$1.86 Million Phillips Park Upgrade Tops Capital Requests

The Capital Improvement Committee opened its review of Fiscal 2013 capital requests Monday, the largest of which is a $1,857,865 upgrade to that includes an artificial surface for Blocksidge Field.

Selectmen introduced the upgrade in September, asking the town administrator to assemble a financial plan for the work.

Last night Assistant Town Administrator Dave Castellarin delivered a packet to the five-member Capital Improvement Committee that also includes the town departments' capital requests.

Among the items are dredging wet areas by Vinnin Square and the Tedesco Country Club, paving a portion of Humphrey Street, protective gear for firefighters, money to refurbish a fire engine, and technology upgrades for the library.

The committee is expected to recommend capital spending from town departments of about $850,000, the assistant town administrator said.

The $850,000 would be separate from the $1.86 million for Phillips Park improvements.

Last year, on Feb. 21, the Capital Improvement Committee recommended $815,000 in capital spending for Fiscal 2012.

This year the five-member committee is starting its work about a month earlier than last year as it readies its recommendations to meet the Feb. 2, deadline.

Castellarin, soon to become Swampscott's acting town administrator, will also review the spending requests and present his recommendations.

He will forward the items, with recommendations, to selectmen for their review.

The budget then heads to Finance Committee members for their review.

Capital requests are part of the budget.

The proposed appropriations need Town Meeting approval for authorization.