At the board’s second regularly scheduled meeting held on March 16, we approved the minutes of our March 2nd meeting and approved two tax refunds as recommended by the tax collector.
The board appointed David Bussolotta to the Agricultural Commission to a term ending on Jan. 2, 2024, and appointed Samantha Sabia as an alternate on the Agricultural Commission to a term ending on Jan. 2, 2026.
Based on discussions which took place at the Planning and Zoning Commission hearing on Monday, March 13, the board has decided to reconstitute the Land Acquisition and Preservation Authority. An ordinance creating this body was approved by the Town Meeting in 2005. Its purpose is to identify and evaluate larger parcels of land which might come on the market to assess whether the town might want to purchase them. For several years thereafter, this body had members and met to fulfill its mission. However, over time, the membership lapsed and the body stopped meeting. Given the discussion at the Planning and Zoning hearing regarding concerns about farms and other larger parcels of land potentially coming on the market in the near future, the board has decided it makes sense to restart this body so we are prepared for any eventuality. Anyone interested in serving on the Land Acquisition and Preservation Authority should contact either the Republican or the Democratic Town Committee or the Office of the First Selectman.
The board voted to designate the town of Sviatohirsk, Ukraine as our partner town and to appoint a steering committee to organize and fundraiser on behalf of the town. Sviatohirsk was selected because it has a similar population and agricultural influence as Easton. Sviatohirsk is located northeast of Kyiv. It had been occupied by Russian forces earlier in the war but has now been liberated. The steering committee will raise private funds. No tax dollars will be used to support this effort. Easton is participating as part of a larger endeavor where towns and cities in the United States are partnering with towns and cities in Ukraine in a show of solidarity with and support for the people of Ukraine as they endure the horrors of an unjustified and unprovoked war against them by the Russians.
Jeff Becker, Dana Benson, Grant Monsarrat, and Dwight Senior spoke about matters raised at the Planning and Zoning hearing held on March 13th expressing concerns about the Desegregate CT, the organization that made a presentation at that hearing, and affordable housing matters and development in general.
Jeff Becker, Dana Benson and Dwight Senior spoke about the decision to reinstitute the Land Acquisition and Preservation Authority.
Dana Benson spoke about the proposed safety improvements at the intersection of Westport Road and Center Road.
Selectman Sogofsky pointed out that decisions regarding planning and zoning matters will be decided by the majority of that body. Since it is a five member board, three members can make these decisions and they are the ones that should be lobbied.
She thanked everyone who participated in the recently completed Board of Finance budget review sessions. She reminded everyone that the public hearing on the budget will be held on Monday, March 27 beginning at 7 p.m. at Samuel Staples Elementary School.
First Selectman David Bindelglass commented that he believes it is good to get perspectives from different voices on issues so he is glad to hear the presentation from Desegregate CT. He has also invited a lawyer representing an opposing perspective to appear before the Planning and Zoning Commission.
He updated the board on the status of the soil contamination at the former Easton Village Store site. State and local officials and the property owner met last week and are close to resolving all outstanding issues. This includes testing and monitoring of wells in the area.
The First Selectman pointed out that the proposed safety improvements at the intersection of Westport Road and Center Road would be paid for entirely by a state grant. No local tax dollars will be used. He says Easton residents pay lots of taxes to the state and this will bring some of those tax dollars back to town. It is a small infrastructure project that will make the intersection safer and help everyone who interacts with that part of town.
