First Selectman's Report: October 25, 2024
Colchester Senior Center - Grand Opening
We are excited to announce that the new Colchester Senior Center will officially open to the public on December 18, 2024 with a ribbon cutting ceremony and grand opening at 10:00 AM.
Construction is nearly complete. Furniture and equipment deliveries have begun, including exercise equipment which was installed Thursday. If you drive by, you might also notice the fence surrounding the building is gone and landscaping is taking place now too!
We are looking forward to welcoming Colchester residents to this new building which will be a wonderful asset to our senior community with a community room that will benefit residents of all ages for after-hours events.
Norton Park - Phase 1 Construction
The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously last week to award a contract for construction of Norton Park - Phase 1 to Command Construction LLC. Details on a construction timeline and groundbreaking will be announced shortly.
Construction will be paid using funds received under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
The Town has also received significant grant funds from CT DECD and DEEP for environmental remediation and development of Phase 2 of Norton Park. Preparation of bid documents for the remediation work is nearly complete.
Youth Center Repairs and Improvements (ARPA)
Recently, the Board of Selectmen engaged Torello Engineers to perform a structural analysis of the Youth Center and the existing Senior Center on Norwich Ave to help guide financial and strategic decisions about the future of these buildings. Last week, we received these reports and learned of a structural issue affecting the Youth Center.
As a precaution, I directed the Youth Center be closed until a temporary repair can be made as advised by our engineers. The engineers have already provided this plan and Public Works Director Joe Leone and I are currently seeking a contractor to perform this work as soon as possible. In the meantime, our after school Youth Center programming will be hosted at WJJMS until certain repairs are complete that are necessary to ensure the building is safe.
At last week’s Board of Selectmen meeting, the Selectmen discussed these structural reports as part of our larger plan to utilize funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to help preserve these town assets. Some repair work identified in these reports has already been planned and bids are ready to be awarded - such as the complete repair of the porch on the Youth Center and other safety-related modifications including renovations that would make the third floor usable space. The Selectmen discussed utilizing remaining ARPA funds to make these improvements and perform the structural work needed on both buildings. Stay tuned for more information on this in the coming weeks…
Town Green Maintenance Work
This week, our Grounds crew has been hard at work around the Town Green. Crews reseeded a large patch of dead grass; repainted street sign posts and some lamp posts along Merchant’s Row; and began cleaning up the garden at the flagpole and 9/11 memorial. Weeds and overgrown bushes were removed, new mulch was placed, and new plants will be added soon. We also plan to have the 9/11 memorial plaque repaired and the illumination of the flagpole fixed. The Historic District Commission has also approved the addition of a stone and plaque on the side of the flagpole closest to the Civil War monument which recognizes the recent addition of this site to the Connecticut Freedom Trail. More details on that will be forthcoming in the spring.
Next week, additional maintenance work will be done to the stone-dust walking paths on the Green.
We have also engaged with local non-profit organization Rediscovering History which will be performing much-needed cleaning work to help preserve the Civil War monument and other monuments on the Veterans’ Memorial Green. These monuments have significant lichen and mildew growth and will be cleaned by hand with the same gentle process used on historic headstones in Connecticut cemeteries. Work is expected to take place next week, weather dependent. Expect to see some scaffolding around monuments while the cleaning is being performed.
R8 Irrigation
The Board of Selectmen has approved the use of ARPA funds to install new irrigation at field R8.
Trunk or Treat
Trunk or Treat is tomorrow, Saturday, October 26 at the Bacon Academy parking lot!
A quieter, sensory friendly event will take place from 3:30pm-4:30pm sponsored by Family Wise with the main event open to the General Public from 4:30pm-6:00pm with DJ Montez.
Please bring 2 bags of candy per person, pre-packaged and individually wrapped. These will be collected at the entrance to the event.
Hope to see you there!
2024 General Election Early Voting
Early, in-person voting is taking place at Town Hall every day through Sunday, November 3. This includes weekends!
Hours are generally 10AM to 6PM - but there are extended hours 8AM to 8PM on Tuesday, October 29 and Thursday, October 31. All voters are eligible to vote early and same-day registration is available.
There will be no early voting on Monday, November 4.
On Election Day, Tuesday, November 5, 2024 in-person voting will take place from 6AM to 8PM at all three polling locations, Town Hall, Bacon Academy, and Abundant Life Church.
Plan of Conservation and Development Survey
The Planning and Zoning Commission’s survey for the 2025 Plan of Conservation and Development will close Thursday, October 31. Results of the survey will be presented at the November 6 PZC meeting. Click here: https://www.colchesterct.gov/home/news/public-opinion-requested-2025-pla...
SCCOG Town Planner Office Hours
Office hours Colchester interim Town Planner Nicole Haggerty, AICP, of the Southeastern CT Council of Governments will now be Monday afternoons 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. If you need to reach Ms. Haggerty outside of these hours, she can be reached at [email protected] or by calling (860) 889-2324 ext. 114 to schedule a time.
Cragin Community Conversations
Cragin Memorial Library will hold two Community Conversations on Thursday, November 7 at 6:00 p.m. and Saturday, November 9 at 10:30 a.m. as part of its current strategic planning process. Colchester residents are invited to join the conversation by calling the Library at 860-537-5752 to register for either session.
Many thanks to those who have already responded to the Library’s Community Survey, but there is still time to participate, please click on this link: https://forms.gle/XTtwdcCP2h2ZijeM6.
Colchester Community Theatre Auditions
Colchester Community Theatre has scheduled auditions for its February 2025 production of Disney’s Newsies through special arrangement with MTI. Set in turn-of-the century New York City, Newsies is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenaged “newsies.” When titans of publishing raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions and fight for what’s right!
Auditions will be held Sunday, November 17 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm and Monday, November 18 from 6:30 - 8:30 pm at Congregation Ahavath Achim (Colchester Synagogue) Hall, 84 Lebanon Avenue in Colchester. No appointment is required for either date. Everyone MUST bring sheet music in the appropriate key and be prepared to sing. Please prepare 16 measures of a song that showcases your voice. No prerecorded music or a cappella singing will be permitted. An accompanist will be provided. Everyone will be asked to learn a short choreographed routine so please bring appropriate shoe wear.
Roles are available for children (Grade 6 and up) and adults. Any questions, contact Wallis Johnson (860) 490-4710 or email [email protected]. Rehearsal location directions and additional information regarding the musical may be found at www.colchestercommunitytheatre.com.
Show dates for this production are February 14, 15, and 16, 2025. Anyone who is unable to attend the auditions on the above dates must contact us before November 16 to make other arrangements.
Sincerely,
Bernie Dennler
First Selectman
Town of Colchester