First Selectman Weekly Update 1-3-2020
Happy New Year North Stonington!
We hope everyone had safe and happy holidays surrounded by friends and family. Things do slow down around the holidays here at Town Hall and it provides a nice opportunity to catch up.
This past week the Selectmen met to look at the work that needs to be done at what we have come to call the 1750’s house at Hewitt Farm. For those who haven’t been following, the property was vacated by tenants who had lived in it since the town purchased the property due to repairs needing to be made. We are currently deciding how to go about making the minor repairs we feel are required to re-occupy the house. In the coming months our goal is to complete the necessary work and have the property occupied by spring. We began this week by taking some dead trees down around the house and other landscaping work should follow.
Through the holidays work continued full steam ahead at the Elementary school. Much drywall is now in and many mechanicals as well. The gym has been painted. We remain on target for our March completion date.
We would like to remind everyone about the town meeting taking place at the new middle high school at 7pm this Monday, January 6. The only topic of the meeting is to discuss the sale of a 10 acre piece of property on Wintechog hill for the development of affordable housing. If you remember approximately two months ago a petition came in requiring this topic be sent to referendum. At the town meeting a presentation will be given and then the question will be sent to referendum for vote on Monday, January 13th from 6am-8pm. Please consider attending this informational meeting this Monday and mark your calendar to vote the following Monday.
We also would invite the community to our annual Tri-Board meeting where the Boards of Selectmen, Education, & Finance will meet and discuss the town’s priorities along with our State Representative Kate Rotella and State Senator Heather Somers. This meeting will take place at the Old Middle High School Cafeteria (298 Norwich Westerly Road) at 6pm and should last approximately 1 hour with the opportunity for Q & A. Please consider joining us for this great opportunity to talk to your state and local leaders.
In highway news we have repaired a few dirt roads in town over the last two weeks. Waterway cleanouts continue as well as more tree trimming throughout the community.
Last week we had an opportunity on our video spot to speak with Town Administration and Finance Officer Christine Dias about the budget process. Click here to see the video.
That’s it for today! We hope everyone has a great weekend!
Mike Urgo
First Selectman