When Temporary Becomes Permanent: A Farmington Neighborhood Waits Seven Years While Council Approves Millions Elsewhere
Joanne White brought seven years of documentation to the Farmington Town Council Monday night: photographs of sinkholes, measurements of standing water, engineering specifications for roads promised in 2018 and appropriated for reconstruction in 2020. She brought a petition signed by 56 neighbors demanding the work be completed within two years.
The council took no immediate action on her request. Later in the meeting, members approved five contracts totaling at least $773,000—two union agreements with undisclosed financial terms, plus $773,000 in infrastructure projects including pump station upgrades, dispatch equipment, a new bus, and property revaluation services.
This coverage of municipal priorities and engineering patience is brought to you by Farmington Storage at 155 Scott Swamp Road (860.777.4001). While the town debates whether half an inch of asphalt constitutes “permanent,” we know what permanent means: climate-controlled units, 24/7 access, and roads that don’t collapse under your moving truck. Storage done right. 📦
White, a 40-year Farmington resident with a civil engineering degree, lives on Wells Drive, one of four streets in the Wells Acres neighborhood—Wells Drive, Fable Lane, Harvest Lane, and Laurel Lane.
In 2018, contractors replaced water, sewer, and storm drains throughout the neighborhood. When work extended past the August deadline, the town sent residents a letter dated September 18, 2018. The letter stated the contractor would apply a “temporary overlay of asphalt” for winter snow removal, return in April 2019 to finish portions of Wells Drive and Fable Lane by June, and that “the town would come back in the summer of 2020 to completely reconstruct the roads.”
White told the council the 2020 reconstruction never occurred. She has documented the current road conditions: standing water during rain events, potholes, sinkholes, eroded property at roadway edges, gaps between roads and driveways, and catch basins damaged by snow plows.
In March, White began photographing these conditions. She submitted photographs to Public Works Director Joe Capitifero in April, who forwarded them to Town Manager Kathleen “Kathy” Blonski. White said she received a letter from Blonski stating the overlay was “not considered temporary” but “permanent,” and that other roads in town were in worse condition.
The town has not publicly explained why the 2020 reconstruction project did not proceed.
White presented comparative evidence from this summer. She photographed road reconstruction projects on Portage Crossing, Trotters Glen, Appletree Lane, Reservation Road, and Wakefield Lane. Those projects, she said, included removal of old curbs and asphalt, mechanical work, grading, compacted gravel underlay, standard asphalt application, new curbs, and driveway aprons at each property.
The Wells Acres overlay, applied the Monday before Thanksgiving 2018, took approximately seven hours. White stated it included no grinding of existing asphalt, no compaction of loose soil, no grading, no gravel underlay, and no driveway aprons.
White’s petition demands complete reconstruction within two years, specifying: removal of all asphalt from Wells Acres roads, installation of additional storm drains and catch basins near the Harvest Lane circle, proper grading, compacted gravel underlay, sufficient asphalt depth to sustain delivery and oil trucks, curbs to prevent erosion, and driveway aprons at each property.
She concluded her testimony: “I expect to hear back from you in two weeks or we will continue to escalate this issue as I feel we deserve transparency and equal consideration as the rest of the town.”
No council members asked questions following her presentation. Town Manager Blonski said she would send correspondence providing context about the road’s history. Public Works Director Russ Arnold is scheduled to address the issue at the next council meeting.
The council then proceeded to other business, beginning with approval of meeting minutes and committee reports before moving to new business items. 📋
The Farmington Education Association contract received approval after Assistant Superintendent Dan Zatun described negotiations as “very collaborative” and noted the contract was settled without mediation. Zatun called this “a great accomplishment.” Councilor Patty represented the town in negotiations. The contract covers three years and balances fiscal responsibility with maintaining the district’s status among top Connecticut schools, according to Zatun. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The International Association of Firefighters Local 3103 contract covers nine career firefighters for two years, from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027. Blonski said negotiations had reached “somewhat of a standstill” before the agreement was reached.
The contract includes 3% wage increases each year, a fire watch rate of $45 per hour (paid by outside entities requesting fire watch services), creation of a supervisory firefighter position, and a fire inspection on-call rate for coverage during the fire marshal’s scheduled leave. Health insurance provisions remain unchanged.
Councilor Joe asked whether the eight other firefighters would report directly to the supervisor. Blonski explained the supervisor serves as “more like a go-between” handling day-to-day issues, with ultimate responsibility remaining with Public Safety Director Paul Melanson. The position remains within the union.
Three grant-funded or reimbursed contracts received approval:
CJ Fusey, Inc. of New Haven won the UConn pump station upgrade contract for $266,900. The town received two bids; the second came in at $365,151. A councilor questioned the price difference, particularly in pump guide rail system costs. Public Works staff responded that CJ Fusey specializes in this type of work and the town is supplying approximately 50% of the equipment, which affects pricing. Water Pollution Control Authority capital project funds will cover the cost.
Motorola Solutions will relocate three dispatch consoles from Avon to the Farmington Police facility and install additional equipment for $134,000. The State of Connecticut will reimburse the full amount. The equipment supports Farmington’s October 1 launch as regional dispatch center for Avon. Blonski said the launch “went really well” and credited Melanson, Public Safety Dispatcher Mike Ruboulos, and the dispatch team.
Model 1 Commercial Vehicles of Hudson, New Hampshire will supply a 14-passenger bus for the Dial-A-Ride program for $97,634. State grants totaling $100,000 will cover the cost—$85,000 from one grant, $15,000 from the state Dial-A-Ride grant. The council chair initially announced the company’s location as “Houston, New Hampshire” before being corrected to Hudson.
Tyler Technologies of Moraine, Ohio received a $275,200 contract to revalue all real property for the October 1, 2026 grand list. This marks the company’s fourth consecutive Farmington revaluation contract. The same lead staff from the 2022 revaluation will work on this project.
Discussion focused not on the contractor selection but on why Farmington is on a four-year revaluation cycle rather than the traditional five years. Town assessor staff explained that Connecticut had too many municipalities evaluating simultaneously, overwhelming the limited number of qualified companies. The state placed five towns, including Farmington and Glastonbury, on temporary four-year cycles to spread the workload.
Farmington’s schedule: 2022, 2026, 2030, then returning to five-year intervals starting 2035. The state provided no financial assistance for the compressed timeline. Blonski noted the state “could have” imposed a six-year cycle instead.
Connecticut law now allows 10 years between residential property inspections. Tyler’s approach will rely more on computer analysis, aerial imagery, and existing data rather than comprehensive physical inspections. The contract costs less than previous revaluation cycles despite inflation. Funding will be split: first half from the 2025-26 capital budget, second half from 2026-27.
During the meeting, the council chair encountered repeated difficulties with electronic documents. While reading appointment motions, the chair paused: “I have this computer. It’s supposed to make it easier.” Later: “Hold, please. I got it. I just lost it. I know it’s Mary Messier. I just want to make sure I have the dates.”
When Superintendent Kathryn Greiter arrived for the education contract discussion, the chair asked, “Are you entertained so far?” Greiter confirmed she was.
A councilor asked about the Tinty Barn restoration project, noting visible activity had stopped though work appeared incomplete. Blonski said the project continues and is on schedule. She explained that barn restoration specialists work at their own pace: “Barn people kind of go with their own rate. There’s not too many barn people out there.” She said the work should be “buttoned up before winter” and that Public Works staff member Mason monitors the project continuously. 🏚️
Committee reports included updates from the Bicycle and Trail Advisory Committee on bollard maintenance, wayfinding signage improvements, e-bike safety guideline development, and preparation of an RFP for a rails-to-trails extension from Farmington Village to UConn Medical Center in West Hartford.
Conservation and Inland Wetlands Commission issued two cease-and-desist orders for clearing in upland review areas or wetlands. Both property owners are working with town staff, resulting in stays on the orders. The commission also reported the Winchell Smith Dam has been fully removed from the Farmington River in collaboration with the Farmington River Watershed Association and Miss Porter’s School.
The 1920s building renovation targets a January completion, though the committee chair said move-in will likely wait until spring to avoid moving furniture in winter weather. All windows are installed and walls are being painted.
The council confirmed four appointments: Richard Berlandi and Danielle Popovic to the Conservation Inland Wetlands Commission (four-year terms through September 30, 2029), Mary Messier to the Green Efforts Committee (indefinite term), and Kelly Shadler to the Unionville Historic District and Properties Commission (five-year term through September 30, 2030).
The council also approved property tax refunds, though specific amounts and recipients were not stated. Members set the 2026 budget schedule.
Upcoming town events include: Veterans Day ceremony November 11 at 11:00 AM at the Veterans Memorial Monument, early voting October 20 through November 2 at the Town Hall Pavilion, Economic Development Commission business breakfast November 12 at 7:45 AM featuring UConn Health President Dr. Andrew Aguabi, and Hope Partners craft fair November 25 at 10:00 AM at the Senior Community Center, 321 New Britain Avenue.
Sub-Edge Farm is accepting post-Halloween pumpkins for animal feed and composting. Decorations including glitter and candles must be removed before drop-off. 🎃
Wells Acres residents have set a two-week deadline for response from the council. White said she will send detailed expectations to each council member by email this week. Town Manager Blonski will provide written correspondence about the road’s history before the next council meeting, where Public Works Director Arnold is scheduled to address the issue.
The September 18, 2018 letter to residents stated reconstruction would occur in summer 2020. Money was appropriated for the project in 2020, according to White. The reconstruction did not happen. The town has not provided a public explanation for the change in plans or the status of appropriated funds. 📰
Jack Beckett
Senior Writer, The Farmington Mercury
Written between my third and fourth cups of coffee, which is when the best journalism happens—after the jitters but before the existential dread. ☕
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This article, “Wells Acres Residents Demand Road Reconstruction as Council Approves $773K in Other Contracts,” by Jack Beckett is licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0.
“Wells Acres Residents Demand Road Reconstruction as Council Approves $773K in Other Contracts”
by Jack Beckett, The Farmington Mercury (CC BY-ND 4.0)