NAUGATUCK — The borough is preparing its budget for the Naugatuck Event Center for the first time without having a buyer in the wings
Robert Butler, the borough’s purchasing agent who oversees the event center, presented a budget request last week of $263,800 for the 2019-20 fiscal year to the Board of Finance. The request represents a decrease of $18,000, or 6.38 percent, in spending at the event center from this fiscal year.
Butler said the largest reduction came from the cost for pipes and drapes, which are used during events to curtain off certain areas. The cost decreased $9,000, or 75 percent, to $3,000.
The borough had a development agreement in place for the building at 6 Rubber Ave. and the adjacent parking, known locally as parcels A and B, with Sustainable Development Corporation. Officials had approved selling the parcels to Benjamin Zitron, the chief executive officer of Sustainable Development Corporation, for $4 million, but both parties agreed to terminate the deal late last year.
Even though the deal was in place, the borough began utilizing the building to host events and will continue to do so.
Butler said he tried to cut some costs for the center’s operating budget because he’s requesting more under the capital budget.
The capital request is $144,000, which is an increase of $88,000 over the request for this fiscal year.
The request includes $38,000 to replace fire doors and $60,000 for commercial kitchen equipment. The borough recently opened a music venue on the second floor of the building that has a large, but outdated, kitchen.
