Gov. Ned Lamont holds second bond meeting in six months as debt diet continues

Gov. Ned Lamont moved forward Wednesday with his so-called debt diet, holding only the second State Bond Commission meeting of the year as he seeks to control the state’s borrowing costs.

The 10-member commission, chaired by Lamont, approved funding for a wide variety of items, including clean water projects, local bridge repairs, minority business assistance programs and affordable housing.

About $293 million was set aside for clean water projects, including loans that are repaid by municipalities and water companies related to sewer improvements and reducing phosphorous to clean the water, along with controlling nitrogen in Long Island Sound.

The commission also set aside $2 million for the continued design for long-term improvements for Route 9 in Middletown.

“Everybody who heads to the Connecticut shoreline would love to see those traffic lights removed,” said Kevin Witkos, the deputy Senate Republican leader who voted in favor of the funding.

State officials have been talking about removing the lights for years as motorists who are speeding down the highway and unfamiliar with the area suddenly have to stop at a traffic light.

One of the more contentious issues lately related to the bond commission has been the lack of funding for the Valley Regional Fire School, a project that could cost more than $14 million that had been favored by Lamont during the 2018 election cycle. House Republican leader Themis Klarides of Derby has been pushing for the fire training school in Beacon Falls, a long-stalled project. The previous school in the region was shut down in 2000, forcing firefighters to travel from the Naugatuck Valley to New Haven and other communities for their training.

The project went out to bid, but the bids from three contractors expired because the state did not move forward with the project.

Lamont said Wednesday any final decisions on the Beacon Falls project would depend on the state’s overall bonding priorities. He has repeatedly said that the long-term Republican transportation plan, known as Prioritize Progress, which relies on borrowing instead of electronic highway tolls, would crowd out money for funding for a wide variety of projects.

“I think it’s a disastrous idea,” Lamont said. “This building is addicted to debt, and they’re ready to double-down on it.”

The commission voted for $410,000 for additional costs for the Burrville Regional Fire School in Torrington, but no money was allocated for Beacon Falls.

The commission approved $4 million for various waterfront improvements that include replacing the rotted and damaged wood at the Chester-Hadlyme and Rocky Hill-Glastonbury ferries, which often suffer from flooding. They also approved nearly $1.5 million to upgrade offices of the state Department of Motor Vehicles, including replacing the roofs and upgrading heating systems at the Hamden and Winsted branch offices.

Lamont’s first bond commission meeting lasted only 17 minutes, but Wednesday’s stretched to 90 minutes with numerous questions from lawmakers. More than $700 million in borrowing was approved.

Under previous administrations, bond commission meetings were generally held every month.

Christopher Keating can be reached at ckeating@courant.com.