8/26/22 A Message from First Selectman Bindelglass
Good afternoon,
Next week school begins. It is a good time to show our gratitude for our teachers and all those who help to provide such an excellent education for our children.
At Samuel Staples the beautiful sunflowers have brighten up the school, but as we pass the six-month mark for the war in Ukraine, let us reflect on those in Ukraine and their families. Please feel free to cut more flowers!
You may remember that the town considered constructing a pathway along Sport Hill Rd. and one of the driving forces for consideration was the safety of people, particularly kids walking along the road. We worked with the State Department of Transportation to at least cut the thicker brush along the side of the road. It is now possible to walk most of the way from Helen Keller to the Village store on the grass as opposed to the side of the road. This is a temporary improvement, but a start.
All departments involved, met at Town Hall this week to discuss the progress being made and timetable for monitoring and/or remediating contamination which I have discussed previously, at the Easton Village Store. This included the Building Official, Fire Marshal, Zoning Enforcement Officer, Health Department Director, Conservation Commission Chair and Steve Montgomery whose property borders the Easton Village Store. Town officials have been in contact with DEEP on a regular basis, and have met with the owner and the environmental consulting firm hired to deal with this. Further well monitoring needs to be installed and DEEP has given the consultants until September 15th to complete this. We will monitor their progress. The enforcement arm of DEEP will get involved when the final reporting is done, if they believe further action is necessary they will take it. This was reported at the Board of Selectmen meeting last night.
Last night there was a discussion regarding South Park. The language of the easement was further refined. The upcoming vote was also discussed and the Republican Registrar of Voters suggested that the vote be held concurrent with the general election in November as opposed to having a single vote to save the town money. Several residents also sighted “fear” that the town would develop the land. To allay those fears, included is an excerpt from the land use ordinance that the town approved in 2021.
LAND USE ORDINANCE: The Town shall not acquire any real property by purchase, lease or otherwise, nor shall the Town dispose of any real property by sale, lease or otherwise without the approval of the Board of Selectmen by majority vote at a regular or special meeting of the Board of Selectmen called for such purpose. If the acquisition or disposition approved by the Board of Selectmen is (i) of a property having a value of $200,000 or more or (ii) a lease of a property with aggregate anticipated payments having a value of $200,000 or more over the term of the lease or having a term of three (3) years or more, including renewal options or (iii) a sale or lease of a property substantially below fair market value, such transaction shall not be made without the prior approval of such transaction (or, in the case of an acquisition, approval of funding therefor) at a Town Meeting by majority vote at such meeting or by majority vote by machine vote after such a Town Meeting properly adjourned for such machine vote by the Board of Selectmen pursuant to C.G.S § 7-7. If the acquisition or disposition approved by the Board of Selectmen is not (i) of a property having a value of $200,000 or more or (ii) a lease of a property with aggregate anticipated payments having a value of $200,000 or more over the term of the lease or having a term of three (3) years or more, including renewal options or (iii) a sale or lease of a property substantially below fair market value, but 10% or more persons entitled to vote at a Town Meeting file, within twenty (20) days of the decision by the Board of Selectmen, a petition for a Town Meeting for the purpose of considering the acquisition or disposition, then the acquisition or disposition shall not be made without the approval of such transaction (or, in the case of an acquisition, approval of funding therefore) at a Town Meeting by majority vote at such meeting or by majority vote by machine vote after such a Town Meeting properly adjourned for such machine vote by the Board of Selectmen pursuant to C.G.S § 7-7. This ordinance shall not apply to any acquisition or disposition by the Town prior to the effective date of this ordinance, nor to any existing lease executed prior to the effective date of this ordinance, nor to any renegotiation or renewal of such prior lease although consultation with the Board of Finance is required unless there is a change in purpose (in which case the renegotiation or renewal shall be treated as a new lease), nor to any acquisition of real property by the Town by tax foreclosure. Any acquisition or disposition of any real property by the Town to which this ordinance does not apply shall be approved by the Board of Selectmen at a regular or special meeting called for such purpose. This ordinance shall also not apply to any acquisition of open space acquired as part of a subdivision approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
We continue to experience abnormally dry conditions. The states forest fire index is either high or extremely high. There have been several brush fires in surrounding towns. Please refrain from any outside fires until conditions improve. This includes fire pit. Use caution with charcoal from grills and with any smoking materials. If you see a brush fire or smoke in the woods please call 911 immediately.
A Special Town Meeting will be held on September 6, 2022, at 6:30 p.m. prior to the Board of Finance meeting at the Easton Senior Center, 650 Morehouse Road, to discuss and approve the 2022 E-Citation Grant.
Please note the Easton Town Party scheduled for Saturday, September 10, 2022 has been postponed.
Join Easton EMS for a Fireworks display on September 10, 2022, at Samuels Staples Elementary School/Morehouse Fields. Gates open at 5:00pm, show will begin at sundown. For pricing, rain date and further information, please see eastonems.com.
Have a good weekend,
Dave