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Dear {First Name},
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-
Special Town Meeting- December 20th
Item approved:
- Increasing the Board of Education’s 22/23 budget by $117,629 to bring the budget into compliance with the State of Connecticut's Minimum Budget Requirement with funds to come out of the BOE’s portion of the Capital Non-recurring Account
Comcast Contract Performance Manager
- The Board of Selectmen hired Nikki Blass for the part-time position of contract performance manager. In her new role, Nikki will be the chief liaison between the town and Comcast as it builds out its network to the roughly 250 homes that are not currently served by Comcast's high-speed internet service. Nikki will work with the members of the all-volunteer Sharon Connect Task Force and regularly report to the Board of Selectmen on all facets of the permitting and construction process Comcast will pursue during the project.
Town Hall Parking Lot Project
- A new Historic District Commission application was submitted by our office specifically for EV Charging Stations (2 units/charging 4 cars) and the ARPA-funded generator that will power Town Hall during power outages. On November 28th the HDC application was approved. A Planning and Zoning hearing is the next step in the process.
Sharon ARPA Funds
Allocations approved in December:
- $25,000 was approved to be allocated for the Comcast Contract Performance Manager position.
Town Hall Closure Policy for Election Day
Linda Amerighi, Town Clerk, joined our December 13th meeting to discuss Town Hall closures on Election Day. She requested the BOS put a policy in place that would cover Town Office closures other than the State recognized closures. There was discussion back and forth on the actual wording – Town Hall closed vs. Town Offices closed. Mr. Flanagan made a motion that Town Hall offices be closed on Election Day in November, seconded by Mr. Jones. Moving forward the policy is: Town Hall Offices will be closed on Election Day, however, Town Hall is open (because this is where we vote). Election primaries and referendums will be dealt with individually based on their issue.
Sidewalks
Selectman Jones is working with the Northwest Council of Governments on a T.R.I.P application (the State program for small-town improvements to infrastructure). The process does require an engineering plan whose cost the Town needs to incur – this is considered Town matching funds – this would be a comprehensive rebuild plan for the replacement of all the sidewalks with concrete. The application is due to NWCOG at the end of March with them submitting it to the State by mid-April. The minimum application amount is $200,000 with no maximum.
Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes
Things To Be Aware Of-
Sharon Housing Trust Forum on Affordable Housing (January 15)
There is a community forum at the Sharon Playhouse Bok Gallery on January 15th from 2pm to 4pm on the future of affordable housing in Northwest CT.
Visit the Sharon Housing Trust website for full details.
The Selectmen Continue to Support Maintaining all Vital Services at Sharon Hospital
We continue to support all that are assisting in the effort to maintain vital services at Sharon Hospital.
Emergency Management Director
Thomas H. Bartram is our Emergency Management Director and he does a great job. During this Christmas Storm, he was there from start to finish helping to communicate and coordinate all responses to the storm recovery effort. We thank him for all he does (he does more than just this) and wanted you all to be aware of his efforts and importance.
Salisbury/Sharon Transfer Station
Up-to-date information is available via the Salisbury/Sharon Transfer Station website.
Sharon Energy & Environment Commission
The Selectmen met with CT Green Bank solar project engineer at the Sharon Center School on December 20th. The engineer now has the information necessary to provide a project site plan with specific details. CT Green Bank will next meet with Planning and Zoning and the Inland Wetlands and Watercourse Commission to review the project's site plan.
Additionally, SEEC has requested a Town Meeting to vote on increasing their term limits and membership.
Affordable Housing
The Sharon Housing Affordability Plan
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.
2023 calendars to support the Fire Department and Engine #3 are available in the Town Clerk Office and at Sharon Pharmacy.
Town Information & Events
Visit- https://www.sharonct.org/
COVID-19-
COVID Information
Stay informed! Opt-in today to receive COVID-19 alerts and updates.
Text COVIDCT to 888-777 or sign up at http://ct.gov/covidupdates. This is the best way to stay up-to-date and current.
Sharon Center School-
December Newsletter
Please take a look at what's happening at Sharon Center School. December edition of News from the Nest.
Road Work and Maintenance-
Maintenance
- Roadside drainage
- Roadside tree trimming and chipping
- Addressing potholes and ice issues
Town Trees
- Our Town Tree Warden, Town Crew, and Field Tree Service have been working hard to clear dead and dangerous trees all over town, however, as we found out this Christmas... more work needs to be done and budgeted for in 2023/24.
- Big thank you to the road crew for all the hours and work they put into getting our roads cleared and safe again during this most recent storm. Many crew members came in on Friday morning at 4 am and stayed all day, all night, and much of Saturday working with Eversource crews and their subcontractors. With temperatures dropping from 50 degrees to single digits, they not only cleared roads of debris and tree limbs, they also made sure our roads were passable for emergency vehicles and tree companies, and power restoration responders.
History Share-
Report of the Selectmen for Town expenses in 1876.
"We have drawn three hundred and twenty-two orders amounting to eighteen thousand forty-nine dollars and eighty-six cents ($18,049.86)."
What I love about Town Hall is this. I found this two years ago in a wall between the tax collector's office and the selectmen office, and it opens up so many questions. Let's explore it. In 1876, 15% of the town budget was social services. 25% was schools. $198 for sheep killed by dogs. Holcomb's salary $145.00. Who was Holcomb or what was a Holcomb? Town Hall was built in 1874, furnished in 1876 for $269.10. Town Farm tools and stock- $278.
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