A warrant article that would fund the extension or construction of an additional water line to the Wilton Public and Gregg Free Library generated significant debate among residents at Town Meeting Thursday night before being amended and ultimately passed.

After residents passed the preceding articles, including the town’s proposed operating budget of about $6.46 million, without any changes, the article covering the water line expansion drew the most comments and the night’s first approved amendment.

This water line would be the first step in installing a sprinkler system in the library’s basement, which is needed to conform to the state fire code. The article proposed that an additional $125,000 be raised through taxation to supplement the $120,000 in ARPA funding that had already been allocated to the project. Selectman Matt Fish spoke against the proposed water line, calling the current plan “ill-founded, ill-guided, underprepared and underfunded.”

Fish emphasized that while he ultimately supported the installation of sprinklers in the library basement, he was unhappy with how the project had been handled. He explained that the current plan would require digging up Gregg Street, which was only recently resurfaced. He noted that building plans indicated the presence of six utilities already under the front lawn, including three water lines. It was his wish that those be replaced with a six-inch water main that would support a basement sprinkler system.

Water Commissioner Hal Mapes questioned Fish’s proposed solution, saying, “We’ve had reputable contractors tell us that’s not the way to do it – the Wilton Water Commission is not going to approve anything up the lawn.”

Selectman Kermit Williams noted that the Select Board had not yet decided on how the project will be executed, and the warrant article was only determining whether or not the town would appropriate the necessary funds, although resident Lori Dick pointed out that language in the article specified that the water line was to run up Gregg Street.

Fire Chief Don Nourse added that although there was a compliance plan in place that allowed the library to continue using the basement, it had expired on Dec. 31, and the town would have to come to a decision that night or risk having the basement shut down completely.

Ultimately, residents determined that the best way forward would be to amend the article to remove language that specified that the line would run under Gregg Street to give the Select Board more flexibility with how to approach the project. After the library trustees expressed their support for the amendment, residents overwhelmingly voted to approve it. Immediately following the amendment, a ballot vote was held for the warrant article, which passed 141-24.

An article proposing the creation of a revolving fund to support the management of the Wilton Falls building at 7 Burns Hill Road also generated some debate. The building has been offered as a gift to the town by the owner of the building and founder of Wilton-based Kimball Physics, Chuck Crawford. While a formal deal hadn’t been proposed at the time of the meeting, the Select Board wanted to create the fund in anticipation of the deal if were to go through.

Speaking on behalf of the economic development team, Jennifer Beck said that the building would be revenue-positive from day one, as it already generates about $60,000 annually from its current tenants. According to Beck, the cost to maintain the building is only $38,000 a year.

“This warrant article is just a step to be able to have the actual financial mechanism to be able to take the revenue from the building and be able to pay [the building’s] cost,” she said.

Incoming Select Board member Tom Schultz said that while he understood the need for the fund should the town decide to accept the gift, he was ultimately against the entire proposal.

“This building could become a major money pit,” he said, expressing concern that the building could sit unsold for years.

Schultz noted that he had been told that Kimball Physics was planning to move out of the building in six months, potentially halving the building’s income. However, Beck indicated this was not the case, and emphasized that the economic development team had done a thorough analysis of the building and was confident in its value.

Residents were split on this issue, and the voice vote was too close to call. Ultimately, the warrant article passed in a hand-count vote.

Less contentious was discussion around the appropriation of $80,000to go toward outfitting the Police Department with a solar panel array. The article was introduced by Selectman D.J. Garcia, who hoped that the energy generated from the panels would help eventually lower taxes.

“We’ll continue to reap the rewards of this over the next 25 years,” he said, referencing the lifespan of the equipment. The panels would eventually need to be repaired or replaced, but the cost of the installation would be covered through energy cost savings after six years, according to Garcia.

After a presentation by a representative from 603 Solar, the solar company that the town consulted regarding the installation, residents voted in favor of the article.

An article proposing the appropriation of $26,000 in tax money to repair the library’s walkway entrance was amended. The amendment was proposed by resident Joe Torre, who recommended that the money come from the established library renovation and repair capital reserve fund, instead of through taxation. After a brief deliberation, residents voted to pass the amendment, and subsequently the warrant article.

The rest of Wilton’s warrant articles were approved by residents without any further amendments.