Greetings!
The Board of Selectmen Report follows up on topics we shared with you last month and things we've been working on and discussing since then. If you have a specific topic that you want to know more about, feel free to call 860-364-5789 or email me at
brent_c@sharon-ct.org.
What's Happened Since Our Last Newsletter-
Town Hall Parking Lot Planning
The Selectmen and Building Official/Fire Marshall are currently reviewing Eversource's proposals for Level 2 and Express EV charging stations. The Selectmen are also looking at lighting options, drainage and the potential of moving the 67 Main St. satellite dish and underground propane tank.
Sharon ARPA Advisory Committee
The Selectmen were recently provided the ARPA Advisory Committee's recommendations on current ARPA project requests. After review we will call a special meeting to go over them.
Broadband Improvement
Sertex LLC's fiber network engineering & cost analysis is still under review.
For the most recent task force updates, sign-up for the Sharon Connect Task Force Newsletter it contains everything you want to know about the broadband improvement efforts here in Sharon.
Town Sidewalks
We discussed town sidewalks at our March 8th meeting and all agreed that they need to be replaced or repaired. The next steps are where to begin the project, what material to use (asphalt or concrete), tree and water/sewer line locations, State right-of-way, and public notice. State permits would be obtained by the contractor and the Historic District Commission would need to approve the project.
Things To Be Aware Of-
Town Annual Report 2021-2022
The Town Annual Report is now available at Town Hall and online.
Town Meeting on April 7th at 6:15pm
Items for action:
- 6/30/2021 Financial report
- Park & Recreation Commitee's request to use up to $14,000 for their portion of the Capital Non-Recurring Account for the replacement of the Veterans' Field Pavillion roof.
- Use of Undesignated Funds to pay-off equipment loans.
Town Taxes and Tax Bills
Tax season is now so if you need to pay your taxes or look up your taxes for your Federal tax return...
Town Budget Discussions 2022-2023
We are currently discussing the annual town budget. Below are links to our discussions.
Sharon Center School Newsletter for March
- As part of Read Across America celebration, the student council sponsored a Stop, Drop, and Read! It was greatly appreciated by students and staff.
- Miss Sam, childrens’ librarian at the Hotchkiss library conducting an after school book club. Students are reading The Untouchables, by Gordon Korman. It is about a challenging class and an unusual teacher.
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Pennies for Pets- A school wide effort organized by the student council, with their advisors Mrs. Dietter and Mrs. Barnett to support the Little Guild. Susan Boucher, the assistant manager came to school to accept the generous donation.
- Connecticut Association of Schools art awards- congratulations Samantha Caranci and Lilly MacMillan, they attended a virtual presentation on Tuesday, March 15, 2022. Congratulations!
Sharon Center School Principal Search Survey
The Region 1 administration and the Sharon Principal Search Committee want to hear from as many members of the Sharon community as possible on what they feel is most important with regards to the selection of the next Principal for Sharon Center School. Principal Search Survey.
The 37th Sharon Classic Road Race is May 7
Mark your calendars! The Sharon Classic Road Race is back with a whole new race course and starting place. This year's race will begin and end at Veterans' Field in Sharon Valley. Early bird pricing through April 10th!
Salisbury/Sharon Transfer Station Website
Up-to-date information is now available via the Salisbury/Sharon Transfer Station website.
Thank you to the Salisbury/Sharon Transfer Station Recycling Advisory Committee (TRAC) for providing this very helpful resource.
Sharon Energy & Environment Commission Solar Array Project
The Sharon Energy & Environment Commission (SEEC) continues pursuing the opportunity to install a Solar Array at Sharon Center School via Connecticut Green Bank's "SolarMap" program.
We are waiting on Connecticut Green Bank's final paperwork. Once we have the final paperwork, Planning and Zoning will review and report, as will the Board of Education.
Sharon Fire Department, Inc. Engine 3
The Sharon Fire Department is currently fundraising to replace Engine 3.
Donations can be sent to P.O. Box 357, Sharon CT 06069.
Town Information & Events
COVID-19-
COVID Information
Stay informed! Opt-in today to receive COVID-19 alerts and updates.
Road Work and Maintenance-
Maintenance
- Snow
- Ice
- Potholes
- Mud
- Dead and Dying Trees
Town Trees
- Our Tree Warden continues working on dead or dying trees.
- Lewis Tree Service (Eversource contractor) continues working on dead and dying trees (currently they are scheduled to trim and cut across the entire town).
- We appreciate the help residents are providing to this effort.
History Share-
Via Ray Aakjar, Jr.:
"This is a picture of my father (Ray Aakjar, Sr.) left-center, looking down at his CH-47 B Chinook, that was shot down in a rice paddy, Vietnam, 1966 (my Dad was the aircraft engineer). They took a Russian anti-aircraft .51 caliber up through the floor, through the ceiling and into the aft rotor transmission.... I asked him how hard they came down, because I thought they would autorotate...he said imagine pushing a forklift out the back of a bomber.
The Army decided it was too hot of an area to recover it, and elected to destroy it with artillery and gunships...My Dad went back to base and begged his commander to let him recover it, as it was nearly brand new and cost over a million dollars.(200 flight hours) The commander told him if he could find the crews that were willing to go get it, then go get it...they did, it was saved and it flew through another 400 hours!
At the end of the war, it was captured by the North Vietnamese.
The US Government brokered a deal in 2006 to buy back all the Chinook aircraft, because Boeing stopped making them decades ago."
Ray Junior and Senior live in Sharon Valley, Connecticut. Both are former Sharon Road Crew members and are active in our town.
The name "Chinook" alludes to the Chinook people of the Pacific Northwest. The CH-47 is powered by two turboshaft engines, mounted on each side of the helicopter's rear end and connected to the rotors by driveshafts. Initial models were fitted with engines of 2,200 horsepower. The counter-rotating rotors eliminate the need for an anti-torque vertical rotor, allowing all power to be used for lift and thrust. The ability to adjust lift in either rotor makes it less sensitive to changes in the center of gravity, important for the cargo lifting role.
