Town of Colebrook, Connecticut

Greetings from Colebrook Town Hall.
Town Hall will close at noon next Wednesday for the Thanksgiving holiday, and re-open on Monday, December 1st, at 8:30 a.m.
Curbside trash and recycling pickup will be pushed back one day next week. Thursday pickups will occur on Friday. Friday pickups will take place on Saturday. Our next Town Hall newsletter will be published on Thursday, December 4th.
Paving is now complete for the year. In the spring, the Department of Public Works will be backfilling and seeding where new paving abuts lawns.
Following the recent dissemination of revaluation notices, we’ve heard from a number of you and imagine that others may have similar questions. The following is to help you better understand the purpose and process.
Revaluations are required every five years by the State of Connecticut. The primary purpose of a revaluation, which is a mass appraisal of all real property within an assessment jurisdiction, is to eliminate assessment inequities that may have developed since the implementation of the previous revaluation. Real property is reassessed to reflect current fair market value.
eQuality Valuation Services, the firm which conducted Colebrook’s revaluation, uses a mass appraisal methodology that combines detailed property data with market analysis to establish fair property assessments. The goal is to create a consistent and accurate valuation for all properties in town. eQuality customizes data collection and cost tables to ensure their revaluation models accurately reflect local conditions. Based on market analysis and customized models, they create valuation schedules, which are used to apply a consistent and equitable value to every property in a municipality, whether it has been recently sold or not.
The new mill rate will be established by the Board of Finance next spring. They will begin work on the FY 26/27 budget during February, with the Town Budget Hearing to take place in April, followed by referendum in May. The mill rate for FY 2026/27 will be driven by the new Grand List and the approved FY 26/27 town budget.
The Colebrook Board of Education (BOE) is seeking a qualified candidate to fill a vacancy on the Board until the next Municipal Election, November 2nd, 2027. Applicants must be: a resident of and registered to vote in Colebrook; a U.S. citizen, and at least 18 years of age. Applicants may not be: employed by the Colebrook Board of Education; have interest in any contract with, or claim against, the Colebrook Board of Education. Applicants will be disqualified for the conviction of certain crimes.
Qualified applicants who are interested in filling the BOE vacancy must submit a letter of interest to: Colebrook Board of Education, Attention: Superintendent Robert F. Gilbert, 452 Smith Hill Road, PO Box 9, Colebrook, CT 06021. Letters of interest will be accepted through Friday, November 28th, 2025. The Board of Education will review all letters submitted and conduct interviews during December.
The Colebrook Holiday Fair will be held on Saturday, December 13th, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. If you’d like to participate as a vendor, tables are available. Please contact colebrookholidayfair@gmail.com<mailto:colebrookholidayfair@gmail.com>.
Cookies are needed for our traditional Cookie Land shop at the Holiday Fair. Cookies may be dropped off at the Community & Senior Center on Thursday, December 11th, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Friday, December 12th, 10 a.m. to noon, and Saturday, December 13th, before 8:30 a.m.
The Community & Senior Center is seeking food donations for their Holiday Café at the Fair, as well as donations for their Bake Sale Table. They request that people avoid bringing cookies (so as not to compete with Cookie Land). You can sign up here<www.signupgenius.com/go/4090A49A8A928AAFD0-60628605-holiday>.
You can also support the Fair by donating items for the Children’s Shopping Table in the collection bins in Town Hall, the Community & Senior Center and the Post Office.
During the Holiday Fair, Breakfast with Santa will take place from 9-11 a.m. in the lower level of the Colebrook Congregational Church.
The town is currently accepting applications for energy assistance. Please contact Karen Odell to set up an appointment, or for any questions, at kodell@colebrooktownhall.org<mailto:kodell@colebrooktownhall.org>.
The Colebrook Associates Food Pantry is located in the vestibule of the Community & Senior Center and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8:30 a.m. until noon on Friday. Donations may be left at the pantry, or in the collection bin in the Post Office.
The deadline to order poinsettias from the Colebrook Lions Club is tomorrow (November 21st). Contact Maureen Judge at maureenjudge7@gmail.com<mailto:maureenjudge7@gmail.com>.
Upcoming events
This weekend is the fall play, “Sense & Sensibility,” at Northwestern Regional High School. It runs from November 21st through the 23rd. Tickets can be purchased here<www.ticketleap.events/events/nwrtheater>.
Colebrook’s Annual Children’s Christmas Party with Santa & Mrs. Claus will be held on Saturday, December 6th, from 9-11 a.m. at the Colebrook Center Firehouse at 31 Bunnell St. Bring your little ones, birth through 5th grade, for a visit and receive a gift from Santa and Mrs. Claus. Refreshments and light snack bags provided. This wonderful tradition has been sponsored by the Colebrook Center Ladies Auxiliary for 62 years!
The Colebrook Historical Society is hosting its Holiday Open House on Sunday, December 7th, from 3-5 p.m. Music and refreshments will be provided. The event will conclude with our town tree lighting.
With the completion of the $1.7 million HVAC project at Colebrook Consolidated School (CCS), a ribbon cutting ceremony will be held in conjunction with the CCS Winter Concert on Tuesday, December 16th, at 6:30 p.m.
Upcoming municipal board meetings
Board of Education – Wednesday, December 3rd, at 7 p.m. at Colebrook Consolidated School Planning & Zoning – Monday, December 8th, at 6:30 p.m. at Colebrook Town Hall (Land Use office). Board of Selectmen – Monday, December 8th, at 7 p.m. at Colebrook Town Hall (second floor meeting room)
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.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Brad Brad Bremer Colebrook First Selectman 860.379.3359 ext. 202 bbremer@colebrooktownhall.org