First Selectman's Report: April 10, 2026
Budget Workshops and Public Hearing #2
The Board of Finance has completed its budget workshop series and voted Wednesday night to send adjusted Town and Board of Education budgets to public hearing — now scheduled for April 29 at Town Hall and via Zoom.
At the second Town budget workshop, the Board of Finance reviewed budgets for Public Works along with community services departments such as Cragin Memorial Library, Senior Services, and Youth and Social Services. The Public Works Department and Senior Services Department both highlighted progress in the last two years. Public Works discussed improved staffing retention, completion of annual maintenance objectives, and future road improvement needs. Senior Services highlighted the first year in the new Senior Center which has brought significantly increased attendance, membership, and major increases in the number of daily meals served and in-town rides for seniors as part of the senior and disabled transportation program.
The budget proposals for these departments do not contain new initiatives but instead reflect the cost of inflation on contracts, materials, utilities, etc to maintain existing services. The Senior Services budget does contain a market rate wage increase for senior van drivers due to retention and recruiting challenges.
After the Board of Finance completed its review of all Town budgets, the Board voted to adjust the Police Department budget downward by $10,000 after savings related to the software line were identified with the assistance of Resident Trooper Sgt. Zach Cash. The BOF voted to transfer those funds to the Cragin Memorial Library Department to meet the library's initial request for the budget line used to fund the purchase of books, audiobooks, and other library collection materials.
At the second budget workshop with the Board of Education, the Board of Finance reviewed over $1 million in reductions to the proposed BOE budget. The proposed reductions are in addition to the $340,000 in reductions from the superintendent’s budget that the Board of Education cut prior to presenting to the Board of Finance.
The Board of Finance voted to send the Board of Education budget to public hearing at a $3.5 million increase — of that number, $3.2 million represents the increase to the Board of Education’s health insurance budget. The Board of Finance also voted that the Board of Education illustrate what further cuts up to $868,000 would look like for the district and community.
Updated budget books will be available soon at ColchesterCT.Gov/Budget2026.
Health Insurance Fund - Appropriation to Board of Education
|At Wednesday night’s Board of Finance meeting, the BOF discussed a request from the Board of Education to allocate $945,000 from previous year-end Board of Education Unexpended Funds and from current year Special Education Excess Cost reimbursement revenue to cover the Board of Education’s anticipated deficit in the health insurance fund for the current fiscal year. The Board of Finance members agreed on the necessity of ensuring the fund remains solvent and discussed their preferences for how to allocate these funds and agreed to finalize their decision at an upcoming meeting.
On the Town side, we continue to forecast a surplus on our side of the health insurance fund for this fiscal year. Based on this, the Town will contribute our remaining employer contributions for April, May, and June to the shared fund immediately. This will allow the Town side to float April and potentially May claims for the Board of Education, ensuring adequate cash flow in the shared account, while the Board of Finance considers how to meet the BOE’s request.
Public Works Spring Work
Public Works highway crews are continuing to clean up after a long winter, repairing plow damage, starting street sweeping, and filling potholes.
Last week, our spring seasonal workers started in Grounds and have been out helping to prepare our athletic fields and more for the season.
On Wednesday, the old maple tree in front of Cragin Memorial Library was sadly removed after it was determined to be a serious hazard due to its condition. The Cragin Memorial Library Board of Trustees will be planting a new tree to take its place later this spring.
Norton Paper Mill - Environmental Clean Up Completion
The environmental remediation of the Norton Paper Mill site is substantially complete. The contaminated portions of the site have been fully excavated over the last several months and clean backfill has been brought in to the site. The clean-up of the former mill has been funded by significant grants from the CT Department of Economic and Community Development and Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
The Norton Park Committee is working on developing plans for park development on the cleaned up portion of the site.
Youth Action Council is raising money for our next leadership conference! Thank you so much to our community partners for helping. Mark your calendars and stop by one of these local businesses this month to support our youth. 
Trail Medallions Return
Looking for something fun to do on spring break? Keep your eyes peeled while you're out exploring our trails, and don't forget to register your medallions at https://colchesterct.gov/medals
If you find one, you get to keep it...Get out there and start exploring! If you have already found one, congrats! You can find remaining medals on the Airline Trail (Colchester/Westchester section), Cohen Woodlands, Sablitz Preserve, and Bulkeley Hill Preserve! Medallions will be ready for finding beginning Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
Spring Clean-Up Neighborhood Challenge “Love Where You Live”
Colchester Parks and Recreation invites residents to take part in the annual Spring Clean-Up Neighborhood Challenge, a community-wide effort to beautify local neighborhoods and public spaces.
Residents are encouraged to form teams by neighborhood, street, or community group and participate in friendly competition while making a positive impact. Participants will collect litter, improve shared spaces, and submit photos showcasing their efforts.
This event will begin on Saturday, April 25th at 8am. Preregistration is appreciated at Click here to sign-up! Please contact Colchester Parks and Recreation at (860) 537-7297 with questions.
After you register you will be eligible for a “Spring Clean Up starter kit” which includes gloves, garbage bags, a coupon for a free ice cream at Mel’s Downtown Creamery and safety tips. You can pick up your kits at the Colchester Recreation office during the week of April 20-24 from 8:30am-4:30 pm or Sat., April 25 from 8am-12pm at the town hall.
Groups will collect garbage using the bags we provide. The Colchester Transfer Station will accept these bags on April 25, 28 or May 2 free of charge. In case of inclement weather, you can plan a different day for your neighborhood challenge as long as garbage is disposed of at the Transfer Station on or before Sat., May 2, 2026.
After you are done, please email a group photo showcasing your group and the bags collected, and before and after pictures to [email protected]. We will use the photos to choose winners in several categories including “Most Trash Collected”, “Best Team Spirit”, “Largest Group of Collectors”, and more! All groups will be entered into the random drawing. Winners will receive a gift card to a local restaurant where they can celebrate their success. The photos will be used on the Town website, social media and for promotional marketing.
Memorial Day Parade
Applications to join the 2026 Memorial Day Parade are available on the Town website. The application form, instructions and the drop off/route map for participants are all available here.
This year's theme is "Colchester Honors 250 Years of Heroes" with prizes awarded for Best Marching Unit, Most Original Theme Float and Most Patriotic Float.
Thank You to Colchester Community Theatre
Colchester Community Theatre (CCT) raised $1,400 for the Colchester Food and Fuel Bank through audience donations collected during its February 2026 production of Sister Act.
The $1,405.25 raised will support local families in need, helping to provide essential food and heating assistance. The effort reflects CCT’s ongoing commitment to supporting the Colchester community beyond the stage.
Pictured (left to right) are Amanda Backer, choreographer and CCT board member; Michelle Heaton, Social Services Coordinator of the Colchester Food and Fuel Bank; and Diane Ozmun, President of CCT. Also featured are cast members portraying nuns in Sister Act, who collected the donations before the show and during intermission. CCT thanks all who attended the production and contributed to the fundraiser.
CCT has announced the musical Frozen for their February 2027 mainstage production. For more information about upcoming productions, how you can get involved, to make a donation, or to sponsor and advertise to support CCT, please visit colchestercommunitytheatre.com.
Girl Scout Juniors Troop 63048
On Monday, I visited Juniors Troop 63048 to talk with some of our community’s youngest leaders about local government and democracy! These Girl Scouts are working on obtaining their Democracy Badges as they learn about state, local, and national government. I enjoyed meeting with them to talk about how what happens at Colchester Town Hall impacts their lives and to hear their ideas on how to make our town safer and cleaner for people of all ages. I was also impressed by their knowledge of local events and issues. Colchester's future looks bright!
Sincerely,
Bernie Dennler
First Selectman
Town of Colchester