WELCOME 2021! As we close a very difficult year, we gratefully pause to wish you a healthy and happy New Year!
Due to the rise in COVID-19 cases, Town Hall offices remain closed to the public and open by “appointment only” visits from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. To ensure safe behavior and social distancing are maintained, we encourage residents to contact departments by email or phone, as an in-person visit may not be necessary. Most transactions can be handled by mail, email or phone. Please see the department phone listing on the town website for department phone numbers.
The COVID-19 virus continues to spread rapidly across Brookfield and the nation. The number of people infected in Brookfield has risen dramatically over the past 8 weeks. The positivity rate is now in the 10% range, and the number of cases per 100K residents has surged from just over 22 cases per 100K residents from our December 18 report to more than 73 per 100K last week.
Much of this spike is driven by social gatherings where the rules for social distancing, wearing masks and limiting the number of people were not followed. Thanksgiving holiday gatherings also were a factor. And we expect that the December holiday season will only increase these numbers in the next few weeks.
Clearly, we can do much more to control this virus. Please help your neighbors and your town by being vigilant and following the rules. Only you and your family can change the direction of this virus and help us bring it under control.
VACCINATION OF RESIDENTS
Phase I of the rollout of the vaccine has started and is being administered to health care workers, first responders and long term care facilities. The State will shortly issue guidance on the rollout for other residents.
We anticipate the earliest they will be available to the general public will be at the end of January. To be prepared once the vaccine becomes available we are gathering the names and contact details of those residents who are age 65 or older, immuno-compromised or If you are a healthcare worker offering to assist in vaccine administration we ask that you please fill out this form and submit it to the town: https://brookfieldct.seamlessdocs.com/f/COVIDVaccine
The form is also available on the town website.
If you do not have access to the internet, you can call our COVID19 hotline at 203 775 7314 and leave your information.
Steve Dunn
First Selectman
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Board of Selectmen Meeting
7 p.m. Monday, January 4
View the meeting on YouTube or connect by phone to participate in public comment.
The town's budget process begins shortly, with agencies submitting their budget requests.
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Coffee with the Community
5:30 p.m. Monday, January 25
Residents are welcome to address the Selectmen with any questions, comments or concerns. View the meeting on YouTube or connect by phone to participate. Meeting information can be found on the agenda on the town website.
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Assessor
On November 19, 2020, the 2021 real estate revaluation began. The inspectors are measuring and taking exterior photos of homes and outbuildings only; they will not be entering homes. The two inspectors will be wearing yellow vests and ID tags and their vehicles will have signs. This process could take several weeks to complete. Please refer to the town website, which details the roads that are being inspected.
If you have recently disposed of a vehicle or have received a bill for a vehicle that you no longer own, please supply us with acceptable forms of proof, which can be accessed through this link. You can email us at assessor@brookfieldct.gov fax us
at 203-740-3871, or drop off in an envelope in the black drop off box in front of Town Hall.
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Tax Collector – Notice to Taxpayers
Taxes are due January 1, 2021 for second installment of real estate and personal property. The motor vehicle supplemental bills are also due January 1. The last day to pay without penalty is February 1, 2021. Town Hall is closed, so you can make your payment by mail, using the online portal or placing your payment into the drop box found outside of town hall during business hours. We are NOT accepting CASH.
Please see the website for more information.
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Public Works
With Winter in full swing, please be cautious of the plows during storms and for days after as they clear the right of way. Snow and ice is thrown at great speeds and quantities and could be deadly. As you see the plows approaching, please back away. Do not let your children play in the snow banks near the road edge. During plowing it is inevitable that mailboxes will be damaged, although we do our best to minimize it. Unfortunately, it is necessary to have mailboxes in the same location that snow must be pushed. It is the town’s policy that if the box was damaged by the snow being thrown from the plow – not because the plow ran off the road and hit the box -- the town is not liable. The detailed policy is on the town website.
Covid-19 Tax Deferment Program
If you are in need of an extension, the Governor has allowed the town to offer a Deferment Program for those who qualify. Please complete the link below, which is also found on the website, and provide the required documentation.
Town Clerk
During the pandemic, many families welcomed new pets into their homes. You can license your dog(s) right on the
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Although our building is closed to the public, we continue to offer curbside service for materials. The library also has many online resources that you can access with your library card. We also have many great virtual programs coming in January! Here is a brief sampling:
- If you’ve made resolutions to eat better, get your photos organized or manage your finances, we are offering a healthy eating program, a Google photo class and a money roundtable geared toward women.
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Learn more about one of America’s greatest authors in our Mark Twain in the Margins program.
- For kids, we’ll have story times, a grab and go craft, and a Zoom science activity, many of which are SNOW-themed!
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For teens: personalized book recommendations, book talks, a grab and go activity kit, a drawing workshop with Bethel’s The Giggling Pig, a story chat and a mindfulness programs.
- More virtual programs for adults: a knitting and crocheting group, a sewing class, another open mic night, and expert-run discussions on domestic violence, dementia care, artificial intelligence and our local land conservatory.
- Don’t forget about our great Zoom book clubs!
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For all of the above programs, check our calendar for registration and details.
Please note: The Library will be closed for curbside service on Monday, January 18, in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Scheduled virtual programs will take place.
We hope to see you soon!
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Our Winter 2021 Program Guide will be published on the Parks & Recreation website in early January. A variety of outdoor in-person as well as virtual programs will be offered including:
- Sky-Orienteering at Happy Landings
- Winter Wander-land Snowflake Hunt
- Mission Control Video Game Leagues
- As well as our popular Grab & Go Craft Kits.
- Be sure to visit our website for a complete listing of our winter programs.
Due to the fluid nature of programs at this time, we will not print and mail out copies of the guide this winter. Information will continue to be updated on our website and Facebook page and is also available by calling the Parks & Recreation Office at 203-775-7310.
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Prescription Drop Box
The Police Department has a drop box for prescriptions that you are no longer in need of. Please feel free to drop off your prescriptions in the drop box located in the lobby of the Police Department.
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Brookfield Senior & Social Services is seeking a few volunteers:
Phone Friends Program: during the winter months, we are concerned with the social isolation of our senior residents. Brookfield Senior Center, in partnership with the Motion Picture & Television Fund Daily Caller Program, has begun our Phone Friends program to address this. We are seeking a few volunteers who are willing to commit to a weekly call with one of our seniors. You will receive training and be matched with a senior with whom you have similar interests that can form the basis for a social connection. If you are interested or want to find out more about this program, please contact Ellen Melville at the Senior Center 203-775-5308 or mailto:emelville@brookfieldct.gov. If you know of or are a senior who would like to receive a weekly call and increase their social connectivity, please contact us at that number.
Hillside Food Outreach Food Delivery: Hillside Food Outreach has been an invaluable resource to Brookfield Social Services during the pandemic. They deliver up to two weeks of nutritious groceries to residents who have tested positive with COVID-19 or who are quarantining due to close contacts, allowing them to remain quarantined without worries about nutritious food. As the numbers in our region grow, Hillside’s ability to deliver food on a timely basis is limited to their volunteer capacity. If you are able to assist with contactless-deliveries, you can contact Hillside directly at 914-747-0095 or through their website. Let them know you are from Brookfield and interested in delivering to Brookfield residents.
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Click here to see the Brookfield Public Schools January updates that includes the New School Project Update; the 2021-2022 Budget Update; and a link to the Fall/Winter School District Broadcast Newsletter.
School Naming Survey
The New School Project has been a community-wide effort for many years, so the board is inviting residents to choose the name for the new school.
The New School Naming Committee, has narrowed the field to five names that meet BOE Policy 7551. These suggestions came from the public forums held last fall, the Municipal Building Committee, as well as students at CES and HHES.
We invite you to complete this informational survey that will be very helpful in making the decision. This survey is not intended to be a public vote, and the board may not choose the name ranked highest. The BOE will review and share the results of this survey publicly and likely vote on the name at its January 20 meeting.
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Our Town Center District is ready for the holiday season as construction continues at Brookfield Village buildings 2 and 3 (see picture below). The holiday lights are up (THANK YOU Park and Rec!) and our downtown has never looked better. Next year will be another where we see significant improvement: Phase 3 construction will start in the spring and Phase 5 funding commitment from CT DOT has been secured. We hope to complete both phases by this time next year! |
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Town Boards and Commissions
Visit our website regularly for updates and 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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