Camillo’s 21-22 Budget Features New Civic Center, Soil Remediation and Park at Greenwich Harbor

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“You’re getting a view of the water from certain areas that you haven’t had in 70 years.”

Greenwich First Selectman Fred Camillo

The park would feature new bathrooms housed at the back of the Arch Street Teen Center in a matching brick building.

“Everything is to match, and have a consistent look and feel to the Teen Center,” he said.

The waiting areas for the ferry boats would be covered, but open on the sides to incorporate views.

Camillo said in fiscal year 2022 there would be $1.25 million for design, and $11.2 million in fiscal year 2023 for construction of the park and relocation of facilities.

Hamill Rink

Camillo recalled how Hamill Rink opened in 1972 with “just a rink and boards,” Over the years a roof, walls and stands were added.

Hamill Rink: $950,000 for design and construction plans, and $17 million for construction in fiscal year 2024.

Camillo said he hoped private donations would significantly lower the costs of a new Hamill rink, as well as the new civic center, and that he’d already heard from multiple donors.

There would be $1.4 million for a permanent solution for the GEMS Station station on King Street next to the town golf course. He said a new building would get the trucks covered and noted that back country is a little bit colder than the rest of the town.
Another long awaited facility would be the Eastern Greenwich Civic Center. Construction costs: $18 million.

Nathaniel Witherell

Camillo said an RFP for Nathaniel Witherell issued in October 2020 for management services had received 9 responses. He said proposals were being reviewed and recommendations are anticipated in the spring.

He said in the meantime, management was working on improving operational efficiencies, vendor reviews, instilling managerial discipline, overtime management, evaluation right organizational structure, and both revenue development and diversification of services.

Camillo said he’d met with Nathaniel Witherell board chair Larry Simon and director John Mastronardi, who took over last May. “He has done a phenomenal job,” Camillo said. “I was surprised that some of these things were not being done in years past. But John is really moving the ball forward.”