North Stonington Weekly Update 4/9/2021- Education Center Updates, Town Budget Hearing Set 4/19, Wheeler Library Survey and More!
Another very busy week wraps up here in North Stonington.
The proposed budget recommended by the Board of Finance heads to Public Hearing. The hearing will be held on Monday April 19th at 6pm both virtually and in person at 297 Norwich-Westerly Road (the Gym at the New Middle High School). Public is encouraged to attend and make your voice heard on the budget. This is the opportunity to provide public feedback that could influence changes prior to the budget heading to referendum. The link to attend the meeting is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83526096618 or call 646-558-8656 and enter Webinar ID 835 2609 6618. Unlike the Town Meeting we recently held, preregistration will not be required since there are no votes being taken at this hearing.
On the other side of the street, we wanted to provide some updates on the Education Center. The sub-committee working on outreach to education facilities has met several times to brainstorm action steps to encourage immediate tenancy in the building. At the same time, the realtor has been working diligently at marketing the building and there has been some activity. We also were able this past week to pull together a grant application that may help us financially with some basic building needs through federal dollars. Since we were unable to truly market the building as early in the fiscal year as we would have liked to due to not knowing how much of the building our own schools might need to use for COVID-19 distancing protocols, we are further behind schedule than we had hoped on occupancy. This will result in the utility and maintenance costs in the building not having an offset in revenue thus needing to be funded. We are working on seeing if some grant funds would be available to cover these costs and ultimately these costs will likely be coming to a town meeting for an appropriation. Please know that staff and volunteers are working collaboratively to come up with creative solutions on making this important facility in our community a vibrant, useful, and profitable asset to the town.
On Monday night we held our first “hybrid” Town Meeting. While there were a few minor kinks, overall it was a success and we are thankful for the 130 or so residents who took the time to attend. The results of the questions discussed are posted here… https://www.northstoningtonct.gov/home/news/town-meeting-results-452021.
Wheeler Library invites all residents to help write the library's next chapter by filling out a short, anonymous survey, whether you use the library or not. It will help the library improve services and spaces for all. The survey is here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSenauBgjvtE7vazjz7cziVkvmpyMIVobXeHjdsRD7NOMjvbYg/viewform
In Highway news this week we graded Cranberry Bog Road. Sticks and leaves were cleaned up at the rec and the volleyball nets were set up. Babcock and Wintechog Hill roads were swept. Crack sealing was done on Main Street, Wintechog Hill and Chester Main roads. Process gravel was hauled in for grading roads. Downed trees were cut on Sleepy Hollow. The sweeper received a new rear broom and the tractor was prepped for mowing.
Next week the crew will continue to grade dirt roads. Some painting will be done at the senior center. Street sweeping and crack sealing will continue around town. We are also happy to report we have reopened the swap shed with some added shelving with more to come.
We are in the process of a transition in the Office of the Tax Collector. We will have someone in the office on Mondays to answer questions and process in person payments. Payments can also be mailed or left in the drop box outside Town Hall. As always, payments are accepted online through the website: https://www.mytaxbill.org/inet/bill/home.do?town=northstonington
We are so thankful for the Recreation Commissions work on convincing the Easter Bunny to come to North Stonington once again this year! A parade through many of our streets took place last Saturday and brought joy to families all over town. We hope everyone enjoyed the visit!
We’d like to wish the students and staff at North Stonington Schools a very happy and well deserved vacation week.
Have a great weekend,
Mike Urgo
First Selectman