Town Council 03/09/2026

The Town Council of Southington held a regular meeting on March 9, 2026, which included extensive discussions on several procurement and budget-related matters. Key procurement topics included the introduction and referral of an elementary school bond ordinance for major renovations and consolidations of three elementary schools, with a proposed referendum scheduled for June 2, 2026. The council also approved changing the sewer billing schedule from quarterly to semi-annually to improve collections efficiency. Additionally, the council approved a $4.67 million contract for the town hall sewer lateral installation and awarded the Apple Harvest Festival coordinator contract to AJ Colwick for $20,000. The council approved a $2.6 million cash-funded high school safety project for parking and tennis courts, despite some opposition favoring bonding and referendum. A solar energy contract proposal for Southington High School and Police Station was approved pending Board of Education approval, following a presentation of a power purchase agreement with no upfront capital costs. The council also heard a presentation on a renewable auction program (NRES) offering potential revenue to the town by allocating municipal electric accounts to offsite solar projects; however, the council tabled action on this item due to complexity and lack of clarity. Public comments focused heavily on concerns about transparency and community involvement in the school renovation planning process. Motions related to procurement and budget were generally passed with some dissent, reflecting ongoing community and council deliberations on fiscal responsibility and project impacts.