First Selectman's Report - May 10, 2024
Budget Update
On Wednesday, the Board of Finance voted to send the Town/Board of Selectmen and Schools/Board of Education budgets to a public hearing scheduled for Tuesday, May 14 at 6:30 PM.
At the meeting, the Board voted to reduce the Town budget request by $38,512 and to increase funding to Cragin Memorial Library to bring a programming assistant from a part-time to full-time position which could allow for expanded hours starting in December. The Town budget request was set at $17,102,056. The Board of Finance also voted to reduce the Board of Education budget request by $150,000, setting the BOE number at $45,576,075.
On Tuesday, residents can share their thoughts and opinions with the Board of Finance before the Board votes to send final numbers forward to the Annual Budget Meeting which is tentatively set for Thursday, May 30. The budget referendum is expected to take place on June 11. The public hearing will be held in-person at Town Hall and via Zoom.
For more info on the budgets as proposed, click here:
https://www.colchesterct.gov/2024-2025-budget-information.
Colchester Police Accreditation
This week, the Connecticut Police Officer Standards and Training Council awarded the Colchester Police Department with State Tier 1 Accreditation. This award follows a lengthy internal process spearheaded by Colchester PD Sergeant Adam Regnere to ensure Colchester PD’s compliance with the POST-C standards and policies. I want to thank Sgt. Regnere and Resident State Trooper Zach Cash along with the rest of the Colchester Police Department for their work.
Colchester Youth Lacrosse Tournament
Saturday, May 11, Colchester Youth Lacrosse is hosting the third annual Chap & Graham Jam Youth LAX tournament at the Colchester RecPlex. For more info, check out the flyer below or visit https://www.colchesterlax.org/events/chap-graham-jam/16129. The event honors the memory of Colchester Youth Lacrosse players Jake Chapman and Tyler Graham.
Thank you to Colchester Public Works, especially our grounds crew, for helping to prep the RecPlex including the complete repainting of the interior and exterior of the RecPlex bathrooms ahead of this weekend’s event.
USPS Food Drive
The USPS hosts a postal food drive every year. Tomorrow, May 11th, your local letter carrier will pick up donations at your mailbox. Mail carriers will be dropping off your food donations here at Town Hall for donation to the Colchester Food Bank. Youth and Social Services Town of Colchester staff are setting up now and will be here with volunteers from 9:30 AM to 3:00PM! Colchester Food Bank accepts unopened and non-expired, non-perishable foods and toiletries.
Veterans Coffeehouse
This is a reminder that the next Colchester Veteran's Coffeehouse will be held on Saturday, May 18th at Cragin Memorial Library, 10:15 am - 12:00 pm. The gatherings are organized to connect military veterans, male and female, with each other and our community. Contact Mary Emerling at (860) 537-2921 with questions or suggestions for guest speakers. We hope to see you there.
Bacon Academy Founders Day
The Trustees of Historic Bacon Academy invite you to celebrate this year's Founder's Day honoree Bacon Class of 1978 graduate, Steven Bradstreet. The ceremony will be held in the sanctuary at the Federated Church at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 15th. A luncheon in the church hall will follow the ceremony.
Sincerely,
Bernie Dennler
First Selectman
Town of Colchester