North Stonington Weekly update November 12, 2021- paving and speed hump update, sustainability award, climate resiliency planning and more!
Happy Friday North Stonington,
We hope you are enjoying the fall colors as many leaves begin to fall from the trees. Winter is around the corner!
This past week town representatives attended the first meeting to discuss climate resiliency and adaptation planning for North Stonington. Through the SustainableCT program, our town was selected for this free planning opportunity to help our community become more prepared for climate change and to work on ideas to better prepare ourselves to deal with the future. Future planning work will continue to take place culminating in some focused plans on areas of interest for our community. This may also be helpful as we enter soon into the necessary work for our 10 year Plan of Conservation and Development.
Speaking of SustainableCT we are proud to announce that for a third year straight we have been awarded Bronze Certification for Sustainability! Special thanks to Christine Dias Admin/Finance for the Town and Alexis Kahn along with the Sustainability Committee for their work on this achievement. This allows us grant eligibility for matching funds and the group is already working on a project to increase “pollinator pathways” in our town.
Next week we expect the speed hump installation in the village to begin. We anticipate the paving in Kingswood and Cedar Ridge to begin as well.
We still have some elected and appointed positions available to be filled. Due to the minority representation rules some vacancies must be of a certain party. The following positons are still of need in town…
- Zoning Board of Appeals – 1 Alternate (cannot be Republican)
- Affordable Housing Committee – many vacancies
- Hewitt Farm Committee – 1 regular member – any party ; 1 alternate (cannot be Democratic)
- Recreation Commission – 2 vacancies- any party
- Cable TV Advisory Council of Southeastern Connecticut – 1 regular member vacancy; 1 Board of Education representative vacancy (any party)
- Economic Development Commission – 1 regular and one alternate member (must both be Democratic per ordinance, if after 90 days no member of the same (Democratic) political party is available, then the positions can be opened up to unaffiliated electors)
Should you wish to volunteer for any of these positions please fill out the application for boards and commissions https://www.northstoningtonct.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif4806/f/uploads/application_for_boards_and_commission_writeable.pdf and return to townclerk@northstoningtonct.gov to be considered!
All newly elected officials will begin their term of service on Tuesday November 16th. We wish them the best as they lead our town in the coming years!
Thanks to all of those officials who have finished their terms of service. We had a special ceremony for one such official, Dan Spring who steps away from our Board of Finance as Chairman after a decade of service. We recognize the Board of Finance as all of our Boards are a team effort but wanted to celebrate Dan specifically as he helped our town’s financial picture and infrastructure improvements immensely with his leadership. Thanks to Senator Somers and Representative Howard for their attendance during this short ceremony!
And speaking of farewells, on a personal note I would like to thank all of the staff, volunteers, boards, commissions, and residents for their help and work over the past four years. It’s been a great honor to serve the Town of North Stonington with my colleagues and to record and write these weekly updates. I wish everyone well and all the best to our newly elected leaders!
All the best and have a great weekend!
Mike Urgo
First Selectman