Greetings from Colebrook Town Hall.
Last night, Northwestern Regional 7 Superintendent Steven LePage, Finance Director James Gaskins and Board Chair Molly Sexton Read presented their Fiscal Year 26/27 budget here in Colebrook. Our Region 7 middle and high school budget assessment for next fiscal year will decline. Although Region 7 is proposing a slightly increased budget, our allocated share will be lower as we will be sending fewer students to the middle school and high school next year.
The Colebrook Consolidated School (CCS) Board of Education held a special meeting earlier this week. They continue to fine-tune and reduce their FY 26/27 budget request for our elementary school.
Next Thursday (March 26th) the Board of Finance is expected to finalize its proposed FY 26/27 town budget (including the Selectmen, CCS and Capital budgets). This will be presented for public comment at our annual town budget hearing on Thursday, April 9th, at 7 p.m. at Colebrook Town Hall. 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. As noted last week, a Connecticut town’s General Code is the codified set of local ordinances and regulations that govern municipal operations, including zoning, traffic, safety, and public property. These are established under authority from the Connecticut General Statutes, which empower municipalities to manage local affairs.
To learn more about the proposed General Code, a copy is on file in the Town Clerk’s Office. It may be reviewed during regular business hours. It is also posted on the town website at www.townofcolebrook.org. Voting on the proposed ordinance will take place at this year’s Annual Town Budget Meeting on Monday, May 4th, at Colebrook Town Hall.
The Colebrook Associates annually awards scholarships to Colebrook residents. Applicants must be furthering their education as a new or continuing student at an accredited 4-year, 2-year, or certificate-granting institution. Applications are available at Town Hall and attached to this newsletter. The deadline for submission is April 30th.
This year, the Colebrook Associates are introducing a Small Business Start-Up Grant program. The grant is designed to support graduating high school seniors and local youth ages 17–21 who plan to pursue entrepreneurship after high school. Each year, Colebrook Associates will award one $2,500 grant to a young Colebrook resident who is launching a small business and does not plan to attend college or university in the fall. The program is intended to encourage business ownership as a primary post-graduation path while supporting creative ideas that contribute to the future and vitality of Colebrook. Applicants must submit a completed application, business plan, high school transcript, and a letter of recommendation. Applications are accepted through April 30th, and the grant recipient will be announced by June 30th. Learn more in the attached application.
Applications for the Colebrook Lions Club scholarship program for graduating Colebrook high school seniors are available at the Guidance offices at Northwestern Regional 7 and Oliver Wolcott Technical High School.
The Northwest Conservation District (NWCD) is hosting its annual Earth Day Plant Sale. Plants are currently available for pre-order, due on 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.
Breakfast is available at the Community & Senior Center 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.
If you’d like to participate in our pilot food scrap recycling program, please reach out to me. We still have collection bins available.
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.
Upcoming events
The Northwestern Regional 7 Theatre will present “The Addams Family Musical” on Friday, March 27th, and Saturday, March 28th, at 7 p.m., with a 2 p.m. matinee performance on Sunday, March 29th. Tickets are available at the door.
The Colebrook Lions Club will sponsor their annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 28th, at 11 a.m., on the soccer field at Colebrook Consolidated School.
Upcoming municipal board meetings
Capital Improvement Program Committee – Thursday, March 26th, at 5 p.m. at Colebrook Town Hall (Land Use office)
Board of Finance – Thursday, March 26th, at 6 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.
Cordially,
Brad
Brad Bremer
Colebrook First Selectman
860.379.3359 ext. 202
Colebrook-Associates_2026-Scholarship-Application.pdf
Colebrook-Associates_2026-Small-Business-Grant-Application.pdf
NWCD_Plant-Sale-Flyer.pdf
