FREEPORT – The Freeport Town Council will conduct a public hearing on a proposed $2,662,100 capital budget for 2014-2015 on Tuesday, April 1.

The meeting at the Town Office begins at 6:30 p.m.

The nearly $2.7 million in capital spending represents a significant increase from last year, when the town spent $945,100 on capital improvements. The town’s share of a reconstruction of Wardtown Road alone would come to $500,000, according to the plan. The Town Council plans to adopt a new capital budget on April 15.

Once that’s finished, town officials can get going on the new operating and tax-increment financing budgets. Town Manager Peter Joseph will submit figures for those budgets to the council on May 1. Council workshops will follow throughout the month, and a public hearing on the operating, capital and TIF budgets is set for June 3. The council is scheduled to adopt all three 2014-2015 budgets on June 17.

This week, the Traffic & Parking Committee addressed several issues, including what it considers a need for parking at several trailhead locations in town, during a Freeport Town Council workshop.

The meeting, Tuesday night at the Town Hall, was held after the Tri-Town Weekly publication deadline.

The Traffic & Parking Committee has identified the need for parking, and related signs, at Antoinette Jackman Trail off Litchfield Road, Calderwood Trail off Flying Point Road, Pettingill Farm, Quarry Woods near Mast Landing School and Lower Mast Landing Road, Ridge Trail off South Freeport Road, Sandy Beach and Sayles Field off Pine Street.

The committee also asked the council if new sidewalks should be included in the South Freeport area street improvements, which are included in this year’s capital budget proposal. Paved shoulders on Wardtown Road and other locations and an update on guidelines for recreational vehicle parking also were on the committee’s agenda.