Greetings!
The Board of Selectmen Report follows up on topics we shared with you last month and things we've been working on and discussing since then. If you have a specific topic that you want to know more about, feel free to call 860-364-5789 or email me at
[email protected].
What's Happened Since Our Last Newsletter-
Speed Humps. What's Your Opinion? Update
Hilltop Road residents petitioned us for Speed Humps on their road. We ran an online survey for a general opinion in our last newsletter, the result was 60% against Speed Humps and 40% for Speed Humps, 24 against and 16 for.
As per our Town policy on Speed Hump petitions, we sent letters to the Sharon Town Crew, Fire Department, Ambulance and those opinions are due Friday, November 5th, 2021. We will share the results at our November 9th meeting. As per Town policy, there will also be a public discussion when we can again meet in large groups.
Town Hall Parking Lot Planning
WMC Consulting Engineers have visited and surveyed the Town Hall Parking Lot to assist with the Expansion Project. Big thank you to Jamie Casey and Mark Sweeney for their help with these exploratory visits. The next step will be a review of WMC's findings and abutting property owner meetings/discussions. This project will be completed by August of 2023.
Sharon ARPA Advisory Committee
The ARPA Advisory Committee has a part-time administrator. Sophia Wang of Low Road in Sharon was hired as administrator earlier this month.
In addition, we approved funding for the Sharon Ambulance Squad and the ARPA Advisory Committee's plan to solicit ideas from residents for how the town should allocate the approximately $800,000 in federal funding it is receiving to address the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Advisory Committee has mailed an information card to all Sharon residents. And for those residents not currently in Sharon, the information/survey is available online at
sharoncovidrecovery.org.
Broadband Improvement
For the most recent updates, sign-up for the
Sharon Connect Task Force Newsletter it contains everything you want to know about the broadband improvement efforts here in Sharon. Most recently, Sertex LLC was selected to assist us with broadband analysis.
Town Meeting with Troop B
A meeting with Troop B took place on Friday, October 15th at 3 pm at Veterans Field to discuss our Town's speeding, parking, noise, criminal activity issues. Lt. Bisson and Trooper Dungan were present to field questions and concerns from the 40-50 residents that attended. As long as there is public interest we will continue to schedule and host these types of discussions and adjust to days and times that allow for everyone's schedule.
State Required Affordable Housing Steering Committee
With the assistance of the Northwest Hills Council of Government, the Town received a grant to assist with planning for the State of Connecticut's required municipal Affordable Housing Plan. At our last meeting, we appointed: Dale C. Jones, Larry Moskowitz, Pat Whelan to the steering committee.
Things To Be Aware Of-
Halloween
The Town's role on Halloween is public safety. We have four constables and a First Selectman that help make sure all trick or treaters are safe. We will be at intersections along Main Street/West Main Street/North Main Street starting at approximately 4:45 pm Sunday.
Sharon Hospital
There are several meetings and events scheduled to discuss the recent news from Nuvance Health that could (maybe will) impact our Town and region.
The first meeting is with local elected officials from both Connecticut and New York. That meeting is on Friday, November 5th at 1 pm. Residents are welcome to ZOOM in and watch and listen.
Join the Zoom Meeting on Friday, November 5th at 1 pm
Following the November 5th meeting, Nuvance Health has scheduled two additional meetings for residents:
Nuvance Health/Sharon Hospital will host two in-person roundtable discussions to provide an open forum for community members to ask questions and provide feedback on the facility’s transformative plans. Sessions will meet at the following locations and are limited to no more than 15 people, in compliance with COVID-19 safety protocols.
Advance registration is required on a first-come, first-served basis. Masks are required and social distancing will be enforced.
Because of the limited capacity available, community members are respectfully requested to register for only one session.
Meeting dates are as follows:
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Tuesday, November 9, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., at the Sharon Town Hall, 63 Main Street, Sharon, Conn.
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Thursday, November 18, from 4 to 5:30 p.m., at the Interlaken Inn, located at 74 Interlaken Road, Lakeville, Conn.
To register, email [email protected] or call (845) 554-1734 with your name and phone number (TTY/Accessibility: (800) 842-9710).
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Save Sharon Hospital Event
Save Sharon Hospital has scheduled an event on the Sharon Green for Saturday, November 6th at 3 pm.
Via their most recent press release, they request that you: "Join us on November 6th at 3 pm on the Sharon Town Green to hear local and state elected representatives discuss why a full-service hospital is essential to our community.
Please come and join your voice to ours."
Town Hall Open for Elections but Closed for Business
Tuesday, November 2nd is election day and elections are being held at Town Hall but because of that, we can't be there for business.
Town Information & Events
Voting Information
COVID-19-
COVID Information
Stay informed! Opt-in today to receive COVID-19 alerts and updates.
Road Work and Maintenance-
Road Work
- We are paving the Millerton Road end of Sharon Valley Road today!
Maintenance
- Culvert improvements
- Leaf Blowing
- De-potholing gravel roads
Town Bridges
- We have prioritized the Sharon Valley Bridge on the Amenia Road end for stabilization in 2021/22. This is in preparation for the paving of Sharon Valley Road from the King Hill/Sharon Station intersection to Rt. 343 (Amenia Road) in 2022.
History Share-
Isaac Newton Bartram was born in Redding, Connecticut on March 25, 1838. He came to Sharon, Connecticut in 1865 and quickly established himself as a person of influence. He served as a State Representative in the General Assembly from 1868 to 1891, in addition, he was State Senator from 1889 to 90.
Most important to us, he built Sharon’s Town Hall in 1875. He also built or was involved in our region’s Iron Furnaces. He was a mastermind of the iron industry and that is what our region and our local economies prospered from in that time frame.
The watch share is special to me. Because, as a child, my grandfather brought me to Putnam Park a lot. And I remember being confused to see someone’s name from Sharon, Connecticut on a Redding, Connecticut monument. Everyone listed was from Redding but Isaac’s. It wasn’t until I myself came to Sharon from Redding that I learned why and I appreciate that on so many levels. Volunteering with the Sharon Historical Society is where/why I discovered that Isaac N. Bartram was not only appointed the Commissioner of Israel Putnam’s Camp in 1887... he built it and now that I'm working with Tom Bartram (a direct descendant) it’s a special connection/reconnection and a reminder that if you pay attention, history completes the full circle.
The photo of the gentleman in front of Town Hall with the briefcase is Isaac N. Bartram.
