BETHLEHEM – The Board of Selectmen had a busy agenda for its meeting last Tuesday, including several updates and a few recommendations for action by the Board of Finance.
First Selectman Raymond Butkus reported the Legislature passed a bill that the Governor plans to sign to supplement assistance with education and additional funding for the town from the Mashantucket Pequot fund. The town will receive $105,234 in a supplemental education grant and $14,159 from the Mashantucket Pequot Grant.
The public hearing on the town budget will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 14 in Memorial Hall. The town budget referendum will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 4 at Memorial Hall.
Nancy McMillian, chairman of the Affordable Housing Commission, provided the board with an informal update on the commission’s recent activities. The commission was organized in December, and it has been collaborating with the Bethlehem Housing Trust in a search for suitable property. Working with a representative of the local Council of Governments, commissioners are also developing a focus community engagement campaign. Selectman George Rehkamp suggested the commission hold a joint meeting with the Open Space Committee for further partnerships.
The board appointed Brian Peterson to the Long Meadow Lake Management Committee to fill a vacancy for a term to expire May 2027. The board reappointed Katelynd Tremblay to the Park & Recreation Commission for a four-year term to expire May 2030, and it reappointed Pam Zmek, Mary Ann Norelli and Carol Ann Brown to the Seniors Commission for a three-year term to expire May 2029.
The board authorized Mr. Butkus to execute an Inter-local Agreement between the Towns of Bethlehem and Harwinton for a shared Animal Control Officer and Animal Control Facility.
The board agreed to table any action on the Hanover Insurance Crime Policy until the next meeting on May 19.
The board voted to recommend to the Board of Finance action to appropriate LoCIP funds for Chip Sealing. It also voted to recommend to the Board of Finance to reappropriate $599.07 from Account 2871-AC: and $367.01 from Account 2871-FF; and $750 from Account 2871-1.1; and $173.10 from Account 2871-TI; and $310.50 from Account 2871-WW to the Capital Nonrecurring Account, and to transfer $41,852.42 in accrued interest from ARPA funds granted to the Town to the Capital Nonrecurring Account.
Finally, the board held an executive session to discuss pending legal issues. No action was taken.