Greetings from Colebrook Town Hall.
Town Hall and the Community & Senior Center will be closed tomorrow for Independence Day. Tomorrow’s curbside trash and recycling pickup will take place on Saturday.
Tomorrow, the Colebrook Associates will present, “4th of July in Colebrook,” with a talk on local history, patriotic music-and ice cream. Festivities begin at 10:45 a.m. with a bike parade that will begin at Colebrook Consolidated School and make its way to the Meeting House. The event itself will begin at 11 a.m. inside the Meeting House and will conclude with an ice cream social in front of the Colebrook Historical Society at noon.
The Colebrook Pond is open for the season. Lifeguards will be on duty on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. The gate will also be open during the week this summer, with no lifeguard on duty.
The town kicked off its new fiscal year earlier this week. Of note, this past fiscal year the town earned $164,000 in interest income on its balance with the state treasurer’s Short-Term Investment Fund, an increase of $61,000 from last fiscal year. Also, town Legal expenses this past fiscal year decreased by $105,000, compared with the previous year.
This week, through an initiative sponsored by Eversource, the town kicked off a comprehensive energy audit of town buildings. Recommendations to enable us to save energy and lower costs are expected this fall.
Next week, Public Works will be shimming Sandy Brook Road, applying a leveling layer of asphalt to fill in low spots and smooth out uneven surfaces, in preparation for future roadway maintenance.
Taxes were due July 1st and are considered late, and subject to interest from the due date, if not paid by August 1st. The mill rate for Fiscal Year 25/26 is 33.7, 0.5 mill higher than two years ago, and 1.7 mills higher than this past year. In Colebrook, the current median home assessment is $175,400. A 1.7 mill increase equates to a $298/year increase for the median home.
The Tax Collector’s office is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 am-noon. For any questions, please contact Laura Bartlett at 860.379.3359, ext. 204, or at lbartlett@colebrooktownhall.org<mailto:lbartlett@colebrooktownhall.org>.
The 80th Colebrook Labor Day Fair will be held on Saturday, August 30th. If you are interested in volunteering-or being a vendor-please contact Karen Odell at kodell@colebrooktownhall.org<mailto:kodell@colebrooktownhall.org>.
An important annual fundraiser for the Community & Senior Center is their Basket Raffle at the Colebrook Fair. If you would like to contribute a basket, please contact Center Co-Directors Serena Brainard or Kate Roux at 860.738.9521. They ask that baskets in need of wrapping be dropped off by August 26th, and baskets already wrapped be dropped off by August 28th.
Last week, work began on renovating the interior of the Colebrook Store. As the non-profit organization that owns the store building on behalf of the community, the Colebrook Preservation Society is seeking financial support to achieve its restoration goal. If you would like to support this project, please send your tax-deductible donation to CPS, P.O. Box 24, Colebrook, CT 06021.
Upcoming events
On Friday, July 25th, the Colebrook Historical Society kicks off its Friday Night Gatherings series. It all begins with refreshments at the Seymour Inn at 7 p.m. and at 7:30 p.m. shifts to the Town Hall second floor meeting room for the evening’s guest speaker. Local historian and author Peter C. Vermilyea will discuss, “Litchfield County and the Civil War.” Future speakers include noted WFSB meteorologist Scot Haney on September 5th, and a presentation on “Witches in Connecticut” on October 17th. There is no cost to attend, and everyone is welcome.
Upcoming municipal board meetings
Conservation Commission – Tuesday, July 8thth, at 7 p.m. at Colebrook Town Hall (Land Use office) Planning & Zoning – Monday, July 14th, at 6:30 p.m. at Colebrook Town Hall (Land Use office) Board of Selectmen – Monday, July 14th, at 7 p.m. at Colebrook Town Hall (Second floor meeting room) Rec Board – Tuesday, July 15th, at 6:30 p.m. at Colebrook Town Hall (Second floor meeting room)
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at bbremer@colebrooktownhall.org<mailto:bbremer@colebrooktownhall.org>, or call me at 860.379.3359, extension 202.
Have a safe and happy July 4th!
Brad Brad Bremer Colebrook First Selectman 860.379.3359 ext. 202 bbremer@colebrooktownhall.org