July 2021

Happy Fourth of July! Cooling Center Information Due to the recent heat wave, you can find Cooling Center Information on the town website. The Brookfield Board of Finance is currently seeking candidates for an open position. The position is open to all Brookfield registered voters (electors) who are interested in serving on the Board of Finance. Please submit your resume and a statement of interest to: Brookfield Board of Finance at BOF@brookfieldct.gov. Application deadline is July 6. Still River Greenway The northern entrance in the town business district access is still closed for the construction of a driveway for the grocery store that is going to be built. There will be ongoing traffic crossing the Greenway for construction and once completed, there will be an intersection to allow access to the site. Additional parking is available at the main entrance and at the Police Station’s upper parking lot on Silvermine Road. You can also park at the Municipal Center where there is access to the Greenway. COVID-19 Long Term Recovery- Grant Funding Resources for Small Businesses The Recovery Grant Funding Resources Page can be found on the CT Recovers page on the State website. It compiles all known federal, state and philanthropic COVID-19 recovery grant opportunities in one place and includes a link to information on how to apply, as well as the deadline for the grant. An additional non-funding resources landing page will be available shortly. This list contains details and links to funded assistance programs for COVID-19 impacted businesses, communities, and individuals, to help in their recovery following the pandemic.   American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) – Federal Stimulus Funds At our meeting in June, the Board of Selectmen voted to establish an "ad-hoc" committee with representatives from the Board of Education, Board of Finance, Municipal Building Committee, Parks & Rec, Economic Development Commission and members of the public at-large, to address how to best utilize the ARPA funding the town will receive. Anyone who wants to join this committee to discuss and prioritize how this funding should be spent should send an email to the First Selectman’s office at sdunn@brookfieldct.gov. Steve Dunn First Selectman

Board of Selectmen Meeting Monday, July 12, at 7:00 p.m. in Meeting Room 133. You can view the agenda and attachments on the town website. You are welcome to attend the meeting in person. The meeting will also be livestreamed and taped for viewing. Coffee with the Community Saturday, July 31, from 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. at Jesters Coffee located at 331 Federal Road We encourage you to stop by with any questions or concerns. This event is scheduled on the last Saturday of each month.

Rock Painting Event The Arts Commission will have supplies for family members to paint a rock and then hide for someone else to find or give to someone to brighten their day. Place your order by Monday, August 9. Please see the flyer on the town website for further details. Sidewalk Chalk Art sponsored by the Brookfield Arts Commission Scheduled on Friday, August 13, from 4:00 p.m. – 6 p.m. at the Brookfield Town Hall Sidewalk. Please see the flyer on the town website for further details.

Assessor If you are closing a business, please visit our website for information and paperwork needed. Please make a copy for yourself and either mail or drop off the original form and attachments to the office.  All paperwork for Motor Vehicle adjustments will be accepted by mail, email, fax, or in person.   On November 19, 2020, the 2021 real estate revaluation began. The inspectors have begun measuring and taking exterior photos of homes and outbuildings. They will not be entering homes. The inspectors will be wearing yellow vests and ID tags. This process will take several months to complete. Please refer to the town website which details the roads that are being inspected.  Health Department COVID-19 Thanks in the large part to an outstanding group of dedicated volunteers under the direction of our Covid-19 Disease Coordinator, Maureen Farrell, MPH, Brookfield has seen a remarkable slowing of disease progression in town. Residents may follow local statistics and vaccination levels on the State web site at: data.ct.gov.  Town Beach Levels of E.coli and Blue-green algae toxins will be reported on the Health Department website weekly. Residents are cautioned that after heavy rains, due to run-off, the levels of E. coli may be elevated. If so, they will be repeated to detect false positives and beach areas will post a warning of high levels. This is particularly important for young children who are more likely to ingest lake water. Post bathing showers are available and strongly recommended.  Police Department The Brookfield Police Department First Annual National Night Out is on August 3rd from 4:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at the Brookfield Town Hall. Games/raffles/food/police helicopter demo/live music, fun for all ages! 

Public Works The paving program continues. For a complete list of roads to be paved, check the town website. Senior & Social Services Social Security From “Justice in Aging: On May 28, 2021, the Social Security Administration (SSA) began offering “express interviews” (EXI) at its field offices and Social Security card centers nationwide. According to the Emergency Message released on implementation of the EXI process, “EXIs are brief interviews, lasting approximately 5-7 minutes, which allow eligible individuals to apply for an original or replacement Social Security Number (SSN) card and submit necessary evidence in person.” Volunteers Needed Brookfield Senior Center is seeking volunteers to assist with the AARP Income Tax Preparation. We are seeking people to fill both tax preparer and leadership positions for the 2022 Tax Preparation (February 2022-April 2022). Training and support are offered. For questions, or if you are interested, please contact Ellen Melville at 203-775-5308. Tax Collector Taxes are due July 1, 2021 and the last day to make payment is August 2, 2021. Tax bills were mailed out on June 22. You may start making payments on July 1, 2021. The Legal Notice for July 2021 Taxes is on the town website. You may pay by bank check, money order or personal check. There is a cash limit of $500 per visit per day. Also, we accept credit/debit cards and echecks through our website (please note there are additional fees for this service). Farmer’s Market SNAP Program The Brookfield Farmer’s Market now accepts SNAP and will double your purchase dollars. If you have a SNAP EBT card and enjoy eating and cooking good, farm-fresh foods, come to the Brookfield Farmer’s Market (across from the Post Office) on Fridays from 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. throughout the summer.

Things are heating up outside, so come visit us inside at the Library, and stay cool! Click here to view the Library’s New Promotional Video. Click here to view the Brookfield Library July updates that include the following: Summer Reading Program Offerings for adults in July include outdoor movie night and much more Library Art Gallery Exhibit The Friends of the Library book sale and craft fair Outdoor Concert featuring Brazilian Jazz

Summer in Brookfield New Teen Voyager Outdoor Adventure Trips for students entering grades 6-9. Trips on Wednesdays from 9:00am – 5:00pm. More details here. The Town Beach remains open daily from 10:00am - 6:00pm during the month of July. Beach passes are on sale. For more information click here. Swim lessons and the Brookfield Muskrats Swim Team begin on Tuesday, July 6. Registration is ongoing until we reach capacity. For more details, click here.   The Newtown Savings Bank Concerts in the Park series continues on Friday nights. Full schedule available here.    Outdoor Movies in the Park continue in July and August. Dates and titles here.   We continue to offer a variety of day camps and sports and specialty camps throughout the summer. Be sure to check out our program guide for these and other programs, including tennis and golf lessons. For more information, click here. Visit our website and Facebook page for continued updates; there is so much to look forward to in Brookfield this summer!

Click here to view the Brookfield Public Schools July updates that include the following: School Open for 100% In-Person Learning Next Fall Brookfield Public Schools 21-22 Opening Plan Brookfield Public Schools Masking Policy Summer School       Collaboration between the BOE and the Brookfield Education Foundation Click here to access the Senior Awards live streamed video and presentation on the Brookfield Patch.

Pre-construction activities have started on Old Route 7 in the Town Center District for Streetscape Phase 3. This picture shows the relocation of six utility pole to make room for the new sidewalk.

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Town Boards and Commissions Visit our website regularly for updates and schedule of upcoming meetings. Visit our website Town Events and Activities Follow town department social media pages for all that is going on around town! Click to Connect