Thank you to The Garden Club of Brookfield for the beautiful fall season display welcoming all who enter Brookfield day and night at Federal and Candlewood Lake roads!
Standard and Poor's reaffirms Brookfield "AAA' rating
As part of the process to borrow funds (primarily for the new school), Standard and Poor's reviewed the Town of Brookfield and reaffirmed our "AAA" rating, the highest rating given. They rated our debt above 'sovereign,' which means they believe that our debt is safer than that of the U.S. Government. In their report, they rate Brookfield as having "strong management," very strong liquidity," "strong budgetary flexibility" and "strong budgetary performance."
This rating is important as it means that Brookfield will be able to borrow at the lowest rates possible, until such time as S&P reviews again. The last time we borrowed, we received an interest rate of 1.55%. This low-interest rate allowed the town to borrow for 20 years instead of 30 years. The original plan put forth to the town 3 years ago showed what an average homeowner would pay for the new school and called for borrowing over 30 years at an interest rate between 4 and 6%. Obtaining a rate of 1.55% and borrowing instead for 20 years will save the town over $21 million over that original plan. We expect to get similar rates when we borrow for the second half of the new school funding in the next week. We expect the new borrowing will also save the town similar amounts over the original plan.
Steve Dunn
First Selectman
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Arts Commission
Stop by Town Hall to see our new art exhibit by featured artist, Jo-Ann Tortorice. A reception with the artist will be held on Wednesday, October 27,
from 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Brookfield Lions Club
Community Shred Day
Saturday, October 23 from 9 a.m. –1.p.m.
At the Municipal Center
100 Pocono Road
$10.00 per standard box
Coffee with the Community
Saturday, October 30, from
9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
At JJ Stacks located at 537 Federal Road
We encourage you to stop by with any questions or concerns.
This event is scheduled on the last Saturday of each month at different locations.
Household Hazardous Waste Day
FREE Drop-off is Saturday, October 9,
from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
John Pettibone School - Pickett District Road, New Milford
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Board of Selectmen Meeting
Monday, October 4, at 7 p.m.,
Meeting Room 133
Zoom details will be on the BOS Agenda on the town website.
Brookfield Farmers Market
Open every Friday from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. until October 22 at 100 Pocono Road. Visit the Farmers Market Facebook page here .
Town Hall will be closed on Monday, October 11
for Columbus Day.
Brookfield Trunk or Treat is Back
Hosted by the Brookfield Volunteer Fire Co. and Brookfield Public School Wide PTO
Saturday, October 30, from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
See the flyer for further details
Parking at Brookfield Town Hall
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Assessor
Attention Business Owners: Personal Property Declarations will be mailed out the end of September and are due no later than November 1, 2021 by 4 p.m. Please note that if declarations are received in the office later than November 1, you will be penalized unless the postmark is November 1 or earlier. It must be postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service in order to be considered on time. If you do not receive a form or need to replace it, they are available on our website. If you have any questions, please call the Assessor’s Office at 203-775-7302.
Quadrennial forms (for exempt property owners) are due by November 1. The forms were mailed out already or they are available on our website if you did not receive one in the mail.
Applications for Total Disability or sight impaired are due as soon as possible. Note: they only have to be submitted once. Handicap vehicle exemption forms are due by November 1 and are available on our website if you did not receive one in the mail.
Farm and forest applications are due by October 31. Note: this is for new applications only or family transfers. Certification of forest land reports have to be completed by October 1, but can be submitted with your application by October 31 and available on our website.
The revaluation inspections for building permits and sales reviews are presently being completed by Vision Government Solutions. Any questions, please call our office at 203-775-7302.
Health Department
Much misinformation has been circulating regarding Covid-19 and its associated virus, SARS-CoV-2. We're rapidly approaching 700,000 deaths in the United States from this deadly disease - more than the souls lost within our military during all of World War II (407, 316). In total, we have experienced more deaths than WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War combined. We must take Covid-19 much more seriously, and recognize that this is contracted through our close association with others. We've enacted laws over many years to protect not only ourselves and our families, but many others, too, as we live in an ever-expanding society - laws regulating crosswalks, car seats, seat belts, and vaccinations against numerous deadly diseases, such as smallpox and polio. As society becomes more mobile, our “neighborhood” gets ever wider. Proven methods have been established to slow disease spread and progression. Though no single method is 100% successful in and of itself, taken together, all of these protections can lessen the chance of spreading disease across our families, our communities, and our world.
Such protections include personal hygiene (frequent hand-washing, for example), social distancing (6 feet is optimal, but not definitive), air circulation in buildings, moving activity outdoors, masking and vaccinating. No one would want a surgeon operating over an open abdomen unmasked. Masking protects the wearer AND the person with whom he/she is in close contact.
Data show that 73% of hospitalizations and almost all deaths are now occurring among unvaccinated individuals. As we're currently unable to vaccinate young children, we must maintain those proven protections which have demonstrated a reduction in transmission of this disease. The highly contagious Delta variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has changed everything - leading to hospitalizations and deaths among much younger ages. More variants will occur as the virus attempts to survive and strengthen through mutation. Many of us may be silent carriers, infecting others without even knowing it or showing symptoms. Recent outbreaks in Brookfield schools demonstrate this quite clearly. Only through individual responsibility can we expect to overcome this disease.
For more information, please refer to the following websites:
Public Works
As we finish our paving program for 2021, we're beginning to update our road ratings. The ratings will be used to create a paving program for 2022. Once the ratings are complete, they will be posted to the town website under the Department of Public Works.
Tax Collector
Waterline Assessment Bills
Reminder: All Waterline Assessment bills are due October 1, 2021. Payments must be received or U.S. postmarked no later than November 1, 2021 to avoid an interest penalty. We encourage you to check if it has been received, as failure to receive a bill does not invalidate the assessment or interest. Waterline Assessment bills will be available online starting on October 1.
Tax Sale
A Tax Sale will be held at Brookfield Town Hall on October 22, 2021 at 9 a.m. in Meeting Room 133. For more information on the available properties, you can view the notices posted in the front foyer at Brookfield Town Hall. The most recent Legal Notice is on the website. Property notices are removed from the lobby as payments are received.
Town Clerk
All electors are eligible to vote by absentee ballot for the upcoming November 2 Municipal Election. Absentee Ballots can be obtained by completing an Application for Absentee Ballot. Please return absentee ballot applications and absentee ballots to the secure ballot drop box located outside Town Hall doors. There is currently sidewalk construction, and the ballot drop box will be back in place on October 4. For more election information, please visit the Town Clerk’s Elections and Referendums page.
NOTICE TO: District 1 Voters
Due to the construction of a new school on the Huckleberry Hill site, we will be unable to use the school for voting until it is completed (the new school name is Candlewood Lake Elementary School).
OUR ALTERNATE LOCATION IS:
St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Church Parish Hall at 138 Candlewood Lake Road.
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Customers and town representatives joined franchisee James Williams and Inspire Brands Roy Freer at a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Dunkin’s newest Brookfield location at 756 Federal Rd. Williams and Freer highlighted this location as Dunkin’s first “next-gen” design. Selectman Slater said, “the town is so pleased that Dunkin understands the vision the residents voted on over 20 years ago for a destination downtown. While keeping a beloved building in our Four Corners, they beautified the area. We look forward to their successful future in their new space.“ Economic Development Commissioner Pete Gerardi said, “this move is an exciting addition to our developing Town Center District. From the modern look and feel to the improved and more functional drive up window, this is a win for Town residents. I wish them the best of luck on the new location and want to thank them for their continued investment to our Town.“ |
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Pictured l to r: Mel Butow, Angelo DaCunha, Pete Gerardi, James Williams, Sue Slater, Marie Miszewski and Roy Freer. |
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Join the Brookfield Library Foundation for a presentation of “Love Letters” at the Brookfield Theatre October 1 – 3. Visit the Foundation’s website for more details.
Please see our website for details regarding dates, times, and registration details for the many exciting virtual and outdoor, in-person programs we are offering in October.
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Our Fall 2021 Program Guide is available online and registration is underway.
Upcoming events include:
- Paint a Pumpkin in the Park
- Haunted House Driving Tour
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20th Annual Trick or Treat at Town Hall
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5K Halloween Run
and much more! Explore all of our Fall 2021 programs and events here.
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Are You Saving the Most Money on Your Prescription Drugs?
Open enrollment for Medicare D and Medicare Advantage Plans runs annually from October 15 until December 7. It is a good idea to make sure that you have the best plan for 2022, since these plans can change. By now you should have received a notice from your Medicare D or Medicare Advantage Plan informing you of changes for the coming year, including premium rates, coverage, etc. If you do not do anything, your current plan will automatically roll over for 2022. To check on your plan and review any other plans, please call the Senior Center at 203-775-5308 to request the paperwork. Once you complete and return the forms, a certified CHOICES counselor will contact you for a telephone appointment to help you identify the best plan for you.
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Click here to view the Brookfield Public Schools October update regarding Federal funding, Vaccination Status, Technology, After School Grant, BHS Fall Sports Update and Current Enrollment.
Photo of New Turf Field at Brookfield High School
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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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