First Selectman Weekly Update 7-19-2019

Happy Friday North Stonington!

Another week comes to a close and looks like we are in for a hot one this weekend. Please take precautions this weekend especially those who are our youngest and oldest without air conditioning. Please be cautious with pets. Here are some helpful tips from Emergency Management Director Gary Baron https://www.northstoningtonct.gov/home/pages/fema-excessive-heat-watch

You may have noticed work continues on the exterior of the Elementary and Middle High School. Sitework is continuing with much of the final paving and striping happening in the next week or so. The grass has been planted and is not allowed to be mowed in areas since it is so new. The contractor did have the area weeded so it did not look so unruly. We are excited to see things continue to take shape at the new campus.

This week both the Democratic and Republican committees put forth their slate of candidates for the November elections. If you still want to get involved on a board or commission, its not too late. Feel free to reach out to the Town Clerk or Registrars of Voters at the Town Hall! Thanks to all of those who stepped forth willing to serve our community!

A meeting took place to discuss the first steps on our journey to become a "Bronze" community for the SustainableCT movement. One of our first steps will be to do a "walking audit" of the village area. This will help us to collect more data for our September 7th community conversation. Keep your eyes peeled to participate in this walking audit to help us identify areas of improvement as it relates to the walkability of this area. (details to soon follow)

Last night a joint meeting of the Water Pollution Control Authority, Economic Development Commission, Planning and Zoning Commission, and Board of Selectmen took place with the purpose of discussing sewer/water needs in the Industrial zone. This is the area on and around Frontage Road off of Route 95 exit 92. Our Plan of Conservation and Development identified this as a priority area for economic development and thus infrastructure will be needed to help facilitate this process. Additionally our major aquifer is located in this area and having sewers is helpful to protect the health of these important water resources. We will be working toward further communication on this initiative as this will be an item that will be discussed more in the coming months and likely to be featured at an upcoming town meeting in the fall/winter timeframe.

In highway news Chris Storey has retired after 31 years of service with the town. We would like to wish him well as he enters this new and relaxing phase of his life.

In other highway news mowing continued throughout town. We installed a soccer catch net on the soccer field and removed some diseased bushes by the clock across from town hall. We are also preparing for the installation of the "old" generator that had been at the school to be used at the highway garage. A request for proposals for the mower we need to purchase (included in the recently passed budget) have gone out and we are looking forward to getting them back and purchasing this much needed piece of equipment. Soon the crew is planning some larger road repairs on Dennison Hill and Button Road.

That's it for this week. Stay cool this weekend and have a great day!
Mike Urgo
First Selectman