First Selectman Weekly Update 4/20/2018

Selectman’s weekly update- Highway, budgets, North Stonington Highway Department, meeting schedules

Happy Friday!

Another busy week comes to a close here in North Stonington. This week we continue the budget process and working towards putting together our plans for the upcoming town meeting and hearing. As a reminder, once a final budget is agreed upon, a town hearing will take place where the public will have an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback. We hope to have this hearing sometime within the next few weeks and we will provide the date as soon as possible so you can plan to attend.

This week the Center For Emergency Services group met Monday, Board of Selectmen held a workshop on Tuesday, Board of Finance and Communications committee met Wednesday, and Economic Development on Thursday.  

In Highway news this week we worked on cleaning up the shoulders of Wyassup Rd and Yawbuxs Valley Rd chipping up fallen trees and branches. The highway garage painted temporary parking lot lines at the middle school playground. We installed the new Princess Lane street sign which was stolen. Sweeping has begun at the school parking lots. 10 loads of stone was hauled to the garage in preparation for Pinecrest Rd water diversion project.

3rd Quarter transfer station report showed North Stonington residents produce 734 tons of household waste a increase of 88 tons, They also recycled 78.19 tons of material a decrease of 14.52 tons from 3rd quarter 2017. These number show that North Stonington residents are recycling less than required. Reminder that North Stonington residents are required to recycle by law and that the less we send to the Preston Incinerator the less we are charged for disposing our household waste.

Speaking of recycling more, Earth day is tomorrow! We have heard of many planned clean ups happening throughout town to help pitch in to make the town a cleaner place. If you are planning to participate in cleaning up around town, please be careful. Wear bright clothes and be safe. Additionally, I would urge you to consider being an activist when it comes to climate change and the environment. Unfortunately, with the many other issues going on in locally and globally, our environment tends to take a backseat to other agendas. The Earth is our only planet and our most precious resource. Be active and informed when it comes to science and our planet. Consider joining groups or donating to organizations whose missions are to protect our planet.

Next week weather permitting we will begin the water diversion project located on Pinecrest Rd it is expected to continue for several weeks. The sweeper will continue with clean up in Kingswood / Meadow wood area.

Construction of a water diversion pipe will begin on Monday April 23, 2018. This is necessary to dry out the area under the roadway, water has been damaging the surface. The project will begin with excavating and it is anticipated that the roadway surface will be rough at times. The project is expected to continue for several weeks. Please travel with caution when in the construction area.

Next week Hewitt Farm committee and Center For Emergency Services meet on Monday, Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, Board of Finance & Education on Wednesday along with Affordable housing, & Conservation Commission meets on Thursday. Please consider attending a meeting to become informed on town issues.

That’s it for today. Hope everyone had a great week and those who were on school vacation enjoyed time with friends and family.

Mike Urgo

First Selectman