East Windsor residents approve plan to apply for community center grant

Jul. 22—EAST WINDSOR — Town residents unanimously voted for First Selectman Jason Bowsza to submit a Community Investment Fund application on behalf of the town for the community center project.

The project is expected to cost $5 million, with $1.2 million already set aside in a capitol nonrecurring fund. If the town is awarded the grant, state funds would not exceed $3.8 million.

At Thursday's special town meeting, residents were allowed to voice their opinions on the grant and the project as a whole.

"In all my time, this is the best project I've ever seen," Scout Hall Building Committee President Paul Anderson said. "All I can say is we need to vote 'yes.'"

Peter Sanders echoed Anderson's excitement by stating that the community center would be a great addition to the town.

"I think it's time the town moves forward on something like this," he added.

However, Sanders did express some points of concern. His first question had to do with the number of entrances there would be into the building. He wanted to know if different groups would have to "mix and match" when doing activities in the building.

Bowsza noted that there would be multiple entrance points and that they are constructing the hallway around the assembly room to give groups their space.

Sanders also questioned how senior citizens would be transported to the center.

Bowsza said that the town currently has multiple full-time drivers who shuttle seniors to and from the center. That system will also be implemented at the new community center.

Rick Webster shared his concern "that the youth of this town, the youth groups, they're not going to have equal access on this."

Anderson and Bowsza referred to the Memorandum of Understanding they both signed on July 7, and said those youth groups would have first priority.

The memorandum states that the town will hold true to the mission of the Scout Hall Building Committee, which is to provide space for youth groups in the town.

Webster added that he had questions about coordination of programs for the building. Bowsza said the current recreation software, myrec.com, will continue to be the system used for organizing events.

In light of recent security issues across the country, Wayne Shary questioned how the new center would be protected and watched.

"The senior center operates when staff is in place," Bowsza said. He added that every program or room would be chaperoned while being used.

Deputy Public Works Director Joe Sauerhoefer added that security cameras, which will be monitored by the police, would be set up in and outside of the building

The deadline for submitting the application is Monday at midnight. The Community Investment Fund board will then make recommendations to the governor on which projects should be funded.

Collin covers East Windsor and Windsor Locks for the Journal Inquirer.