Town of Colebrook, Connecticut

Greetings from Colebrook Town Hall.

In November of 2022, the Town voted at referendum to fund—with State matching money—a new HVAC system for Colebrook Consolidated School. In 2023, we received approval for a grant from the State for approximately 47% of the projected $1,746,549.00 million cost to replace our end-of-useful life boilers, upgrade the electrical system and improve ventilation at the school. To date, we’ve invested approximately $75,000 on design and engineering support for the project. Recently, we have been negotiating with low bidder Sav-Mor Cooling and Heating in Southington.

On Monday, the Board of Finance and Board of Selectmen will be holding a joint meeting at Town Hall at 6:30 p.m. The purpose is to learn from the Board of Ed how the scope of the HVAC project has evolved since the 2022 referendum, and the total investment required, as well as discuss the project timeline and anticipated cashflow. The public is invited to attend, and provide any and all opinions they have about the project.

Following last week’s Town Budget Hearing, tonight the Board of Finance will consider a 3.6% reduction in the Mill rate to 32.00. On Monday, the Board of Selectmen will vote to take the proposed FY 2024/25 budget to referendum on Tuesday, May 7^th. Voting hours will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

At our meeting with Earthlight Technologies last week, they determined that municipal buildings in the Center would not be suitable for solar panels (although the Town Garage and Colebrook Consolidated School may be candidates). We learned that 20-30% savings on our municipal electric expense would be possible. The optimum solution would be ground-mounted solar panels on 2-4 acres of land in close proximity to 3-phase power access. The Board of Selectmen will continue to explore, and we’ll keep you apprised.

Earlier this week, the Inland Wetlands Commission approved the Town’s applications to install supplemental drainage at the Post Office and Community & Senior Center. Work will take place in the coming weeks.

The Community & Senior Center is looking for volunteers to call Bingo on Tuesday afternoons from 1-3 p.m. I had the opportunity to be the caller this week and really enjoyed it. We have an enthusiastic group of 15-20 participants. You can sign up here, or contact the Center at seniordirector@colebrooktownhall.org.

As noted earlier, the Colebrook Associates have established a food pantry in the foyer of the Community & Senior Center. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday-Thursday, and 8:30 a.m. to noon on Fridays. Donations can be left at the pantry, or in the lobby of the Post Office.

Upcoming Town events:

 The Colebrook Historical Society (CHS) will hold its annual meeting on Sunday, April 21^st, at 3 p.m. in the Town Hall Meeting Room. Following a brief business meeting, historical consultant Anne Hall will give a special presentation previewing this year’s CHS exhibit—“Rediscovering Colebrook River, the Town that Disappeared.” Refreshments will be served following the presentation. Learn more here.

 The Colebrook Conservation Commission will be hosting Colebrook Clean Up Day on Saturday, April 27th. Pick up large garbage bags at Colebrook Town Hall, second floor Meeting Room from 9 a.m. to noon. Sign up to clean a road that morning, or you can sign up in advance by emailing kodell@colebrooktownhall.org, or by calling 860.379.3359, ext. 202. Filled garbage bags will be picked up along Town roads by our Department of Public Works on Monday, April 29^th. Volunteers may pick up complementary sunflower seed packets in the Town Clerk’s office.

Upcoming municipal board meetings:

Board of Selectmen – Monday, April 22^nd, at Town Hall at 6:15 p.m. (Selectmen’s Meeting Room) – to vote on May referendum language

Board of Finance/Board of Selectmen – Monday, April 22^nd, at Town Hall at 6:30 p.m. (Upstairs Meeting Room) – for a Board of Ed update on the CCS HVAC project

 If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at 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

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.

Folks,
I received this information from our Eversource representative and I am passing it along for your perusal.

Regards,

Chris Johnstone

As it did last winter, the cost of energy supply is expected to once again increase when we transition from summer to winter rates on January 1. We’re encouraging customers to take control of their energy costs by shopping for a third-party supplier at EnergizeCT.com.<link.edgepilot.com/s/304d5f51/PfUB-jVJAkyXosOehJ0hhQ?u=https://energizect.com/>

We recognize the financial burden that high energy prices place on our customers, especially as the costs of other goods and services have increased. We’re reaching out to all our stakeholders to make them aware of the likely increase and encourage them to take action and help make their residents and constituents aware of the ways they can shop, sign up, and save.

We’ve launched an educational campaign to reach as many people as possible through digital advertising, media and social media, customer emails, billboards, and website messages to encourage customers to compare rates offered by third-party suppliers on EnergizeCT.com. Eversource customers who’ve never shopped before can find help navigating the process by going to Eversource.com/supplier<link.edgepilot.com/s/d85943bb/GvUVyh7JUESR1xKM6P840Q?u=http://www.eversource.com/supplier>.

As you know, Eversource does not produce electricity. We purchase power for our Standard Service rate on behalf of our customers on the open market and directly pass those costs on without any markup. International factors continue to affect the seasonal winter cost of natural gas, which is used to produce roughly half of New England’s electricity. While we do expect the electric supply price to rise this winter, it is not expected to increase as much as it did last winter. We’ll file proposed rates with PURA in mid-November, and the approved new rates will take effect January 1, 2024, for customers on Standard Service.

In addition to shopping for a third-party supplier, customers can visit Eversource.com/manage-cost<link.edgepilot.com/s/8fa5e590/F0Fz5PwGRUqXlu4WenLpLg?u=http://www.eversource.com/manage-cost> to learn about the other programs and services that are available, including:

* Our Budget Billing Plan helps avoid seasonal spikes on their energy bill by letting customers pay a fixed amount each month based on their average annual usage. * The Matching Payment Program can lower the amount customers owe on energy bills. For every dollar they pay and every dollar they receive from the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program, we will subtract a dollar from the amount owed. * The New Start Program forgives overdue balances for electric customers as on-time monthly budget payments are made. (For example, if your budget payment amount is set at $150 per month and your past due balance is $1,200, for every month you make your required $150 payment towards your bill, we will reduce your past-due balance by $100.) * Payment Plans are available to all customers to help pay their past-due balance over time. * A new Low-Income Discount Rate will take effect December 1, which can give customers with financial hardship either a 10% or 50% discount off their electric bill per month. Customers can qualify to receive the discount based on household income or receipt of a public assistance benefit. For example, if a customer has a $100 monthly bill, it would be $10 less if they receive a 10% discount or $50 less if they receive the 50% discount. * Residential customers are encouraged to take advantage of seasonal energy-saving tips, offers, programs and rebates to help reduce energy use leading up to and during this winter.
Attached to this email you will find a bill help fact sheet that can be also be shared with your residents.

Hello Colebrook Residents,
As this week comes to an end, I would like to bring you all up to date on events and the Status of projects and things that have transpired and things that will be happening next week.
Fritz Road: To all the residents, I thank you for your patience while waiting to have the end of your driveways paved. Once Galasso completed paving Fritz Road, their work crew that finishes the driveway aprons was scheduled to come back the following week. Unfortunately, that has not happened and from what I understand it is a result of their work schedule and problems staffing positions. They have promised to finish the driveways, so I ask for more patience, and I promise that the aprons will be paved.
Old Creamery Road Bridge: Just an additional reminder that as of Monday, August 21st, 2023, the Creamery Road Bridge will be closed for construction. NJR Construction has marked the detour routes. The bridge is located between the intersections of Ruth Cross Road / Old Creamery Road which is to the east of the bridge and Robertsville/ Old Forge Road and Creamery Road which is on the western side of the Bridge.
Sandy Brook Road Bridge: Work continues on the construction of the new bridge however; the two July weather events did cause a delay in the progress. NJR Construction has applied for a three-week extension to their contract which would extend the completion date to the end of November. The request for the time delay extension must be approved by Connecticut DOT. Despite the request for the extension, I am hopeful that NJR will still be able to make up for time lost and finish the bridge in early November.
Pinney Street Bridge: Dayton Construction informed me earlier this week that there has been a delay in the production schedule for the concrete box culvert. Dayton Construction was notified by Fort Miller, the concrete fabricator that the production start date for the concrete box culvert has slipped to the 14th of September, with an approximate seven days for production. This is due to a delay in a shipment of galvanized re-bar, (supply chain issues). I think I can safely say that it will be the end of September before the concrete products are on hand for construction to begin. As I know more about the progress of the production schedule, I will let you all know.
Rock Hall Road: I f you have travelled on Rock Hall Road lately, you will have noticed that our Department of Public Works personnel have been busy prepping the road for re-construction and paving. Right now, they expect to start reclamation of the south end of Rock Hall Road and paving of the north end to begin on August 28th. DPW Foreman Bill Jasmin has indicated that it will take five days to complete this project. So please, plan accordingly, expect traffic delays and a lot of construction for the week of 28 August 2023 – 1 September 2023.
Department of Public Works: Speaking the Department of Public Works, As of Monday, August 14th, 2023 there was a new addition to the DPW staff. Please welcome Mike Girolamo as our new employee. Mike is a seasoned professional and will be a great addition to the Town of Colebrook’s work force!
Lastly, on behalf of the Town of Colebrook, yesterday afternoon, I submitted an application to the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management (OPM) for a Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) Grant. If the 2023 grant is approved this will provide $418,479.50 which will cover eighty percent of five paving projects with an estimated total cost of $523,099.35. The projects identified in the grant are for paving Pine Road, Eno Hill Road, Robertsville Road, Old Forge Road and the Forge Firehouse parking lot.
I hope you all enjoy the weekend.
Respectfully,
Chris Johnstone, 1st Selectman