Barkhamsted wants Winsted water for Health Center

WINSTED — The proposal to build a new medical center along Route 44 remains on track, with Winsted’s Water & Sewer Commission accepting the town of Barkhamsted’s application to tap into the city’s water and sewer system for the new facility.

The commission, which officially accepted the application at its meeting Tuesday, Aug. 10, now has 65 days to render a decision.

“Unless that applicant wants to gives us another 65-day extension after that,� Water & Sewer Commission Chairman Richard Nallette said at this week’s meeting.

Barkhamsted town officials are hoping to extend lines into Winsted’s water and sewer system to allow plans for the proposed new medical center project along Route 44 to move forward.

Barkhamsted’s Inland Wetlands Commission, acting as the town’s Water Pollution Control Authority, unanimously approved an application to enter into a new interlocal water agreement with Winsted during a special meeting July 13.

According to the application, Barkhamsted is seeking an agreement with its neighbor “to allow business along Route 44 to connect to the town of Winchester’s water supply and sewage treatment facilities.�

“This request is initially for a facility being proposed for construction by Borghesi Building Company, LLC near the border between Barkhamsted and Winsted,� the application cover letter reads.

The Torrington-based Borghesi Building & Engineering Company wants to construct a one-story, 18,290-square-foot commercial health services building at 390 New Hartford Road, next door to Mallory Brook Plaza.

The plan includes an emergency medical clinic, a cardiac rehabilitation center, a helipad for emergency medical helicopter landings, medical office space and a large parking area.

The project cleared its first important hurdle in February, when Barkhamsted’s Inland Wetlands Commission unanimously approved the application. Winsted’s Water & Sewer Commission has been meeting with Barkhamsted town officials and the developer to review the proposal’s plans over the past several months.

In addition to the medical center, Barkhamsted’s application states that the businesses within the Mallory Brook Plaza  as well as Lombard Ford — which sits across the street from the plaza along Route 44 — may also be interested in connecting to Winsted’s water and sewer systems if the two towns reach an agreement to share services

An interlocal sewer agreement, which was finalized in April 2003, already exists between the two towns, although it has yet to be acted upon by either town.

Barkhamsted First Selectman Don Stein said at last month’s meeting that upon acceptance of the application, the two municipalities would enter into negotiations in hopes of finalizing and ratifying a new agreement.

The Route 44 facility is being proposed as the new state-of-the-art home for Charlotte Hungerford Hospital’s regional medical center, which would serve the greater Winsted area.

The Torrington hospital announced last fall it was looking into the possibility of moving its satelite programs and services out of its current home in the Winsted Health Center.

Charlotte Hungerford is the Spencer Street facility’s largest tenant. The hospital operates an emergency medical clinic at the Winsted Health Center daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

In addition, Charlotte Hungerford runs cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs, as well as blood drawing, laboratory, X-ray and digital mammography services at the Spencer Street facility. The hospital’s four-bed Hungerford Regional Sleep Laboratory is located there, as well.

Borghesi currently is finalizing the project’s engineering plans. Once those plans are complete, the company expects to submit its designs to Barkhamsted’s Planning & Zoning Commission.

Before construction can begin on the Route 44 project, however, the proposal must receive final approval from the hospital’s board of directors. The hospital currently is conducting a financial feasibility study to ensure that the cost to lease out space in the new building will not be too high.

Once the cost pricing portion of the project is completed, Borghesi has told The Journal he will present the plan to the hospital’s board for approval.

If members give the project the green light — and it receives all necessary approvals by the town of Barkhamsted — construction on the new center is expected to move forward.