January 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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Assessment Department
We would like to notify all residents that the Homeowners-Totally Disabled Program and the Additional Veteran Program opens 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.
First Selectman’s Office
While COVID has taken up a good deal of focus again this month, mainly related to getting PPE and tests out to our community. We are so grateful to all the Town staff, Stonington Police, our Fire and EMS partners, and our Emergency Management Director for the hours of effor, often on weekends, to make our local efforts possible. We will also have another, likely final, test distribution coming in early February.
Budget season is upon us. January has been busy with meetings with each Department to review all the budget requests. The Capital Improvement Program (CIP) review by the Board of Selectmen will take place Wednesday February 2, 2022. Check the Town website for an upcoming post with an overview of the 2022-23 budget process.
We were delighted to receive local proposals for a proposed Stonington video that the Economic Development Commission is working on with the First Selectman and Director of Economic and Community Development. This is the next step toward realizing an idea for a video showcasing Stonington as a wonderful place to live, work and invest. Thanks to local residents and business owners the project is offset by nearly $3,000 (total cost $5,000) due to a previous ‘Support Local’ T-Shirt fundraising campaign. Please stay tuned, as we will be seeking feedback on not to miss locations and input on what makes Stonington special to you!
A great deal of time and effort from various staff has gone into reviewing bids for a potential solar project at the Town’s transfer station. There are many moving pieces of this potential project, which will eventually need to go to a Town Meeting for approval. It is still early stages, but looks like it has potential to be a positive Town project if it can come to fruition.
As the State’s 2022 session gets ready to begin, the COG, CCM and COST have been holding legislative priority calls. These calls are very useful for sharing ideas and concerns from other Town leaders from around the State. If any residents would like to discuss any upcoming bills of importance to them, please of course reach out to your State Rep and Senator, but also know you are welcome to let us at Town Hall know as well so we are sure it is on our radar as well.
Human Services
Special Needs Emergency Registry
Created in 2003 and now available for online enrollment, the Special Needs Emergency Registry lets police, fire and other first responders in your community better prepare for and respond to your needs during a hurricane, storm, homeland security or any other emergency situation that you may be experiencing. If you, or someone you know, may need extra help during a time of emergency, please sign up today here. If you would like a form mailed directly to your home, please send call (860) 535-5015 or email Leanne Theodore, Human Services Director. Information will be maintained and updated annually by Stonington Human Services.
2022 Summer Day Camp – Early bird registration begins February 1
For campers entering Grades 1-6 in Fall 2022. Early Bird Rates end March 31! Held at Spellman Park, our camp takes full advantage of on-site sports fields, playground, hiking trails and school facilities for safe, fun-filled weeks of summer time adventure! Theme Days • Crafts Sports • Fantastic Fridays • Wacky Wednesdays • Field Trips • Nature • Theater • Camper Time Clubs and much, much more! For more information: https://stonington.recdesk.com.
Did you know? … Over 150 applications for energy assistance have been processed by the Human Services Department so far this season. Applications continue to be taken to assist with heating and utility costs. A variety of energy assistance programs exist to help families and individuals pay their home heating bill(s), with priority given to “vulnerable households” with young children, elderly or disabled individuals. Please e-mail to: energyassistance@stonington-ct.gov and an application packet can be sent to you to complete and return along with required documentation, or make an in-person appointment to meet with one of our case managers. Call (860) 535-5015 for more information.
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!
In addition to the continual work the Town Engineer continues to do as part of his review of our Zoning and Wetland applications, we wanted to highlight a few specific projects.
BRIDGES
As part of our ongoing efforts to continue to be as proactive as possible and plan for our future capital needs, we have begun a new Bridge Inventory and Asset Management Program. Below is a quick update.
- Phase I – Inventory & Cataloguing of Bridge Assets – Completed, presented to BOF 01/06/2021
- Phase II – Asset Management – Analysis & Planning for Replacement and repair of bridges: WMC Consulting Engineers has provided a “Draft” analysis including Bridge rankings, recommendations of repair & replacement, estimated costs & timeline and potential funding sources.
- South Anguilla Bridge – The design of the parapet walls to meet AASHTO & CDOT standards. This project will be received by the TOWN – Inland Wetlands Commission on 02/03/2022
PROJECTS:
- 4TH Voting District (Willow St Drainage) – This project is approximately 75 % complete and in winter shut down, although when the “Tidal Valve Mechanism” is received from the manufacturer, the contractor will install (anticipated - March). In spring, construction will resume to include the installation of (2) rain gardens, site grading and planting. The hope is it can be open for parking in the summer of 2022.
- Allen Street Drainage – The project involved a “re-design” and an invitation to bid will be initiated in February. The timeline for award and construction of the project in slated for April
- Pawcatuck Water Loop – Federal Funding is in the final stages of being approved, therefore coordination efforts will resume amongst parties in advance of design solicitation for this longstanding priority project.
- T. Hall & Human Services – HVAC – A project design scope and contract has been completed, funding for at least a portion of the work will be funded by previously approved (Board of Finance and Town Meeting) ARPA funds.
- T. Hall & Human Services Roof Replacement – The Town Hall and Human Services building are in the final stage of construction with “Punch-list” items being completed. These are longstanding needs, as both roofs had been actively leaking and posing safety risks. Thanks to Stonington voters for approving this in the 2021-22 budget.
D.E.E.P. – Management of various Permits and related tasks as associated:
- MS4 – Testing/inspection of Stormwater outfalls continuous progress as required by permit.
- MS4 – Directly Connected Impervious Area (DCIA) – Next phase of regulation for DCIA has begun, consultant and town to collaborate on review of town parcels for DCIA retrofit. Goal of 2% DCIA (per permit) is task permit.
- MS4 – Regulation review, SOP development and DCIA are on-going tasks moving forward
Town Clerk
A message from our new Town Clerk- I would like to take this opportunity to thank the voters of Stonington for their support in the November Municipal Election. On January 3rd, we welcomed your new Deputy Town Clerk, Stacy Gravino. Stacy, a Conn. Certified Town Clerk, brings along 12 years of experience as a Town Clerk. Together with Stacy and our existing Assistant, Leslie Packer, I am confident that Stonington will remain one of the best Town Clerk offices in the State of Connecticut. My parents, especially my father who passed away before I was elected, but not before seeing my name on a sample ballot, for years anticipated the day I would become Town Clerk. I dedicate the next 4 years to them, Bob & Helen Birchell. Thank you again, Sally Birchell Duplice.
Planning Department
Sidewalks
The State of Connecticut Department of Transportation is currently reviewing 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 the panel. Interviews are currently happening for those top choices. The panel will choose a consultant this winter and work on this effort will begin in early Spring. This is expected to be a two-year process so please stay engaged with us on this exciting journey.
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. The proposals are due on February 17 and the town will immediately review the potential consultants to perform the assessment of the property. 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.
GRANTS
- DPW lead the efforts on a Grant Application via CIRCA was submitted on 02/01/2022, to solicit funding and support the extensive design initiative for the Holmes Street Seawall. Specifically, the grant is geared toward supporting “Resilience Financing and Project development”, therefore with many letters of support for the Mystic area businesses and residents we hope to garner assistance to commence the design effort.
- The First Selectman and Town Planner submitted a Climate Change and Resiliency Planning grant request in partnership with the Mystic Seaport Museum (MSM) to the FEMA BRIC program. The objective in seeking this grant is to gain expert assistance for creating a competitive future grant application for the Seaport and the Town’s neighboring site- the Mystic River Boathouse Park. The MSM lead the effort on this grant request and we are grateful for their ongoing efforts in the area of climate resiliency.
- Thanks to the ongoing efforts of a local Stonington resident and volunteer, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Council selected Stonington as a $4,000 grant recipient for conceptual drawings of a potential park at the Circus Lot. 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 park along the Wild and Scenic Pawcatuck River a priority over the past two years. A survey has recently been completed to better understand the topography and wetlands, and a next step will be to seek out a landscape architect to help our community continue to explore the potential of the Circus Lot.
Stonington Harbor Management
While boating may not be first on everyone's list this month it is time to take care of some business. Every year mooring permits must be renewed. On January 30 the harbormaster, Eric Donch, will send out the renewals for mooring permits in Stonington Harbor, East Side of Stonington Point and Wequetequock Cove. This will come as an email from Online Mooring. There will be a link and instructions on how to renew your mooring permit online. This is our third year with online mooring and it gets smoother each year. Eric Donch and Commissioner Melanie Dengler have done a great job working with online mooring and adapting it to our harbor management processes. We anticipate a smooth and efficient renewal season. Jay Spalding - SHMC Chair
Beautification Committee
We are preparing a flower bulb fundraiser that will run in March, and a rain barrel fundraiser that will run May/June timeline. Sales for both will be available through an online platform with links on our Facebook beautification page once fundraisers are up and running. Proceeds from fundraisers directly support current and future plantings and gardens in town. We are seeking volunteers to help with projects, weeding, watering and town cleanups. Interested residents can email us at 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!
Climate Resiliency – Do You Know…
…Do you know that Stonington is one of 22 member towns in the Southeastern CT Council of Governments (SCCOG) that voted to endorse a Climate Emergency Declaration in the form of Resolution 21-3 Relating To A Climate Emergency. This resolution recognizes the threat of climate change to our coastal communities and encourages the 22 member towns to take steps to address these issues. As a follow-up to this resolution, Stonington is drafting its own Climate Action Plan, which will detail specific steps that the town will be taking. While many of these actions may take years to fully implement (such as converting town vehicles to electric), there are steps that residents can take as well.
Thank you for reading our update and we are looking forward to another productive month! Thank you Stonington!