First Selectman’s Report: 10/16 - 10/20

1. Norton Park ($500K Secured)

Since taking office it was identified that the remediation work for Norton Park would be significantly higher than initially projected because a previous administration dropped the ball on taking the appropriate action steps when they were needed. My dedication to solving the concerns related to Norton Park has been a priority as your First Selectman.

Nearly a year ago, I invited key stakeholders into my office to discuss taking bold measures to get the funding needed to get the required funding. These stakeholders included Mark DeCaprio (State Representative), Demian Sorrentino (Town Planner), Jay Gigliotti (Norton Park Advisor), Nan Wasniewski (Norton Park Committee Member), Julianna Cameron (Norton Park Committee), Roger Misbach (Norton Park Committee), Debbie Bates (Board of Selectmen member), and Jeff Duigo (concerned citizen with knowledge in dealing with similar projects). 

Coming out of that meeting, Mark DeCaprio decided to make Norton Park a top priority of his as a state representative. It was out of his office where the request for additional funding came from. State Senator Norm Needleman continued the support and helped the town secure the funding of $500K out of the Connecticut State Bonding Commission.

A huge thank you to everyone mentioned, as well as the Norton Park Committee, for their advocacy on the matter both publicly and privately. 

Colchester has taken another successful step forward.

2. Fields of Dreams Update

R5 will be completed this week and work on R6 will begin on Monday.  All the installation should be completed before the soccer tournament on the 5th, except for R7. Electrical work and water tests will happen next week as well.

3. Trick or Trunk (Saturday, October 28th from 430 PM – 630 PM at Bacon Academy)

Come dressed in your Halloween best and trick or treat your way through dozens of decorated trunks, with toy vendors, ice cream truck, and music! Admission is free of charge, but each person is requested to bring two bags of candy to donate to the trunks. Get those costumes ready and come out to the Bacon Academy parking lot Saturday, October 28th for some safe Halloween fun!!

**interested in decorating your own trunk for the occasion? Register online at www.colchesterctrec.recdesk.com

4. Pumpkins & Pooches (Sunday, October 29th from 12 PM – 6 PM at Hops Culture)

Join us for a fun day filled with pet related vendors, corn hole tournament, canine costume contests, raffle, and of course GREAT beer! Pumpkin decorating (while supplies last) and other activities for the kids. Families, kids, and dogs are welcome! Dogs must be vaccinated and on leashes. No retractable leashes please. 

5. A Public Hearing date of Thursday, October 26th, 2023, for 6:30 PM at 127 Norwich Avenue, Meeting Room 1 is set for the Colchester Tax Exemption Ordinance for Volunteer Firefighters Proposed Updates Chapter 129 Article VIII.

6. PUMPKIN/JACK-O-LANTERN RECYCLE

November 1-15 pumpkin collection to feed Colchester livestock.
Marked pallets to be placed at participating locations. (TBA) Pumpkins collected by local farmers and the Foodbank.

What to donate: Whole pumpkins, Jack-O-Lanterns, and Pumpkins painted with NON-TOXIC paint.

Please notify the Livestock Foodbank if you want to participate, we will provide the pallets and signage. Please provide a space for the pallet outside of protective fencing so we can access the donations.

AFTER NOVEMBER 15: deliver donations to Rose’n’Petal Farm at 348 Westchester Road (Rte 149)

To participate, contact Carla Roselli via e-mail ([email protected]) or Donna Rosenblatt via phone (860)267-4975.

7. The CT DEEP Wildlife Division is planning to conduct a wildlife habitat management project at the state-owned Salmon River State Forest in Colchester, in the Day Pond Block, during November-December 2023. As part of our planning process, we often provide a courtesy notice to town representatives when certain management practices are proposed to occur. The project will consist of ‘forestry mowing’ to clear invasive shrubs, and help regenerate native trees and shrubs, in an 8-acre area east of Peck Lane. The work will be completed over the course of approximately 7-14 days and will be executed by specialized tracked forestry mowing equipment that will gain access from Peck Ln. The work is intended to sustain shrubland habitat and establish young forest habitat that support both game and non-game wildlife, and over 50 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (CT State Wildlife Action Plan 2015). 

Andreas Bisbikos

First Selectman