First Selectman’s Report: 5/1 - 5/5
1. The Board of Finance Second Public Hearing on both the Town Budget and the Education Budget will be held on Monday, May 8th at 6:00 PM. The Town and BOE will be providing updated budgets to the public based on the recommended motions made by the BOF.
To Review the Recommended Motions: https://www.colchesterct.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif4286/f/agendas/board_of...
To see the proposed Town Budget PowerPoint presentation, the Budget Summary by Function, and the proposed Town Budget please follow this link: https://www.colchesterct.gov/2023-2024-budget-information
To review the Education Budget, please follow this link: https://www.colchesterct.org/board_of_education/education_budget
2. To Review the recommendations of the Sewer & Water Commission in relation to the sewer budget, water budget, and fee increases (along with the original fee structure): https://www.colchesterct.gov/home/news/proposed-23-24-sewer-budget-23-24...
The date of the Public Hearing has yet to be announced. When a date becomes available, the Town will let the public know.
3. The Board of Selectmen unanimously approved $100,121.62 of New Apparatus equipment for the Colchester Hayward Fire Department through ARPA funding.
4. The Kids Spring Fest Food Truck Festival will be held Saturday, May 6th starting at noon on the Town Green. The event will continue until May 7th. Please join for the fun!!
5. The Town Green will be revamped and ready to shine by the Town’s 325th Birthday Celebration in October. Last night, the Board of Selectmen unanimously awarded General Builders, LLC a contract for Town Green Gazebo Repairs in the amount of $51,800. Of the $51,800 - $30,900 will come from the Facility Maintenance & Grounds Reserve Account and $20,900 will come from a state grant. The Board of Finance will now need to approve the transfer from the reserve account.
6. The “Colchester Memorial Day Parade” has chosen the theme for this year’s parade. This year it is “Colchester Honors and Remembers Those Who Served and Sacrificed in the Vietnam War.” All marching units and floats should try and use the theme in preparing for the parade, which will be on Sunday May 28th, 2023. Applications are available at the Town Hall and through the Town's website. Applications are required for those who are interested in participating in the parade. Please contact the Town Hall, First Selectman's Office, and file your application before May 4th, 2023. The Grand Marshall will be Art Shilosky and our Guest Speaker will be James DePaola.
Please follow this link for Memorial Day Parade Applications: https://www.colchesterct.gov/home/news/2023-memorial-day-parade-application
7. The historic restoration of the Youth Center Roof has begun!!
8. May is also known as Mental Health Awareness Month. Established in 1949, the goal was to raise mental health awareness in our society. This year, the Mental Health Month toolkit includes information about how an individual’s environment impacts their mental health, suggestions for making changes to improve and maintain mental well-being, and how to seek help for mental health challenges.
To learn more, please follow this link: https://www.mhanational.org/mental-health-month
9. The Board of Finance is looking for someone to clerk in their meetings. If you are interested, please reach out to Andrea Migliaccio, the Board of Finance Chair, at [email protected]
10. The Fair Rent Commission has been vacant for a very long time. If you are interested in serving on that commission or any other group, please consider filling out an application here: https://www.colchesterct.gov/files/
11. Eagle Manufacturing
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to spend time with Cliff O’Donal, owner of Eagle Manufacturing, and his wonderful staff. This operation has been in Colchester since 1981.
Eagle Manufacturing Co., Inc. is a steel fabrication shop certified as AISC, Category II, Simple Bridge Structures, and a Member of the National Steel Bridge Alliance, specializing in the fabrication of bridge drainage, scuppers, hoppers, pipe, pipe fittings, pipe hangers and miscellaneous bridge steel.
They manufacture a variety of components for the bridge and heavy highway sector. Components include Dry Fire Standpipe Systems, which are installed on bridges in CT, NY, NJ & MA, ancillary products, and miscellaneous items that their customers need during bridge construction and rehabilitation projects.
Andreas Bisbikos
First Selectman