Greetings from Colebrook Town Hall.

On Monday, May 5^th, there will be a brief Annual Budget Meeting at 8 p.m. This meeting will adjourn to referendum on Tuesday, May 6^th, when taxpayers will have the opportunity to vote on town and Region 7 budgets for fiscal year 2025/26, beginning on July 1^st. The town meeting will take place in the second floor meeting room at Town Hall.

The two questions on the ballot read as follows:

• “Shall the general budget of the Town of Colebrook for the fiscal year from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 in the amount of $7,367,585 and the Town’s Reserve Fund for Capital and Non-recurring Expenditures (Town’s Capital Improvement Projects) budget in the amount of $415,000 be approved as recommended by the Board of Finance?”
• “Shall the Regional School District No. 7 Annual Budget for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2025 be accepted?”

The polls will be open on Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Unlike municipal, state and federal elections, any property owner who owns $1,000 in assessed property value in Colebrook is eligible to vote in next week’s referendum.

Absentee ballots are available in the Town Clerk’s office during normal business hours (8:30 a.m.-noon on Friday, May 2^nd and 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on Monday, May 5^th). Requests must be made in person and will only be issued to the individual making the request, except in the case of illness rendering the applicant unable to appear. Details are available through the Town Clerk’s office.

The Annual Budget Meeting adjourning to referendum is a statutory requirement and does not allow for public discussion of (or a vote on) the referendum questions. We will be re-appointing one of our two representatives to the Region 7 Board, and we’re pleased that Terri Kenneson has agreed to accept another term.

Oiling of Prock Hill, McClave, Old Colebrook, Wolford Hill, Old North and Fritz Roads will begin next week (weather permitting). You may experience minor delays.

Earlier this week, parents and community members had the opportunity to meet Mr. William Wesley, the newly hired Principal of Colebrook Consolidated School. A resident of Barkhamsted, Mr. Wesley will assume the role of Principal for the 2025-2026 school year.

We’re pleased to announce that town resident, Kate Roux, has accepted the position of Co-Director for the Community & Senior Center. Kate comes to us with extensive commercial kitchen experience—and ServSafe^® certification. She will serve as Co-Director with Serena Brainerd, who is continuing her role at the Center. Woking with our volunteers, Kate will run the Tuesday breakfast and Thursday lunch programs and support the Center’s participation in the Labor Day and Holiday Fairs. She will be transitioning into the role, working closely with outgoing Co-Director Dana Towers, during May.

Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to observe the Colebrook Fire Department participate in Live Burn Training at the Burrville Fire Training School in Torrington. Approximately 20 of our members were on hand. The dedication and professionalism demonstrated by our volunteers was truly impressive. They trained by entering a burning building within a controlled environment. The drill illustrated the value of the upgraded radios that have been included in our five-year capital plan.

As reported last week, in Colebrook, we annually dispose of more than 500 tons of solid waste. Nationally, food scraps comprise approximately 24% of the municipal solid waste stream. Doing the math, this past year, the cost to dispose of our food waste was approximately $16,000. As you may recall, our trash is transferred to Ohio and Pennsylvania.

To explore the viability of food scrap recycling in Colebrook, and help mitigate the cost of out-of-state disposal, we have been discussing a proposed, voluntary pilot program. USA Recycling has offered to pick up food scraps from two collection points in town. Colebrook will not be charged for this service for the first year. The town is exploring grant opportunities to provide the first 50 residents to join with home kits to assist in gathering food scraps. If you are interested in participating, and have not already signed up, please do so here. A one-page handout summarizing the proposed program can be found here. Pending interest from Colebrook residents and grant funding for home kits, the program is expected to roll out later this summer.

The Colebrook Associates reports that personal care products are needed for their food bank in the foyer of the Community & Senior Center. Items can be left in the pantry, or at the post office.

Upcoming events and fundraisers

The Community & Senior Center is hosting a Spring Tea on Sunday, May 4^th (Kentucky Derby weekend) from 9-11 a.m. Enjoy tea, sandwiches and sweets, with proceeds benefiting Pinney Stables. The cost is $15/person. RSVP by calling 860.738.9521, or at seniordirector@colebrooktownhall.org.

The Winchester Conservation Commission is hosting a presentation on eradicating Japanese knotweed along roadsides and riparian borders (areas adjacent to bodies of water) on Tuesday, May 6^th, at 7 p.m. at Winsted Town Hall.

The Colebrook Historical Society (CHS) will hold its annual meeting on Sunday, May 4^th, at 3 p.m. in the Town Hall meeting room. Following a brief business meeting, the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History will make a special presentation, “Hoopskirts to Flappers: Connecticut Fashion 1860s – 1930s.” Refreshments will be served. That day, the Historical Society will also preview its summer exhibit, “Clothes of the Past.”

The annual Kids Fishing Derby, sponsored by the Colebrook Recreation Board, will be held on Sunday, May 18^th, from 9-11 a.m. at the Colebrook Pond. Learn more here. Register here.

Upcoming municipal board meetings

Board of Selectmen – Monday, May 5^th, at 7 p.m. at Colebrook Town Hall (Land Use office)

Board of Education – Wednesday, May 7^th, at 7 p.m. at Colebrook Consolidated School

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

On Monday, December 9th, there will be a brief special town meeting at 8 p.m., adjourning to referendum on Tuesday, December 10th, when taxpayers will have an opportunity to consider a proposed 20-year, $4.9 million tax stabilization agreement with Wind Colebrook South. Polls will be open on Tuesday, December 10th, from noon to 8 p.m.
Absentee ballots are available in the Town Clerk’s office during normal business hours (8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. today through Thursday; 8:30 a.m.-noon on Friday; and 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on Monday). Requests must be made in person and will only be issued for the individual making the request, except in the case of illness rendering the applicant unable to appear. Details are available through the Town Clerk’s office.
The special town meeting adjourning to referendum (similar to the process we follow for the approval of our annual town and Region 7 budgets in May) is a statutory requirement and does not allow for public discussion of (or a vote on) the referendum question.
Unlike municipal, state and federal elections, any property owner with $1,000 in assessed value is eligible to vote on December 10th.
Please let me know if you have any questions, or contact Town Clerk Debi McKeon at dmckeon@colebrooktownhall.org<mailto:dmckeon@colebrooktownhall.org>.
Cordially,
Brad Brad Bremer Colebrook First Selectman 860.379.3359 ext. 202 bbremer@colebrooktownhall.org