First Selectman's Report - 2024 Year In-Review
Happy New Year and welcome to 2025! As we begin the New Year, I invite you to take a look back at the year behind us.
Colchester's 2024 In-Review
2024 was a huge year for the Town of Colchester as we welcomed new businesses; invested in public works including roads, water and sewer infrastructure, and the Recreation Complex; received new grants for projects like Norton Park; completed long-awaited projects like the Colchester Senior Center and the replacement of the Fire & EMS fleet; and began planning for the future of our recreation fields at Bacon Academy and aging buildings like the Youth Center.
Public Works and Infrastructure
Significant road work was completed throughout summer and into fall including chip sealing all or portions of the following roads: Shugrue Rd, Jurach Road, Lake Hayward Road, Windham Ave, and Bull Hill Road for a total of 6.5 miles of work. Two inch mill and fill paving was performed on the following roads: Pleasant Street, Davidson Road, Pine Brook Road, and Linwood Cemetery Road for a total of 2.2 miles of work.
This spring, ARPA funds were used to remediate the 40 foot water tower on Elmwood Heights of old, flaking lead paint on the outside of the tank.
In fall 2024, work began in partnership with the State of Connecticut DOT to install a new sidewalk streetscape on Lebanon Ave connecting the neighborhoods of Northwoods, Four Seasons, and Highland Farms to the downtown. This project was entirely funded under the state’s LOTCIP program.
The Board of Selectmen also commissioned engineering reports on the Youth Center and former Senior Center buildings to plan for using ARPA funds to perform needed repairs to these buildings. Repairs on the Youth Center began in December 2024 with work continuing into 2025.
This summer, the Town hired new seasonal maintainers to improve maintenance of the Recreation Complex and other properties like the Town Green, including improvements to the gazebo garden, airline trail maintenance, and sidewalk/walking path maintenance in the downtown. We also began a new grass maintenance plan at the RecPlex to improve the health of the fields and approved the installation of irrigation on R8.
Public Works also launched a Town-wide litter pick-up program using funds received from the State under the nip bottle deposit program.
2024 in Finance
2024 ends a strong year financially for the Town of Colchester. Both budget referendums passed on their first vote in June. The Town received an AA+ bond rating from S&P, received millions back from the State of Connecticut - finalizing the WJJMS construction grant, and received a $1 million premium that reduces payments from taxpayers for the Senior Center and fire apparatus projects.
- 2024-2025 Budget Presentation (presented April 2024)
- 2024-2025 Adopted Budget
- FY22-23 Audit Report (released September 2024) available here
- S&P Bond Report (released October 2024) available here
Economic Development in 2024
Colchester welcomed a number of new storefronts and brick-and-mortar businesses in 2024 including Granite Group which moved in to the old Chevy dealership, Sunnyside Cafe, Senior Health and Retirement Services, Jersey Mike’s, Emerson & White, and the Fresh Monkee.
Colchester’s small business community helped put our town on the map twice this year when Harry’s Place won WFSB’s Best Burger in CT and InishShor won the award for Best Lobster Roll in the state -- beating out shoreline Towns.
In addition to brick-and-mortar locations, home businesses continued to grow in Colchester as well with well over 100 new business filings according to CT Secretary of State records for 2024.
Senior Center Progress to Grand Opening
Over the course of the year, Colchester’s new Senior Center at 15 Louis Lane took shape, signaling a revitalization of the Lebanon Ave area along with the new streetscape project. Construction was funded in-part by a $2.5 million grant from the Department of Economic and Community Development and over $500,000 from the estate of resident and US Navy Veteran Stephen Bendas. The building celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony in December 2024.
Thank you to the Senior Center Building Committee, SCBC Chair Tony Tarnowski, Senior Center Director Patty Watts, the late Stephen Bendas, our partners at the state who supported this project, and the entire Colchester community!
Norton Park
After many years of waiting, 2024 finally brought tangible progress for the Norton Park project - including site clearing, the completion of phase 1 plans, and finally the award of the phase 1 construction contract. Construction will begin in January 2025.
This summer, we also received a $1.1 million grant through DECD for remediation of the brownfield on the phase 2 site. Remediation work is out to bid now and expected to begin in spring 2025 with construction of phase 2 to follow.
Public Safety in 2024
In 2024, the new fire apparatus fleet entered service. The trucks replaced the Town’s aging fleet of vehicles which were between 20 and over 40 years old. A ‘wetdown’ ceremony was held in September.
With support from the Board of Finance and the Colchester Hayward Volunteer Fire Company, we also replaced our firefighters’ self-contained breathing apparatus this spring for more reliable equipment.
Emergency Management was reorganized as a division of Colchester Fire & EMS with support from the state Emergency Management Performance Grant. Colchester Police received new support for speed enforcement under the High Risk Rural Roads grant. In May, Connecticut Police Officer Standards and Training Council awarded the Colchester Police Department with State Tier 1 Accreditation. This fall, we also partnered with DOT with a grant supporting the Move Over Law to protect first responders and other roadside personnel.
Recreation Needs Committee
In March 2024, the Board of Selectmen established the Recreation Needs and Coordination Ad Hoc Committee to evaluate the needs of Colchester’s recreation assets and to discuss plans to potentially renovate the Bacon Academy athletic complex, including possible installation of artificial turf. The committee toured recreation fields, met with sports leagues, conducted a community survey, and began finalizing their recommendations. They will present recommendations to the Board of Selectmen later this month.
Our Colchester Community in 2024
2024 saw many great community events and I want to thank the residents, organizations, volunteers, and employees who make it possible. From our Veterans’ organizations who helped us honor Memorial Day with this year’s Memorial Day Parade; to the Lions’ Club hosting the Carnival on the Green among other events; Youth Services and Parks and Recreation programs and events; the Colchester Community Theatre’s performance of Kinky Boots at Bacon Academy; Colchester Choir and Orchestra shows; Farmers Markets on the Green; community hikes by Colchester Land Trust; events by the Historic Bacon Academy Trustees; elected and appointed volunteers on boards and commissions; new business ribbon cuttings by Colchester Business Association and more….
There were too many events and too many people to name them all - but I know their efforts make Colchester the special community that we all know in love.
I can’t wait to see you all again in 2025!
Sincerely,
Bernie Dennler
First Selectman
Town of Colchester