help in the form of a $51,900 grant, according to statements made at the March 23 meeting.

However, Alderman George Kurtyka and commission member Colleen Germain-Ezzo, who is also the chairwoman of the city’s tax board, said they were concerned about potential future costs connected to relaunching the canine unit. The request from the police department could come back to the capital planning commission in the future.

They also requested that the city/town clerk look through meeting minutes of the Board of Aldermen/Alderwomen to determine the city’s policy regarding vehicle replacement for assistant fire chiefs.

The money recommended for approval March 23 is separate from the $6.5 million voters approved for capital projects in November 2025.

That money included:

$560,000 for two dump trucks

$358,000 to replace the middle school chiller

$400,000 for repairs to the Derby Public Library’s HVAC system

$1.5 million for a rescue truck replacement (Derby Storms)

$1.5 million for a fire truck

$1.5 million for a second fire truck

$550,000 to replace the public safety radio system

$132,000 to be held as contingency funds to combat inflation

Voters approved the borrowing by a vote of 1,382 “yes” to 704 “no.”

The Derby Board of Apportionment and Taxation is currently creating a budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The board has until the end of April to approve a budget.

The budget is being prepared using new property assessments from a state-mandated revaluation of all property in Derby.

The average resident saw the assessment of their property increase by 61 percent. More than 250 residential property owners saw assessment increases greater than 100 percent.

The Derby Board of Aldermen & Alderwomen voted to phase in the new assessments over five years.

On March 10, Mayor Joseph DiMartino proposed a budget to the tax board that would set the mill rate at 39.1. That is 4.1 mills lower than the current mill rate of 43.2.

DiMartino said that the average real estate bill will increase by 1.4 percent under his budget proposal.

Click here for instructions on how to calculate your potential tax bill with the complications of revaluation and the phase-in of the new assessments.