First Selectman Weekly Blog Update 8-17-2018

Selectman’s update- highway updates, town owned properties workshop, primary elections

Happy Friday everyone. Another week comes to a close here in North Stonington.

This week meetings of the School Modernization Building Committee & Finance Sub Committee took place on Monday, Board of Selectmen’s workshop on Town Owned and Leased Properties on Tuesday, and the Board of Finance meeting was not held due to lack of a quorum. Communications Committee and Board of Education also met on Wednesday.

In Highway news this week the crew prepped and repainted a portion of the interior of the old fire house / new recreation building. We mowed on Wright Road, Anthony Road, Boombridge Road, Town Hall, Recreation property, Hewitt Property, and Transfer Station. Trees were cut at 102 Fowler Road and Stillman Road. The mechanics repaired and prepped the old Fire Chief’s vehicle, which was turned over to the Animal Control Officer. They also repaired and prepped the old Animal Control Officer’s van and turned that over to the building department for temporary use until the land use vehicle is purchased. Weekly trash pickup was conducted at the Town Halls, Center for Emergency Services and recreation area. Main Street sweeping of stones for chip seal has begun. All the cable wooden post guardrails were removed and replaced with the exception of Main Street at RT 2, which will be done once state permits are received. It should be noted 60% of all wooden guardrail posts removed were extremely rotted and would have not stopped vehicles from leaving the roadway so this was a timely replacement. The state also is continuing their guardrail replacement initiative throughout town and continues to cut trees.

The Town Owned & Leased Property workshop was held this week and produced good discussion on ideas the town could take on some properties. The Selectmen will take this information and begin to decide on the direction to go with some of these properties. Any changes in direction or plan will be discussed with the Selectmen at our meetings. Should there be a desire to sell any properties, the process for this follow the Selectmen’s approval, Planning and Zoning approval, Town meeting approval. For more information on this meeting or any meeting, feel free to check out the minutes online at www.northstoningtonct.gov

Local primary elections took place this past Tuesday and the ballots of the Democratic and Republican parties should be set minus any future unaffiliated or “other” party candidates. Thanks to our registrars and poll workers for working during the day and all candidates for throwing their hats in the ring to serve! Should you be interested in working as a paid poll worker on future elections, email Antoinette our Town Clerk with your name at townclerk@northstoningtonct.gov .

A meeting took place with myself and Senator Heather Somers along with Executive Director Dave Eldridge from SCRRRA (South Eastern Connecticut Resource Recovery Authority) to discuss the challenges the State is facing in recycling, specifically how to encourage more of it and the decrease in the value of certain recyclables as a commodity like glass and paper. Future meetings will take place to see how we as a State can be proactive and encouraging to recycling initiatives. Please continue to do your part and follow recycling laws.

The old 95 house off exit 93 has been taken down.

The Highway team will finish painting the designated interior area of the New Recreation building.  Mowing will continue on Boombridge Road, Stillman Road ext and Stillman Road, Senior Center, Village Green, new Recreation Building and Center for Emergency Services.  Tree cutting of 145 known dead trees will continue. Sweeping of Main Street, Wyassup Road, Anna Farm East and West will begin.

Please see the town website at www.northstoningtonct.gov for a list of upcoming meetings this week.

Mike Urgo
First Selectman