Greetings from Colebrook Town Hall.
Last night, representatives from Northwestern Regional 7 (NWR7) Middle School & High School presented their proposed FY 25/26 operating budget at Town Hall. NWR7 is proposing a 2.78% increase for next fiscal year.
The NWR7 budget will be voted on by referendum in the four towns comprising Region 7 (Colebrook, Barkhamsted, New Hartford and Norfolk) during May. If approved, Colebrook’s assessment for FY 25/26 will increase by $164,399, based on the proposed increase in the overall budget, and our share of the student population.
A budget hearing will be held on Thursday, April 10th, at Colebrook Town Hall at 7 p.m. to discuss the proposed Colebrook Consolidated School and Selectmen’s (i.e., Town Hall and Department of Public Works) budgets, as well as the Board of Finance’s proposed mill rate for FY 25/26.
The Community & Senior Center is seeking candidates to succeed Dana Towers as Co-Director of the Center upon her departure in June. For more information, or to apply, please contact me at bbremer@colebrooktownhall.org<mailto:bbremer@colebrooktownhall.org>.
Today’s March Birthday Luncheon at the Community & Senior Center featured 60s music played by The Garage Band from Northwestern Regional 7, a 5-piece student musical group. Breakfast is served at the Center every Tuesday from 8-9:15 a.m. for $6; lunch is served every Thursday at noon for $7. Advance registration (by Tuesday of each week) is required for lunch.
In collaboration with USA Recycling, the town is considering a one-year food composting pilot program. An informational meeting will be held in April (date to be determined) at Colebrook Town Hall to provide interested residents with more details. A representative from USA Recycling will be on hand, as well as the chair of the Salisbury/Sharon Transfer Station Recycling Advisory Committee, to discuss their experience with composting.
Shared Services, our regional educational collaborative, is introducing an integrated pre-school program this fall at Barkhamsted Elementary School. For more information, please contact Daniela Belanger at 860.307.9170, or dbelanger@sharedservicesct.com<mailto:dbelanger@sharedservicesct.com>.
Upcoming events and fundraisers
The Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Ceremony 2025 will be held on Thursday, March 27th, at 10 a.m. at the Gold Star Families Memorial Auditorium in Rocky Hill, at 287 West Street. This event is sponsored by the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs.
Connecticut Veterans Affairs residential staff will hold their inaugural Veterans Coffee House on Friday, March 28th, from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. in the Visitors Lounge, adjacent to the main flagpole (under the awning labeled “Transportation Center”) in Rocky Hill. This will be a bi-weekly event on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of every month. The event is open to Veterans to gather with other Veterans, share stories, and enjoy a supportive community.
The Northwestern Regional 7 Theatre will present “Into the Woods,” Friday, April 4th, and Saturday, April 5th, at 7 p.m., with a 2 p.m. matinee performance on Sunday, April 6th. Tickets are available at the door, or here<www.ticketleap.events/tickets/nwrtheater/into-the-woods>.
The Colebrook Community & Senior Center is hosting a second, “Paint and Sip” with June Seiser on Wednesday, April 9th, from 6-9 p.m. RSVP by April 3rd, to seniordirector@colebrooktownhall.org<mailto:seniordirector@colebrooktownhall.org>, or call 860.738.9521.
The Colebrook Lions Club will sponsor their annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 12th, at 11 a.m., on the soccer field at Colebrook Consolidated School.
The annual Kids Fishing Derby, sponsored by the Colebrook Recreation Board, will be held on Sunday, May 18th, from 9-11 a.m. at the Colebrook Pond. Learn more here<file:///C:/Users/bbremer/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/7BHU4RC7/fishing%2520derby2025.pdf>. Register here<docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdI-BcB7q_OCocaKhuTtLSORl0E7kBD2Gd4fnDShiiul6zuIg/viewform>.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at bbremer@colebrooktownhall.org<mailto:bbremer@colebrooktownhall.org>, or call me at 860.379.3359, extension 202.
Cordially,
Brad Brad Bremer Colebrook First Selectman 860.379.3359 ext. 202 bbremer@colebrooktownhall.org

On Monday, December 9th, there will be a brief special town meeting at 8 p.m., adjourning to referendum on Tuesday, December 10th, when taxpayers will have an opportunity to consider a proposed 20-year, $4.9 million tax stabilization agreement with Wind Colebrook South. Polls will be open on Tuesday, December 10th, from noon to 8 p.m.
Absentee ballots are available in the Town Clerk’s office during normal business hours (8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. today through Thursday; 8:30 a.m.-noon on Friday; and 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on Monday). Requests must be made in person and will only be issued for the individual making the request, except in the case of illness rendering the applicant unable to appear. Details are available through the Town Clerk’s office.
The special town meeting adjourning to referendum (similar to the process we follow for the approval of our annual town and Region 7 budgets in May) is a statutory requirement and does not allow for public discussion of (or a vote on) the referendum question.
Unlike municipal, state and federal elections, any property owner with $1,000 in assessed value is eligible to vote on December 10th.
Please let me know if you have any questions, or contact Town Clerk Debi McKeon at dmckeon@colebrooktownhall.org<mailto:dmckeon@colebrooktownhall.org>.
Cordially,
Brad Brad Bremer Colebrook First Selectman 860.379.3359 ext. 202 bbremer@colebrooktownhall.org

The Town Garage will no longer accept brush, tree limbs, tree trunks or any other residential yard waste. Please bear with us until we are able find a way to dispose of this waste.