First Selectman's Report - January 17, 2025

Norton Park groundbreaking with Colchester, CT town officials, incl. First Selectman Bernie Dennler
Norton Park Groundbreaking - January 2025

Bacon Academy Athletic Complex Renovation Building Committee

The Board of Selectmen has called a Special Town Meeting for Thursday, January 30 at 7:00 PM to act on the creation of a Bacon Academy Athletic Complex Renovation Building Committee.

Last night, the Recreation Needs and Coordination Committee presented its final recommendations to the Board of Selectmen regarding recreation needs at Bacon Academy, the Town Recreation Complex, and other schools. The committee presented three tiers of recommendations based on urgency.

The most urgent needs identified involved addressing field conditions, lighting, and accessibility at the Bacon Academy stadium field, multipurpose/baseball field, and softball field. Based on public surveys and community input from parents, sports leagues, and staff, the committee recommended the installation of artificial turf at the stadium field and multipurpose/baseball field with a natural grass reconstruction of the softball field.

BA Stadium Field

BA Multipurpose reccomendation

 

The committee’s second tier of recommendations involved addressing the closed tennis courts at Bacon Academy and the aging tennis courts at the Recreation Complex.

Finally, the committee recommended the Board of Selectmen hire a design professional specializing in municipal athletic field and recreational facilities to review both the Tier 1 and Tier 2 project lists that include cost estimates, conceptual renderings, and construction drawings for the purposes of going out to bid. I want to thank the Recreation Needs Committee for their hard work over the last year to get us to this point.

Based on their recommendations, the Board voted in favor of creating a Bacon Academy Athletic Complex Building Committee to manage a project that can be brought forward to public referendum. The next step is for Town Meeting to approve the creation of the Building Committee on Thursday, January 30 at 7:00 PM at Town Hall in Meeting Room 1. Please join us for this important meeting!

In addition, today, I directed the Town’s Public Works Director to begin drafting an RFP for design services as recommended in the Recreation Needs report. Today, we will also begin accepting applications for the BA Athletic Complex Building Committee.


Martin Luther King Day - Closed

Town Buildings will be closed Monday, January 20 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr Day.


Cody Camp Memorial Field Renovation

The Board of Selectmen voted to accept the donation from TC Landscaping and Colchester’s Phil Theriault for the rehabilitation and laser leveling of Cody Camp Memorial Field. This baseball field was opened in 2010 in memory of six-year-old Colchester resident Cody Camp who passed away in 2006. Field maintenance and conditions have been a problem on this field for several years and the donation by TC Landscaping and other donors working with them will make a huge impact on this field. We are extremely grateful for Phil’s support to make this possible and to continue honoring the memory of Cody Camp. 


Norton Park Groundbreaking

Colchester First Selectman Bernie Dennler, members of the Norton Family, and town officials at the groundbreaking of Norton Park - January 2025, Westchester, CT

On Tuesday, we held a small groundbreaking ceremony at Norton Park with members of the Norton Family and town officials. Phase 1 construction of Norton Park is under construction now with Phase 2 expected to begin this spring with environmental remediation of the former paper mill site funded by CT DECD and DEEP!

Norton Park Groundbreaking - January 2025, Colchester, CT

Members of the Norton Family at Norton Park groundbreaking - Colchester, CT 2025

Members of the Norton Family, including Nan Wasniewski, who sold the land to the Town almost ten years ago


Senior Center Fitness Room

The Board of Selectmen voted to approve policies for the Senior Center fitness room which will open to Colchester Senior Center members in February.

Fee Schedule
Fees to use the Fitness Center may be paid on a quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis at the following rates:

  • 3-month membership: $35 total
  • 6-month membership: $60 total
  • 12-month membership: $110 total

All fees will be used for the maintenance of Fitness Center equipment, supplies and orientation instruction.

A Q&A about the upcoming fitness center opening will be held with Senior Center Director Patty Watts on Tuesday, January 21 at 11:00 AM.

More info will be available in the February Senior Center newsletter and in the weekly First Selectman’s report. Please keep in mind that some construction is still ongoing at the new building. Info about rental opportunities for the community room and kitchen will be coming soon.


Patty Watts (Colchester Senior Center Director), Julianna Cameron (local artist), and Colchester First Selectman Bernie Dennler - Colchester, CT Senior Center - January 2025

Senior Center Logo Contest Winner

Yesterday, local artist, Julianna Cameron, was awarded a check for $500 as the winner of the CSC Logo Contest. Congratulations to Julianna and everyone who submitted entries. We LOVE the new logo design which features the dynamic and recognizable architecture of our beautiful new building and three words taken from our Vision Statement-ENGAGE-ENRICH-EMPOWER.


Sustainable CT Bronze Certification

In 2024, the Town of Colchester achieved certification through Sustainable CT for the first time. Sustainable CT provides a menu of sustainability actions that build local economies, support equity, and respect the finite capacity of the environment. The Colchester Sustainability team reached Bronze Certification last year and is looking for volunteers to strengthen the team’s capabilities to reach Silver Certification. If you are interested in volunteering and joining the team to increase our town’s sustainability, please contact Wetlands Agent Dan Hickey at [email protected] or 860-537-7283.


January Tax Bills

Notice from Tax Collector Michele Wyatt… Motor Vehicle Supplements were mailed on December 17th.  The second installment bill for Real Estate taxes was sent in July 2024. No additional bills for the second installment of Real Estate taxes will be mailed.

For complete notice:  https://www.colchesterct.gov/tax-collector/pages/legal-notice


Business Spotlight: Lotus Games - Colchester

Colchester welcomes Lotus Games, a new local business co-owned by Colchester resident Donna Antonacci, offering a safe place for kids and adults to purchase and play card games such as Magic the Gathering and Pokemon as well as classic board and table card games. Lotus Games is currently hosting pop-ups ahead of a full opening expected in mid-March 2025. They are hosting a three day pop-up event from Friday, January 17 through Sunday, January 19 at 199 Old Hartford Road next to Champion’s Karate. Hours are 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

 Colchester First Selectman Bernie Dennler and business owner Donna Antonacci - December 2024

I stopped by Lotus Games at their last pop-up event just before Christmas while the crew was accepting donations on behalf of the Colchester Food Bank. We appreciate their partnership and support for Colchester residents in need during the holiday season and look forward to their full opening this spring! In the meantime, if you miss Lotus Games pop-up this weekend, you can stop by again between February 7 and 9.