Greetings from Colebrook Town Hall.
Town offices will be closed tomorrow in observance of Good Friday. Curbside trash and recycling collection is on a normal schedule this week.
Yesterday, our Public Works team re-opened the dirt portion of Beech Hill Road for the season.
Last week, the Board of Finance voted to recommend the mill rate be established at 25 for Fiscal Year 2026/27 (i.e., $25 per $1,000 of assessed value for real estate, personal property and motor vehicles). This is down from the current rate of 33.7 for real estate and personal property (and 32.46 for motor vehicles).
The recommended mill rate will be discussed at the Town Budget Hearing on Thursday, April 9th, and the Board of Finance will have the opportunity to consider public comments after the meeting, prior to referendum. And, although assessed real estate values have increased as a result of the state-mandated Reval process, residents will see a break on their motor vehicle taxes with the declining mill rate.
The referendum on the Colebrook and Region 7 budgets will be held on Tuesday, May 5th.
Also, during May, residents will consider an ordinance to accept the Town of Colebrook Code, as presented. Voting on the proposed ordinance will take place at this year’s Annual Town Budget Meeting on Monday, May 4th, at Colebrook Town Hall.
Colebrook Associates scholarship applications are available at Town Hall (and attached to this newsletter) and are due April 30th.
Applications for the Colebrook Associates Small Business Start-Up Grant program will be accepted through April 30th, and the grant recipient will be announced by June 30th. Learn more in the attached application.
Colebrook Lions Club scholarship applications for graduating Colebrook high school seniors are available at the Guidance offices at Northwestern Regional 7 and Oliver Wolcott Technical High School.
The Community & Senior Center and Colebrook resident John Parisi are hosting a photography portrait session free of charge for Colebrook seniors on Thursday, April 9th, from 1-3 p.m. One 8” x 10” print will be provided in time for Mother’s and Father’s Day. There is a limit of two people per photo. Call 860.738.9521, ext. 400, or email seniordirector@colebrooktownhall.org to sign up.
The Center served 38 breakfasts this week. Breakfast is available every Tuesday from 8-9:15 a.m. for $6. Lunch is served every Thursday at noon for $7 (advance registration required for lunch). For news from the Center, follow them on Facebook.
The Colebrook Volunteer Fire Department is looking for new members to join their ranks and help our community. There are many ways to serve, everyone is welcome, and no prior training is needed. For more information, contact Todd Correll at 860.459.0292.
The Colebrook Associates food pantry, located in the vestibule of the Community & Senior Center, is open Monday-Thursday from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Friday from 8:30 a.m.-noon. Donations may be left at the pantry, or in the collection bin in the Post Office.
The Northwest Conservation District is hosting its annual Earth Day Plant Sale. Plants are currently available for pre-order through April 15th. Pre-orders will be available for pickup during the onsite Earth Day Plant Sale, Friday-Sunday (April 24th-26th) from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Goshen Fairgrounds. There will be many native and beneficial plant options available on both pre-order and day of sale lists. You can access the store at nwcd.org/shop. Please see flyer attached.
Upcoming events
The Colebrook Conservation Commission is hosting Colebrook Cleanup Day on Saturday, April 25th. Trash bags will be available from 9 a.m. to noon outside the Town Hall second floor meeting room. To sign up in advance for a specific road (or portion of a road) contact Karen Odell at kodell@colebrooktownhall.org.
On Sunday, April 19th, at 3 p.m. the Colebrook Historical Society will host its Annual Meeting at Colebrook Town Hall. A brief business meeting will be followed by a presentation discussing what the American Revolution meant to the people of Connecticut. The program will feature artifacts and documents from the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History.
Upcoming meetings
Town Budget Hearing – Thursday, April 9th, at 7 p.m. at Colebrook Town Hall (second floor meeting room)
Planning & Zoning – Monday, April 13th, at 6:30 p.m. at Colebrook Town Hall (Land Use office)
Board of Selectmen – Monday, April 13th, 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, or call me at 860.379.3359, extension 202.
Happy Easter and Passover,
Brad
Brad Bremer
Colebrook First Selectman
860.379.3359 ext. 202
bbremer@colebrooktownhall.org
