By Edward Munster
(August 12, 2022) — This regular meeting of Haddam’s Board of Selectmen on August 8, 2022 at the Haddam Neck Firehouse was called to order by First Selectman Bob McGarry at 6:30 p.m. Also in attendance were Selectman Kate Anderson and Administrative Assistant JoAnn Ricciardelli.
First Selectman’s update:
Regarding the Rossi property, McGarry stated that the town has received Opinions of Probable Cost for the remediation from the consultants that differ in some places with the town’s own consultant’s opinion. The differences will be negotiated with Rossi.
Scovill Hoe: The town has signed the Purchase and Sales agreement for the Scovill Hoe property and DOT has signed it. At this point the town is still waiting for the approval by the State Attorney General.
Regarding the Swing Bridge: the American Bridge Company expects to start work in late August or early September on the approaches on the Haddam side of the river. There will be a ground-breaking ceremony sometime in the next several weeks. The Bridge Road sidewalks are moving along. The mailbox at 71 Bridge Road will be moved.
Some work had started on the Beaver Meadow Road Culvert but is being held up because Frontier needs to move a power pole. This is no change from last month. Haddam Center sidewalks are progressing.
State Rep. Christine Palm submitted a request to the State Bond Commission for a $480,000 bond/grant from DECD for roof replacement/repairs, a multi-generational park and other improvements at the HES site. This has been approved. The Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Capital Budget has $400,000 for the roof replacement. Haddam received a $280,000 bond/grant which was submitted to the Commission by State Sen. Norm Needleman for the Higganum Cove Park. Once it is approved, this will continue the improvements to the cove per a master plan that has been drafted.
The town just submitted a STEAP Grant (Small Town Economic Assistance Program) request for $445,000 for other improvements in Higganum Center that had to be modified/clarified because of the other grants which were successful.
The town met with DOT and DPH on the community septic project. DOT is now agreeable to the community septic lines going under Routes 154 and 81. DPH has some concerns that will need to be resolved.
First Selectman McGarry toured Blueway Commons (Brookes Court) with Sen. Needleman and discussed the significance to the local businesses of 88 new families in Tylerville and also the impact of the swing bridge rehabilitation and the roundabouts construction, which are impacting the businesses.
Hope Gardens at 7 Island Dock Road has received its Certificate of Occupancy and are ready to open.
Regarding roads, the Department of Public Works in doing drainage work on Laurel Heights and next will work on Maple Avenue. The town has a contractor doing prep work on Thayer Road from Route 81 to Thayer Road Extension. The grinding and grading on Maple Avenue is scheduled for the week of August 15, 2022 and the paving during the week of August 22nd.
The COVID reported-case rate continues to decline from 47 cases in June to 27 in July. CRAHD’s contractor will be doing a second and final round of storm basin treatment for mosquitoes. There have been no new complaints of noise at Haddam Meadows State Park since enforcement by DEEP has been stepped up. State troopers have also gone through at times as well.
Greg McKenna has been selected by the Department of Public Health as Connecticut’s Immunizer of the Year for his work on COVID. This award is given yearly to one person in each state. An award ceremony is being planned.
There was no Board of Education report. Tax refunds of $8,263,79 were approved. Two requests for Elderly Tax Relief were approved. Motion was approved to hire a part-time Transfer Station assistant. Gail Reynolds was reappointed as an alternate member of the Inland Wetlands Commission. Two resolutions were approved in conjunction with the two grants discussed earlier in the meeting.
The next meeting of the Board of Selectmen will be September 12, 2022 at the Haddam Old Town Hall.
