North Stonington Weekly Update- 7.24.2021, Opportunity to Get Involved in Town Government, Rescue Package Funding Updates, & More!

Happy Saturday North Stonington,

You may have been hearing of upticks in COVID-19 cases once again due to strains of the virus mutating and many people not being vaccinated. While everyone can certainly make their own choice about getting the vaccine, please consider getting it. This virus is largely preventable if you are vaccinated and by stopping the spread, we cut off the mutation and thus the continuing pandemic.

We are also starting to hear about how school may look when it returns. While we don’t know whether masks will be required or not, let’s try and remember last year at the start of school we couldn’t even have kids in school. In the event that masks are needed it is a small compromise to have our students be able to attend school in person. If they are not needed, then that is great. Whatever the outcome lets remain compassionate and understanding throughout the process.

If you have ever thought about getting involved in town government now is the time. If you are in a major party (Democrat or Republican) their respective meetings are happening separately this Tuesday evening to put their slate of candidates forth for the ballot in November. For information on how to attend, contact the Town Clerk at townclerk@northstoningtonct.gov and she can direct you to the party chairs.  You can also get involved if you are not in a party and the Town Clerk can advise you on that as well. Here is a list of the offices that are up for election in 2021.

This week the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center arranged to have UniteCT (rental/landlord assistance), the United Way Foodbank, and Eversource Energy assistance right here in North Stonington to assist neighbors in need. We gave out over 40 boxes of food and neighbors were helped in many ways. We thank the PNC for arranging this. If you need any sort of assistance at all, no matter what kind, consider visiting the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center during their office hours at Town Hall on Tuesdays from 9am-4pm. 

This past week the Boards of Selectmen and Finance moved forward several expenditures using the American Rescue Package funding the Town received. We allocated $15,000.00 to the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center to serve our residents in need, $15,000.00 to Ledge Light Health District to help make sure we continue to have the resources needed in the event of a COVID resurgence, $10,093 for the Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments to help hire a coordinator which will help the 22 member towns implement use of these funds, $15,000 for a municipal notification system to allow the town to communicate with residents through phone calls, text messages and emails, and finally $165,000.00 to help the North Stonington Volunteer Fire Company hire additional per diem staff for daytime coverage. The NSVFC expenditure will go to the Town Meeting due to the size. Keep an eye out for the date of the upcoming meeting.

You may have heard that we are continuing our search for a tenant/buyer for 298 Norwich Westerly Road. We were in negotiations which did not result in a lease. We now will be putting the building back out for bids for a few weeks. We will keep everyone abreast of things as the process moves along. 

In highway news, this week we replaced and paved around a catch basin top on Wintechog Hill. A drainage issue was fixed on Jeremy Hill and asphalt was placed on the washouts. Trees were cut on Fowler and Hewitt Roads. Mowing was done on Fowler, Stillman, Boombridge, Pinewoods, Main Street, and Babcock Roads and town properties were mowed. Air hose connections were installed on dump trucks and the backup Mack tractor was repaired. Next week tree trimming and mowing will continue.

We hope everyone is having an enjoyable and safe summer!

Mike Urgo

First Selectman