Town of Colebrook, Connecticut

Attached, please find details regarding the Colebrook Nature Photo Contest-sponsored by the Colebrook Conservation Commission, and alluded to in this week’s Town Hall newsletter.
Cordially,
Brad Brad Bremer Colebrook First Selectman 860.379.3359 ext. 202 bbremer@colebrooktownhall.org

Greetings from Colebrook Town Hall.
Spring is here-and with that comes road maintenance. Weather permitting, Monday, May 6th, through Friday May 10th, Seymour Sealing Service will begin chip sealing the following roads: Old Creamery; Ruth Cross; Riverton; Bricklemaier; Smith Hill; Church Hill; Chapin; Shantry; and Pinney Street. Expect some delays, with traffic confined to one lane.
Earlier this week, the Planning & Zoning Commission hosted the Board of Selectmen and Zoning Board of Appeals for a workshop to discuss positions that towns like ours may choose to adopt regarding the municipal regulation of cannabis establishments. Cannabis was legalized in Connecticut in 2021<portal.ct.gov/cannabis?language=en_US>.
The workshop was led by a municipal planning consultant who worked with Norfolk and Litchfield as they considered regulatory options. Our Planning & Zoning Commission will continue to explore, and discussed hosting a public informational meeting in the Fall to provide an update to the community and solicit public input.
Tonight, the Boards of Finance and Selectmen will meet at 6:30 p.m. to vote on whether or not to approve the bid from Sav-Mor Cooling and Heating to proceed with the Colebrook Consolidated School HVAC project.
Next week, voters will consider the proposed fiscal year 2024/25 Town and Region 7 budgets at referendum. Our Annual Budget Meeting<file://cth-fs1/redirectedfolders/bbremer/My%20Documents/Brad%202024/Warning_Town%20of%20Colebrook_Annual%20Budget%20Meeting.pdf>, a public forum, will be held on Monday, May 6th at 8 p.m. The Meeting is legally required. Its purpose is to consider and act upon a proposal to authorize the Board of Selectmen to apply for and expend any Federal and State grants for use by the Town. On Tuesday, May 7th, polls will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. for the referendum vote. To improve safety on our roads, solar powered speed monitoring signs have been posted on Colebrook Road, on either side of Colebrook Center. (Note: These are still being implemented, and may appear to be non-working until fully operational.) Last week, we learned that the State will loan us 2 additional speed monitoring signs for a 60-day period (likely beginning in late-June). We plan to accept the loan and post the signs on Route 8 in Colebrook to encourage adherence to the speed limit there. If it appears to be helping, we will explore the feasibility of purchasing signs to place there permanently.
Thursday lunches are back at the Community & Senior Center. The cost is $6. RSVP by 1 p.m. on Tuesday. Thank you to those of you who have signed up to call Bingo at the Center on Tuesday afternoons from 1-3 p.m. If you’d like to volunteer, you can sign up here<www.signupgenius.com/go/4090A49A8A928AAFD0-49106486-bingo#/>.
In recent weeks, we’ve gotten reports of increased bear activity. Please avoid leaving garbage out for any longer than necessary. You can learn more about best practices to avoid attracting bears here<www.bearsmart.com/work/managing-waste-attractants/>.
Thank you to everyone who volunteered for Colebrook Cleanup Day this past Saturday. According to the Colebrook Conservation Commission, which sponsored the event, 23 volunteers participated-plus Camp Jewell-and 21 Town roads were covered. Thank you to the Public Works Department for their contribution in picking up the filled trash bags left by the side of the road. Extra packets of sunflower seeds are available as a thank you for volunteers in the Town Clerk’s office.
The Conservation Commission is also sponsoring a Colebrook Nature Photo Contest. Open to all Colebrook residents, there are divisions for youth and adults. Please see attached for more details.
Earlier this week, the Colebrook Fire Department honored George “Obie” O’Brien, Jr.<www.montano-shea.com/obituaries/George-Obie-T-OBrien-Jr?obId=31279446#/celebrationWall>, with a color guard at his visitation and funeral. Obie, who passed away on April 23rd, was an active member of the Colebrook Volunteer Fire Department for over 30 years-and served as Chief of the Fire Police for many years.
Upcoming Town events:
The Colebrook Board of Recreation and the Town will host a Kids Fishing Derby on Sunday, May 19th, at the Colebrook Town Pond. Registration is at 8 a.m. Lines in water at 9 a.m., with fishing from 9-11 a.m.
Upcoming municipal board meetings:
Board of Education – Wednesday, May 8th, at 7 p.m. at Colebrook Consolidated School.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at bbremer@colebrooktownhall.org<mailto:bbremer@colebrooktownhall.org>, or call me at 860.379.3359, extension 202.
Cordially,
Brad Brad Bremer Colebrook First Selectman 860.379.3359 ext. 202 bbremer@colebrooktownhall.org

Greetings from Colebrook Town Hall.

Earlier this week, the Boards of Finance and Selectmen met with the Board of Education to discuss the Colebrook Consolidated School HVAC project. The objective was to learn how the project has evolved since its 2022 referendum approval—and discuss the total Town investment required, timeline and anticipated cashflow. Learn more here.

Changes to the project since the November 2022 Town Hearing necessary to adhere to the approved budget include:

• Removal of proposed new HVAC from the CCS multi-purpose room
• Introduction of gas-condensing boilers
• Limiting air conditioning to library and administration
• Limiting controls to heating/ventilation
• Utilizing Colebrook Department of Public Works for site work

Despite these modifications, the Board of Ed believes this project is still consistent with its original intent—and the State has re-confirmed the reimbursement rate to which we are entitled. The Boards of Finance and Selectmen will meet again next Thursday at 6:30 p.m. to consider acceptance of a bid by Sav-Mor Cooling and Heating.

Last week, the Board of Finance approved a 3.6% reduction in the Mill rate to 32.00. The impact for a property assessed at $250,000 will be a reduction in annual real estate taxes assessed from $8,300 to $8,000. On Monday, the Board of Selectmen voted to take the proposed fiscal year 2024/25 budget to referendum on Tuesday, May 7^th. Voting hours will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Last Sunday, a packed Town Hall meeting room heard a special presentation previewing this year’s Colebrook Historical Society’s 2024 exhibit, “Rediscovering Colebrook River, the Town that Disappeared.” The exhibit will also include a focus on Colebrook’s 11 historic one-room schoolhouses—and will debut on Sunday, June 2^nd. More details to come in the weeks ahead.

The Colebrook Land Conservancy has opened a new hiking trail in Town for public use. Located on the Colebrook Land Conservancy’s Sandy Brook Forest Preserve in North Colebrook, the Sandy Brook Trail is a 1.5 milelong loop where the elevation rises from about 1050 feet to about 1150 feet. The trail is categorized as a medium level of difficulty. Trail guides are available at the trailhead, which is on Beech Hill Road on the left just after the turn via the Sandy Brook Road bridge. Park in the grassy area off the road. Learn more here.

Join us for breakfast at the Community & Senior Center on Tuesdays from 8-9:30 a.m. It’s a great menu, and the price is only $5.

The Community & Senior Center is looking for volunteers to call Bingo on Tuesday afternoons from 1-3 p.m. You can sign up here, or contact the Center at seniordirector@colebrooktownhall.org.

Next Tuesday (April 30^th) is the deadline to apply for a Colebrook Associates 2024 Scholarship.

Upcoming Town events:

 Saturday is Colebrook Clean Up Day. Pick up large garbage bags at Colebrook Town Hall, second floor Meeting Room from 9 a.m. to noon. Filled garbage bags will be picked up along Town roads on Monday.

The Colebrook Board of Recreation and the Town will host a Kids Fishing Derby on Sunday, May 19^th, at the Colebrook Town Pond. Registration is at 8 a.m. Lines in water at 9 a.m., with fishing from 9-11 a.m. This is a free event. Food will be available. Live bait only. Prizes will be awarded.

Upcoming municipal board meetings:

 Board of Finance/Board of Selectmen – Thursday, May 2^nd, at Town Hall at 6:30 p.m. (Upstairs Meeting Room) – to consider action on the CCS HVAC project.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at bbremer@colebrooktownhall.org, or call me at 860.379.3359, extension 202.

Cordially,

Brad

Brad Bremer

Colebrook First Selectman

860.379.3359 ext. 202

bbremer@colebrooktownhall.org