First Selectman's Report: May 29, 2026

Lions Carnival Continues
After a weather-related delay, one of Colchester’s most iconic traditions returned Thursday night. The carnival continues from 6PM to 10PM tonight and from noon to 9PM on Saturday night. The carnival is one of the biggest fundraisers each year for the Colchester Lions Club which generously gives back to community organizations throughout Colchester and supports official Town causes including Colchester Fire & EMS, Colchester Senior Center, and Colchester Youth & Social Services.

Budget Process Update
This week, the Board of Finance met again to discuss next steps in the budget process for the Town and Board of Education.

At Wednesday’s meeting, the Board debated reduction amounts for both budgets.  Board members generally agreed on working to target cuts that will bring the mill rate below the rate of inflation.

Last week, we discussed potential cuts that would impact Cragin Library hours and completing the fire department equalized staffing plan. I heard from many of you that you want to see these preserved. I am working on alternate proposals, but whether certain services can ultimately remain in the budget will depend on how large the final cut to the proposed Town budget is.

At the meeting, I also offered on behalf of myself, other full-time elected officials, and our department heads union for administrative-level staff like us to each take unpaid furlough days in FY26/27. We care about the services we are able to provide residents and neighbors in our community and we know people are also struggling. This will save over $20,000 and may help preserve access to services residents rely on.

The board originally planned to vote on reductions to both budgets that evening in anticipation of a June referendum. However, I recommended the Board take a step back and delay action in a statement issued on Wednesday.

"Voters are demanding a more affordable budget. The Board of Finance needs to reduce the mill rate. That will require major cuts and some creative solutions that cannot be developed overnight.

Residents are also angry and frustrated, and they want more information.

The Board of Selectmen, Board of Finance, and Board of Education need time to take concrete actions to address the findings of the Board of Education’s forensic accounting report to put in place guardrails and oversight mechanisms to protect Colchester in the future. I have been discussing this with the chairs of the Board of Finance and Board of Education.

We believe some of these steps should include:

• Reintegration of the Town and Board of Education finance departments to improve coordination and reduce administrative overhead where possible
• Establishment of joint health insurance reserve fund policy
• New coordination mechanisms between Boards that will ensure accountability and oversight to the extent allowed by law

The Board of Education and Town represent separate legal entities, but our finances are intermingled. Residents receive one tax bill. They need to trust their town government with their money - right now, that confidence is lost. It is the job of elected officials to restore public trust.

Until the Boards can address these core issues, I do not believe any budget can pass at referendum."

The Board of Finance should take the time to address these before setting a new budget for referendum. A new referendum will likely take place in July.

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.

Town Recreation Complex Groundbreaking
The Athletic Complex Building Committee and Board of Selectmen will have a small groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday at 3:30 PM at the Town RecPlex for renovations which include a new, updated splashpad, new tennis courts, pickleball courts, basketball courts, central concession stand, and renovated bathrooms.

This week, the committee also broke ground on renovations at Bacon Academy which include renovation of the stadium field, replacement of track, baseball/multipurpose field, softball field, and tennis courts.

Cragin Library Reopening
Thank you to residents for your patience this week during an extended closure of the Cragin Memorial Library. This week, the library underwent upgrades to their digital catalog system and app. Staff also used the closure time to clean out the basement, receive training, prepare for summer reading, and for us to do other maintenance including carpet cleaning and replacement of the stair treads.

Cragin Memorial Library will reopen with shortened hours from 10AM to 5PM on Monday and Tuesday, opening at noon on Wednesday. Regular hours will resume thereafter.

Giving Garden Fundraiser
The Colchester Giving Garden has begun its 14th season of growing and donating fresh vegetables to our town food bank and area soup kitchens. Mel’s Downtown Creamery is sponsoring a fundraiser for the garden on Monday, June 1 from 5PM to 9PM. Mel’s will be donating a portion of the evening’s sales to the Giving Garden! It’s a great way to support the garden and have a cold treat on the first day of June! 

To help out the Giving Garden, I’ll be picking up an ice cream scoop again for this fundraiser and working behind the counter to scoop your ice cream. Come stop in to support the Giving Garden!

National Trails Day Events
Colchester is celebrating National Trails Day on Saturday, June 9 with two events! At 10AM, Colchester Parks & Recreation will be hosting walking tours of Sablitz Preserve. I’ll be hosting the guided tours that morning and hope to see you there!

Starting at 9AM volunteers from Casella Waste will also be hosting a clean-up event on the Airline Trail, starting with the Lebanon Ave spur.

Memorial Day Ceremony
Thank you to all who gathered at the Colchester Senior Center for our Memorial Day Ceremony. Although the weather did not quite cooperate, we appreciate our veteran volunteers on the Parade Committee including Tom O'Meara, Dan Henderson, Al Letendre, Dave Johnson, Neal Treacarton, and Eric Holiday for helping to organize today's ceremony. I also want to thank Allyson Edwards and Taryn Scott, Colchester Fire & Emergency Medical Services, Colchester Hayward Volunteer Fire Company, the St. Andrews Choir, our Senior Serenaders, Colchester Fife and Drum, and the American Legion, VFW, and Colchester Honor Guard.

At the ceremony, we were also joined by dignitaries state Rep. Mark DeCaprio, state Sen. Norm Needleman, and Gov. Ned Lamont as we commemorated Memorial Day in memory of those who lost their lives in service to the United States of America.

This year our nation celebrates 250 years since its founding in 1776. Two and a half centuries ago this July, our Founding Fathers came together to declare that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Those words, while radical and profound, would have been meaningless if it were not for the willingness of people to stand behind them with their lives and to fight to make a nation where they are accepted as possible.

During the revolutionary war, some 25,000 Americans are estimated to have died in the continental army and colonial militias both from combat and the brutal conditions they saw including disease and starvation. Their sacrifices brought about a victory that has endured for two hundred and fifty years.

On Memorial Day, we honor and remember them along with every other service member who lost their life in defense of this nation and its principles in the decades and centuries that followed. 

My full comments from the ceremony can be found here.

Sincerely,
Bernie Dennler
First Selectman
Town of Colchester