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First Selectman's Report: 1/30 – 2/3/2023

Posted on: February 3, 2023 - 5:01pm
Signing of the Senior Center Contract
1.    Today, I had the honor to sign a contract with BRD Builders, LLC on behalf of the Town of Colchester. In attendance were Mike Clifford and his team from BRD Builders, Tony Tarnowski of the Senior Center Building Committee with members of the committee, Rosemary Coyle of the Board of Selectmen, Art Shilosky of the Board of Finance and former First Selectman, Patty Watts our Senior Center Director with her fantastic staff, Cathy Russi our former Senior Center Director, Denise Turner of the Board of Selectmen, Andrea Migliaccio of the Board of Finance, and our very excited group of seniors!!
Groundbreaking is expected in April.

2.    Colchester is proud to celebrate Black History Month in February.  

It’s important that we, as a community, take time to celebrate the rich history and achievements of Black/African Americans this month, and every month throughout the year.  Specifically, to honor Black History Month, the following celebrations are planned across town:

1) Cragin Memorial Library will have book displays in the Adult and Children's Departments. The Children's Department will also have STEM craft kits each week celebrating a Black Inventor and one of their inventions. 
2) Harrington Court will be celebrating throughout the month.
3) The Senior Center is having a presentation on Feb 6 at 10:00 AM.
4) Parks and Rec is hosting Half Day Hooray at CES on Feb 10 and will celebrate with the kids.

3.    The Colchester Community Theater will be presenting Young Frankenstein. Performance dates are Friday, February 17 at 7:00 pm, Saturday, February 18 at 2:00 pm & 7:00 pm, and Sunday, February 19 at 2:00 pm at Bacon Academy High School Auditorium, 611 Norwich Avenue in Colchester, CT. To purchase tickets to the show, please use the following link: https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/70234 

4.    The Colchester Police Department secured a $50,000 ARPA Grant from the State of Connecticut for speed enforcement activities on rural roads.

5.    Fire Headquarters, located at 52 Old Hartford Rd, will be opening as a warming station for the community from Friday, 2/3, at 10:00 AM until Saturday, 2/4, at 12:00 PM. 

This will be for residents who need a place to warm up as we experience a strong arctic high-pressure system moving across New England. Connecticut will be experiencing extremely low temperatures, as low as -25 degrees to -35 degrees, with the wind chill. 

We want to ensure our residents are aware of a place to stay out of the weather should they need to.

6.    The Town of Colchester would like to thank Reed Gustafson for over 40 years of service to our community. We wish him the best!!

7.    Frontier Fiber Optics is Expanding to Colchester!! To learn more please read the attached Welcome Letter and explore the attached PowerPoint found by clicking the link: https://www.colchesterct.gov/home/news/frontier-fiber-optics-expanding-c...

8.    The Board of Selectmen unanimously approved of the Addendum to Contract for Professional Services between UHY and The Town of Colchester, which includes the utilization of ARPA funds not to exceed $30,000 and have the First Selectman sign all necessary documents. The contract was signed today.

9.    Please take the ARPA Community Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DPQTL8T 

10.    On 1/28, a little after 1 PM, CHFD was dispatched mutual aid to Hillandale Farms on Schwartz Rd in Bozrah for a reported large chicken coop fire, approx. 400' x 150'. First arriving Bozrah units reported it as fully involved with exposures. CHFD responded with 2 engines, a ladder and a tanker, along with 15 personnel. Along with the CHFD, 20 other fire departments responded. CHFD operated on scene for about 8 hours, clearing at around 9 PM. 

Great job by our responders and an awesome response to support our neighbors. Our Town is fortunate to have this team of professionals.

11.    Gano's Power Equipment

This week I had the opportunity to speak with Tony Gargano, the owner of Gano's Power Equipment. Gano's recently constructed a 3,300 sq foot addition onto their existing 4,000 sq foot building, nearly doubling its size. They have also been expanding their truck and snow plowing services.

Gano’s Power Equipment opened in Colchester in 1971 by Frank Gargano & Norma Gargano and was originally located on Clark Lane.  In 1974 Gano’s moved to its current location on Linwood Avenue across from Stop and Shop.  Gano’s has been a fixture in Colchester for 52 years and makes many contributions to the town being that it is a family run business.  

Over the years Gano’s has expanded its equipment offerings for homeowner and landscapers alike, carrying such brands as Scag, Stihl, Exmark, Toro, Honda, BCS, Stinger as well as Fisher snowplows and sanders.  The business has grown from a 2-person company to having 14 full time and 1 part time person.  Now being run by second generation owner Tony Gargano came the need for more service shop area, and in December of 2020 Gano’s started the process of adding on a metal addition to the back of the existing building, which is the new service shop.  Gano’s spent a lot of time making the building all American made, from the structure to the lighting, furnace, big ceiling fan, cabinets at mechanics benches, and they proudly fly a large American Flag on display in this new service area.

This new service shop has allowed for expanding more into the truck plow and sander business and leaves room for future growth opportunities into other products. 

Gano’s is open 8am to 6pm Monday through Friday and 8am to 2 pm on Saturdays.  Stop in and check this local family run business or browse the products they offer on their website www.ganos.com
 

Over the years Gano’s has expanded its equipment offerings for homeowner and landscapers alike, carrying such brands as Scag, Stihl, Exmark, Toro, Honda, BCS, Stinger as well as Fisher snowplows and sanders.  The business has grown from a 2-person company to having 14 full time and 1 part time person.  Now being run by second generation owner Tony Gargano came the need for more service shop area, and in December of 2020 Gano’s started the process of adding on a metal addition to the back of the existing building, which is the new service shop.  Gano’s spent a lot of time making the building all American made, from the structure to the lighting, furnace, big ceiling fan, cabinets at mechanics benches, and they proudly fly a large American Flag on display in this new service area.

This new service shop has allowed for expanding more into the truck plow and sander business and leaves room for future growth opportunities into other products. 

Gano’s is open 8 am to 6 pm Monday through Friday and 8 am to 2 pm on Saturdays.  Stop in and check this local family run business or browse the products they offer on their website www.ganos.com

 

Andreas Bisbikos

First Selectman