Welcome, March! The groundhog’s shadow may indicate a few more weeks of winter, but on the bright side, it looks like we’re emerging from COVID. As we move toward Spring, we’re hopeful that COVID remains at bay as it did last year with people spending more time outdoors.
February through May is considered Brookfield’s budget season. As such, I’m working closely with our Town Controller, Marcia Marien, preparing the 2022 - 2023 budget and am proud to have delivered it to the BOS, BOF, BOE, all town departments, the Superintendent of Schools, the Town Treasurer, and the Presidents of our Fire Companies. My transmittal letter explains the overarching budget goals: provide quality services to the citizens of Brookfield in an efficient and effective manner; provide an excellent education to the current and future students of Brookfield; and properly maintain our capital assets at levels to maximize their value and useful lives. I also explain the financial goals:*
- Continue to reduce our dependence on debt.
- Continue to prepare and review our long-term plan to provide for stability in our budgets.
- Live within our means.
*Each of these is covered in greater detail at the First Selectman’s website, along with important information about Brookfield’s revaluation and its impact on the Grand List. Please read the details on the town website.
With over 99% of our population not infected with COVID, I announced on 2/19/2022 that I would be discontinuing the use of Code Red weekly messaging. Please visit our town website for all pertinent information as we move forward: www.brookfieldct.gov.
Please note that our Town Hall vaccination clinic will be closing, but beginning in March, our Director of Public Health, Dr. Sullivan, and our Public Health Nurse, Tracey Cahill, will be available to offer vaccines by appointment through the call-in number for masks and test kits: 203-775-7314.
Finally, I want to thank all of the volunteers who generously donated their time in order to administer vaccines to those who chose to receive them in our Town Hall clinic.
Yours in Service,
Tara Carr
First Selectman
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14th Annual Brookfield Film Festival
Friday, April 1 - 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 2 - 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 3 - 3 p.m.
Brookfield Theatre for the Arts
184 Whisconier Road
Additional information is on the town
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American Legion Post 202 Serving Brookfield & Newtown
Veteran & Veteran Family Member Coffee Meet & Greet
plus Membership Sign-Up & Renewal
Saturday, March 12, from 9 a.m. – Noon
Brookfield Town Hall - 100 Pocono Road
Additional information is on the town website.
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The Brookfield Police Department presents “Plunge Candlewood”
To benefit Special Olympics
Saturday, March 19
At Brookfield Town Beach
460 Candlewood Lake Road
Additional information is on the town website.
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Board of Selectmen
Coffee with the Community
We encourage residents to stop by with any questions or concerns.
Saturday, March 26, from
9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
At Chick-fil-A
156 Federal Road
Board of Selectmen Meeting
Monday, March 7, at 7 p.m., Room 133
The meeting agenda will be posted on the town website the Friday afternoon prior to the meeting and will be live-streamed and recorded.
Special Town Meeting
Tuesday, March 29, at 7 p.m.
At the Brookfield High School Auditorium
FY 22/23 Capital Projects presentation and voting to set Referendum date.
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Assessor
Elderly, disabled, and additional veterans applications for the town and state have been mailed and are due no later than May 15. Make sure to bring all the paperwork back signed and your 2021 federal tax returns and supporting 1099’s with you. We will make the copies for you.
The Board of Assessment Appeal Hearings will be held in March. You will be called by Gina - the board secretary - with a specific date and time.
If you no longer have your car, please go to our website for the acceptable forms of proof for motor vehicle credit.
Public Works
The town has completed its draft MS4 Storm Water Management Report for 2021 to be filed with the CT DEEP. Public comment is welcome. The draft can be viewed on the town website.
Town Clerk
Did you know that State law requires that Congressional and legislative district lines be redrawn every 10 years based on the census? You can visit the CT General Assembly website for the Congressional Redistricting Plan Maps to learn more about the important changes in Brookfield.
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Tax Collector
Tax Information 2021 – Tax Report
If you need your 2021 Tax Payment information go to brookfieldct.gov and under the Government tab choose 'Tax Collector.'
Click on the 'View or Pay Tax Bills' button. Click on 'For All Online Payments and Payment History.' Enter your last name and first initial (NO punctuation) or you may change the “search by” to whatever you wish. Next - click on 'IRS Payment Records' and then click on 'Search.'
This will bring up the payment records for 2021. Place a check mark in the IRS box located on the right side above the payment information on the blue/green bar and then click on 'View IRS.' This will show the amount of the payment and the date the payment was made. You can print out this information for your records.
Real Estate Bill
If your Real Estate taxes are escrowed, the bank should request your Real Estate bill.
If you change banks or pay off your mortgage, please contact the office to let us know where your Real Estate bill should be sent.
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The Candlewood Peninsula and Dean/Pocono Road $1,500,000 sewer study is underway and is being funded at 55% by a DEEP grant. For more information on this project, visit our website for the Candlewood Lake Waste Water Study for Brookfield, and our website for the Dean/Pocono Road/Still River Overview.
There is a proposal before the Board of Selectmen to use the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to add sewers to the Brookfield Market Area, which has several failing septic systems. The Brookfield Market and Craft Center area are an important part of town. For more information on this project, visit our website.
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CT DOT and WESTCOG have approved a change order to the Streetscape Phase 3 project that now allows the town to construct a Pocket Park in the grassy area in front of the new Dunkin coffee shop at the intersection of Old Route 7 and Federal Roads. The construction costs, estimated to be $85,000, will be 100% Local Transportation Capital Improvement (LOTCIP) grant funded. The design layout will set aside an area for a future sculpture or art piece. See the attached map below. Construction starts in April. |
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We're ready for Spring at the Brookfield Library. We have a great assortment of programs, both virtual and in-person. Please visit our website for updates and details regarding dates, times and registration for the many exciting in-person and virtual programs we're offering in March. We look forward to seeing you this month!
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Click here to view the Brookfield Parks & Recreation Department 2022 Program Guide. See the list of upcoming programs and trips. Registration is open for spring youth sports leagues. Watch for our Spring/summer 2022 Program Guide to be released in April including information on a variety of spring programs for adults, children and families, summer camps, town beach operations for 2022 and more!
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Click here to view the Brookfield Public Schools March update from Dr. John Barile, Superintendent of School, for the adopted budget for FY 2022-2023; COVID infection data and recommendations; the District School Calendar; BHS Graduation date; Candlewood Lake Elementary School construction update; and the highlights of the February Board of Education meeting.
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Senior Center/Social Services |
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CEAP Update
Applications for the CT Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) continue to be processed. If your income is no more than $39,027 (individuals) and $51,035 (couples), you may be eligible for assistance with your heating bills (note updates to qualifying income).* To apply, you must show current income information, including the last 4 weeks of pay-stubs, if you’re employed. Please contact Lorraine at 203-775-7312 if you think you qualify. *Please note that the qualifying income has been updated for 2021.
Home Improvement and Repair Loans
Capital For Change (formerly CHIF), has many energy efficiency loan programs available that can be used to replace water heaters, heating systems, windows and doors, etc. with energy efficient ones. For more information on these programs, how they work, what they cover and to check eligibility, you can call (860) 233-5165 or visit their website.
USDA, Elderly Homeowners’ Grant and Loan Programs for Repairs, also known as the Section 504 Home Repair program, provides loans to very-low-income homeowners (regardless of age) to repair, improve or modernize their homes or grants to elderly very-low-income homeowners to remove health and safety hazards. Grants require no pay-back and have a maximum limit of $7,500. Loans can be up to $20,000 and have a low, fixed interest rate of 1%. For more information, and/or to apply for a grant or loan, you may call: 860-688-7725, ext. 4 or visit the CT USDA-Rural Development website.
The following link may also be helpful on the CT USDA-Rural Development website.
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Town Boards and Commissions
Visit our website regularly for updates and a schedule of upcoming meetings.
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Town Events and Activities
Follow town department social media pages for all that is going on around town.
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