SEYMOUR — Voters said no Tuesday to borrowing $15 million for a new community center, but approved bonds of $5 million to repair roads and $1.4 million to upgrade communication equipment for emergency responders.
Also, Republican First Selectman Kurt Miller was elected to his fifth term as Seymour’s top elected official. The outcome was not a surprise — he ran unopposed.
The GOP also maintained control of the Board of Selectmen, as all six candidates on the ballot – four Republicans and two Democrats – were elected.
Community Center Rejected
Miller had said borrowing $15 million for a new community center was a “worst-case scenario.” The town was hoping to form a public-private partnership to bring down costs.
But Facebook chatter among residents showed people were not comfortable with approving the borrowing without more specifics from the town, including where it would be built.
“I know people question why we did it the way we did, because it was very different. Sometimes we struggle engaging residents in dialogue about some of these projects. If you look at our budget votes and some other things, we don’t get a big turnout,” Miller said. “(The vote) has prepared the town to have an in-depth conversation about the needs for a community center.”
On the ballot questions, 1,498 people voted against the community center and 1,109 voted for it.
The road repair money was approved 2,185 to 438, and the communication equipment for emergency services was approved 1,935 to 679.
Miller said he plans to push forward with the community center concept by forming a committee to examine the issue. The town’s current recreation center is old and in disrepair. It’s becoming too costly to maintain, Miller has said.
Stephan Behuniak, chairman of the Seymour Town Democratic Committee, said he supports Miller on the recreation center issue — but asking for $15 million upfront without concrete details was flawed.
“We are still going to get a community center, make no mistake. We need a community center, and I hope we exhaust every possible avenue to get one. But asking for $15 million with no information is not the right way to go about it.”
Here are the unofficial results from Seymour:
Source: Registrars Office, Seymour Town Hall
xx denotes winner
First Selectman
W. Kurt Miller (GOP): 2,440 xx
Board of Selectmen
Christopher Bowen (Dem): 1,135 xx
Robert VanEgghen (Dem): 941 xx
Al Bruno (GOP): 1,830 xx
Robert Findley (GOP) 1,765 xx
Trisha Danka (GOP): 1,971 xx
Annmarie Drugonis (GOP): 1,954 xx
Board of Finance, full term, vote for three
William Sawicki, Sr. (Dem): 1,259 xx
Kristyn Hanewicz (Dem): 1,203
Jim Cretella (GOP): 1,977 xx
Bettyann Peck (GOP): 1,877 xx
Board of Finance to fill two year vacancy
Kwame Dunbar (Dem): 1,655 xx
Board of Finance Alternates, vote for any three
Grace Brangwynne (Dem): 1,296 xx
Jeffrey Hanewicz (Dem): 1,118
Paul Wetowitz (GOP): 2018 xx
Gary Popielasz (GOP): 1,781 xx
Board of Education, vote for any two
James Garofolo (Dem): 1,014 xx
Kristen Harmeling (Dem): 1,053 xx
Jay Hatfied (GOP): 1,752 xx
Beth Nesteriak (GOP): 1,593 xx
Board of Assessment Appeals
Thomas LaPaglia (Dem): 955
Saundra Gesek (Dem): 1,117 xx
Wendy Rossi (GOP): 1,649 xx
Christopher Drugonis (GOP): 1,599 xx
Planning and Zoning Commission Full Term, vote for three
Stephan Behuniak (Dem): 1,356
Joseph Niezelski (GOP): 1,886 xx
Walter Birdsell (GOP): 1,901 xx
Thomas Lavranchuk (GOP): 1,841 xx
Police Commissioners Full Term, vote for three
Thomas Bennett (Dem): 1,383 xx
Bill Paecht (GOP): 1,598
David Bitso (GOP): 1,863 xx
Kyle Kelley (GOP): 1,938 xx
Police Commission to fill vacancy for two-year term
Colleen Fries (Dem): 1,071
John Duke (GOP): 1,663 xx
Library Trustees, vote for three
Jean Uhelsky (Dem): 1,150 xx
Elizabeth Alvarez-James (Dem): 938
Joyce Koslowski (GOP): 1,746 xx
Thomas N. Schutte (GOP): 1,585 xx
Debbie Wasikowski (GOP): 1,786 xx
