First Selectman's Report: June 5, 2026

Summer Road Paving Projects
Last night, the Board of Selectmen approved several road improvement projects.

Waterhole Road will be chipsealed in coordination with the Town of East Hampton. The road was recently shimmed to prepare for the chipsealing project. By coordinating with East Hampton, residents of both towns should have a more consistent road surface.

Other chipsealing projects include chipsealing of Bush Rock Road, Mill Lane West, and Clark Road.

Williams Road was approved for repaving.

Funds will come from the current fiscal year budget and state TAR funds. Other road improvement projects will be delayed until a Town budget for the next fiscal year is approved at referendum.

Budget Process Update
The Board of Finance, Board of Education, and Board of Selectmen will hold a joint tri-board meeting on both Board of Education and Town budgets including public question and answer on Monday, June 15 at 7:00 PM at WJJMS black box theater.

Last night, the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to recommend working with the Board of Education to begin the reintegration of the Town and Board of Education Finance Departments. Since 2022, the Town and Board of Education have operated with separately staffed Finance Departments. Reintegrating the departments could improve joint financial oversight, enhance transparency, and reduce administrative overhead.

RecPlex Groundbreaking and Bacon Academy Update
On Wednesday, the Athletic Complex Building Committee held a groundbreaking ceremony with members of the Board of Selectmen at the Town RecPlex where a new basketball court is under construction and where the tennis courts will soon be replaced. The courts at the RecPlex are in severe disrepair due to their age.



This week, construction also continued at Bacon Academy. Topsoil removal and demolition is complete at the main stadium. Concrete has been poured for the replacement tennis courts at Bacon. The courts have been closed since 2020.

Budget Q&A at Senior Center - June 10
Colchester Seniors are invited to join acting Superintendent Judy O’Meara and I for a Q&A at the Colchester Senior Center at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, June 10. Judy and I will be ready to discuss how our budgets are changing based on the referendum results, answer questions, and hear ideas residents may have about both the Town and Schools.

Bacon Academy Roof Update|
The Bacon Academy Roof Committee is reviewing bids for engineering services for the replacement of the Bacon Academy roof. Interviews with three firms will be held next week.

National Trails Day Events
Join us for two National Trails Day events tomorrow, Saturday, June 6!

Starting at 9am, join Casella Waste on the Town Green as volunteers head down to the Lebanon Ave airline trail spur to start a trail clean up. Volunteers can join at the airline trail anytime until noon. Casella will also be hosting a Recycling Education Center event on the Green throughout the morning.

At 10AM, join me at Sablitz Preserve where I will lead a group hike on the one-year anniversary of the trail which opened last June. Hope to see you there!

Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program
The Colchester Farmers’ Market opens June 21. Some Colchester Seniors are eligible for the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program which provides funds that can be used at markets to buy fresh Connecticut-grown fruits and vegetables, herbs, honey, and eggs.

To see if you are eligible, check the flyer below.  For more information, click here.

Shred Day Event
Boy Scout Troop 72 is sponsoring a Shredding Day for the community tomorrow, Saturday, June 6 from 9am to noon.  All Colchester residents and businesses are welcome!  There is no limit to the number of documents you can bring for shredding.  A grocery bag of documents is $6 and a copy size box is $12 (the costs offset the expense of the event). The Data Shred truck will be here, with the shredding machine built right in. Your documents get shredded on site.  This is the 12th year that Troop 72 has provided this service to the community, and they look forward to making your document disposal easy and accessible again this year.

Giving Garden Fundraiser
Thank you to all who came out to support the Colchester Giving Garden fundraiser at Mel’s Downtown Creamery, and thank you to Mel for sponsoring this event! I enjoyed scooping ice cream for customers and helping to raise funds that support the garden. Over 100 pounds of produce have already been donated from the Giving Garden this year!

Sincerely,
Bernie Dennler
First Selectman
Town of Colchester