February in Review

Dear Stonington, 

There have been many positive happenings in Town thanks to the dedicated work of many of our Town staff, elected officials, volunteers and our extensive nonprofit and business community. We appreciate your feedback and ideas on this communication. We are also always happy to set-up a time to connect in-person or on a call to discuss any existing projects, new ideas or areas of concern.

Thank you, Danielle Chesebrough, Stonington First Selectman

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Solid Waste

We were so happy to see the positive cocverage of Stonington's leadership on solid waste within the State of CT. Thank you to EDC member Bill Hobb's for his article showcasing how Stonington's solid waste program could be a model for the State of CT. We encourage you to read the article and to learn more about our innovative, enviormentally friendly and financiall prudent programs. We are so proud of our Director of Solid Waste, John Phetteplace, and his wonderful team. At the end of this update, you can read more on some exicting composting related updates!

Assessment Department

The Department of Assessment would like to notify all residents that the Homeowners-Totally Disabled Program and the Additional Veteran Program opened for applications February 1st, 2022. The application period for the Homeowners ends on May 13, 2022 and the Additional Veterans ends on September 30, 2022. Both of these programs are income based with the maximum income for a single person being $38,100 and for married couples $46,400. Please contact the Department of Assessment at 860-535-5098 or assessor@stonington-ct.gov for more information or to schedule an appointment.

The Department of Assessment would like to notify residents that there will be a second mailing for the 2022 Revaluation Project in March. Only properties that did not return a data mailer in the first round will receive a second mailing. It will include a sketch of the property, a list of detached structures and construction detail. The Department respectfully requests that each owner confirm that the information is accurate, or if it is not, make whatever changes necessary and return it to the Assessment Department. Any property that does NOT return a signed data mailer WILL BE visited and inspected by a data collector. Any inspection needed because a data mailer was not returned will cost the Town an additional $27 per property. If you are a property owner who has not yet returned their form, this is your opportunity to confirm whether our data is accurate and help the Town reduce the overall cost of this important project.

First Selectman’s Office

Budget Season-  We encourage all residents to engage in the budget process, as the investments being made in our community will impact many aspects of daily life in both the short- and long-term. You can read more about the budget process, dates, and review the draft budget here.  

Circus Lot- Thanks to the grant we recieved from the Wild and Scenic Rivers Counci and ongoing efforts from the Economic Development Commission, we plan to put out a call for proposals from landscape architects for a conceptual drawing in early March and hope to have a drawing to share with the community later this Spring. While the property is still owned by Westerly, the Town has made evaluating the potential risks and opportunities related to purchasing this land back and creating greater public access via a potential park along the Wild and Scenic Pawcatuck River a priority over the past years. A survey has recently been completed to better understand the topography and wetlands, and this next step, with a landscape architect, should help our community continue to explore the potential of the Circus Lot.  

Flood Prevention, Climate Resilience and Erosion Control Board- The Board of Selectmen voted to seat this new Board. The Flood and Erosion Control Board was renamed the Flood Prevention, Climate Resilience and Erosion Control Board effective July 1, 2021 through CT General Statue 25-84 and House Bill 6441, Public Act 21-115.  Further, the Board has expanded the duties of the Flood Prevention, Climate Resilience and Erosion Control Board to include stormwater management, taking on the duties that were overseen by the Stormwater Task Force and instead placing them with this board.The original ordinance establising this Board was approved in December, 1961. Since this time the Board of Selectmen have been charged with the duties that fall under this Board. Based on years of engagement and input from the Climate Change Task Force, and other residents, the Board determined it was time to offically seat this Board. Applications will be open until April 29, 2022. If anyone is interested in learning more please call the First Selectman's Office. You can also read more here. 

Al Harvey-  As part of the federal process for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in deciding whether to move forward with the potential conservation effort, the agency conducted a Pre-acquisition Compatibility Determinations. Public review and comment period was opened in early February  and closed on the 24th. USFW will review all the comments over the comming week and as soon as we have more information it will be shared on the Town website. 

Veterans Monument- We have raised $85,000 and have an additional $115,000 to still raise. If you are interested in making a donation or helping to reach out to other possible donors that is very appreciated. Donations are tax deductible. We also continue to collect new names to add to our existing list of 7,000+ Stonington veterans, and are currently working on finalizing plans for the design of the pannels on the sides of the monument. Finally, we are excited to start working on our plan for bringing history to life through the monument's dedicated website. Anyone interested in getting involved or learning more please visit our page here.  

Solar- While, a great deal of time and effort from various staff went into reviewing bids for a potential solar project at the Town’s transfer station, we were not able to come to an agreement with the potetnial devloper in time for the State's program deadline. We plan to revisit this opportunity later this Spring/ early Summer and will keep the community updated on the progress with this potential project. 

Human Services

COVID -  N95 masks and test kits remain available for residents. You can pick-up at Human Services during normal buisness hours (M-F, 9am-12pm and 1-3:30pm). You can read more here. We have also shared inoformation on the new CDC guidelines and matrix on the Town website here. We will continue to engage our health experts, as well as Regional and State officals, and keep our website updated. COVID test kits and N95 masks are available for Stonington residents at Stonington Human Services – M-F, 9am-12pm and 1-3:30pm.  Located in the lobby and distributed on an honor system, please take (3) kits per household and (1) box of 50 – or less – masks, as needed.  COVID testing continued to be conducted in the parking lot every Thursday afternoon from 3-6pm.

Now hiring!  Seasonal positions are currently posted on the Town website for open Playground Counselor positions.  Come join our team and be a part of our very popular summer day camp, held at the Spellman Park playground.  Applications accepted now through April 22^nd.

Did you know?  Since the creation of the Community Outreach Specialist position in July 2021, over 200 referrals have been received regarding individuals in crisis and in need of assistance.  Referrals are generated  from local first responders, town departments, school district, partner non-profit agencies and the community at-large - in an effort to work collaboratively with the Human Services’ team - to provide supportive programs and services for our most vulnerable residents.

DPW and Engineering

The Department of Public Works is working proactively to maintain and improve our public infrastructure, facilities, parks and recreation areas. As you likely know, they are also responsible for 18 plow routes and do a tremendous amount of work during and after our snow storms. Please join us in thanking DPW if you see them out and around! For this month's update we focused on highlighting their Winter Operations. 

During the late January blizzard, the DPW team worked 38 continuous hours removing an average of 17 inches of snow and ice from the roadways.  We then returned Monday, January 31^st at 3 AM for sidewalk and downtown snow removal. Continued the rest of the week clearing neighborhood and State roadway intersections for safe pedestrian access and vehicle site distance.

• Equipment includes large and medium plow trucks, loaders, backhoe, tractor, skid steer, and tractor snow blowers. 
• Prior to every storm DPW completes safety/operational inspection of all equipment, changes plow blades if needed, fill trucks with salt and fuel to be ready for the forecasted snow event.
• After each storm DPW washes all the equipment to protect and extend its life.

Other February Work:

• Facility Maintenance
• Parks and Recreation Equipment Maintenance
• Roadside Vegetation Removal including Trees

March Planned Activities:

• Inspection of Catch Basins Repair Prior to Paving
• Street Sweeping downtown areas
• Athletic Field Opening Preparation
• South Anguilla Road Drainage Project

Planning Department

Sidewalks

The State of Connecticut Department of Transportation is currently reviewing the fourth revision of the entire project for a state highway encroachment permit since Route 1 is a state road.  As soon as the permit is issued the Town intends to move forward with an additional review by the Town’s Police Commission as well as putting together bidding packages.  The Town will be advertising for contractors in early Spring and would appreciate it if anyone holding an outstanding set of easement paperwork to contact Susan Cullen, AICP, Director of Economic and Community Development at scullen@stonington-ct.gov

Zoning Regulations Comprehensive Update

A request for proposals was advertised in early autumn and proposals were received and ranked by a panel. The Selection Panel has chosen a firm to lead this project and a contract is currently being developed.  This is expected to be a two-year process so please stay engaged with us on this exciting journey.

Development and Zoning Regulation Proposals

The Department and the town’s various land use boards are currently reviewing several development applications including the following:

• Site Plan and Wetlands applications for Phase 2 of the Harbor Heights residential development at Perkins Farm Drive, Mystic.  Planning and Zoning Commission Public Hearing scheduled for 3/15/22.
• Special Permit application for a restaurant and retail use at 29 Old Stonington Rd., Mystic.  Planning and Zoning Commission Public Hearing scheduled for 3/15/22.
• Special Permit application for 100 unit mixed-income residential development proposed for 111 South Broad St, Pawcatuck. Planning and Zoning Commission Public Hearing scheduled for 4/19/22.
• Temporary 6 month moratorium on cannabis establishments.  The Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing on this moratorium on 3/1/22 which is proposed to give the town more time to prepare a zoning regulation for these types of businesses.  Voters passed a referendum in October which approved of the idea of cannabis establishments in the community.     

Affordable Housing Plan

Using a grant from the CT Department of Housing, the town has developed a final draft of an Affordable Housing Plan for the community.  As per State Statutes, the town is required to prepare and adopt such a plan every 5 years.  Residents are encouraged to read the draft plan here.  A key focus of the draft plan is to identify potential strategies to enhance the diversity of our housing stock. To create the best possible plan for Stonington, we need input from residents on the type of strategies they agree with, ones they see challenges with, and possible new ideas not yet brought forward. In order to create the best possible Plan for Stonington, input is needed from a diverse range of perspectives. We invite all members of the community to join the upcoming Planning and Zoning Public Hearing on the plan's adoption on April 5, 2022 at 7:00PM. To read more about the plan, and the process, please visit here.  

Request for Proposals – Former Stillmanville Mill Brownfield Assessment Grant

The Town applied in Round 13 and was granted $139,000 to fund the Brownfield Assessment of the Former Stillmanville Mill Property at 75 Stillman Avenue.  Due to the lien the town holds on the property, the town is allowed to access the privately held property for this purpose.  According to the State’s guidelines for this grant, a request for proposals was advertised to a pre-qualified group of bidders who hold a specific license to perform this type of environmental assessment.  Consultant proposals were received in February and are currently under review by the town.  This is an important step in understanding the extent of the contamination on the property so that it may have a better chance of being revitalized in the future.

Police Department

Our Police would like to remind all residents, if you don't reach out to us- we can't reach out to you! Please check that you are signed-up for Stonington Alerts notification system. It provides accurate and immediate notifications to your cell, work or home phone, or computer via text, email or voice message. Notifications are not sent often, but when they are we want to be sure you recieve them. Notifications may be sent regarding issues that affect your home, business, workplace, school or any other locations within Stonington. Sometime they will be sent town-wide, or at other times just to a specific geographic area. Updates go out related to health (i.e. COVID), weather events and other public saftey issues. We want to be sure all members of the community know the importance of signing up for our Emergency Alert System. Learn more here. 

Architectural Design Review Board

The Board held a Special Meeting on Monday, February 14, 2022. The following applications were approved:

1.    Modifications of the Mystic Aquarium central courtyard including architectural treatments.  
2.    Construction of an 8,000SF agricultural building. Property located on Taugwonk Rd.  Applicant -Seacoast Mushrooms

 The following application was tabled to the 3/14 meeting:

1. Construction of a 124 unit 4 story apartment at 50 Perkins Farm Rd Applicant/ Owner -Lattizori Development

Beautification Committee 

The Spring bulb fundraiser will run through the month of March with online orders that will ship directly to the consumer. They are also running a rain barrel fundraiser through the next couple of months. You can follow their work and learn more by visiting their Facebook beautification page. Proceeds from fundraisers directly support current and future plantings and gardens in town. They are seeking volunteers to help with projects, weeding, watering and town cleanups. Interested residents can email stoningtonbeautification@stonington-ct.gov 

Climate Change Task Force

Each month the CCTF will share one 'Do you Know' facts. This series will highlight town actions and/or present a different idea each month that can be adopted by residents and businesses alike. To learn more or get involved please contact us or attend a CCTF meeting! 

Food Waste – Do You Know…

…Do you know there is a way for you to save money and help the planet?  The amount of food waste is astounding…the average American family of 4 will throw out $1500 of food annually.  That means in this country alone, 35% of the 229 million tons of food available go unsold or uneaten—that’s $408 billion worth of food.  The impact extends well beyond our wallets and directly affects the climate.  Uneaten food is responsible for 18% of all cropland use, 14% of all freshwater use, 24% of landfill inputs, and 4% of U.S. greenhouse gas.  In fact, in the US, consumers waste more food in homes than any sector of the food supply chain each year. From making smaller portions and better use of leftovers to learning how to minimize spoilage by properly storing perishable foods, consumers have a direct hand in reducing residential waste. So, if you can, “shop local,” (which supports local agriculture and minimizes transportation aka carbon emissions), shop only for what you need, and eat or freeze what you purchase.

More fun facts... we were so excited to submit a grant to the State of CT DEEP in regards to a potential Stonington curbside composting pilot program! We should find out if we were selected in the next 1-2 months. We were also pleased to join others in providing testimony to the CT Energy and Technology Committee, supporting HB 5118, which would help assist municipalities in creating sustainable solutions to our growing, state-wide, solid waste disposal problem.

Thank you for reading our update and we are looking forward to another productive month! Thank you Stonington!