By Michelle L. Santoro

Sherman – Approximately fifty residents attended Sherman’s first Town Meeting of 2024 on Saturday, January 13 at 9:00 a.m. in Mallory Town Hall, which ran longer than most as discussion and questions followed each request.  Warned by the Board of Selectmen right before Christmas, residents were asked to authorize funds for five items, three of which passed unanimously.

Discussion ensued about the location of proposed pickleball courts and next steps for the project following a request for approval to appropriate $48,000 from the capital non-recurring fund to be used for the construction of new pickleball courts.  Sherman is the recipient of a $240,000 STEAP grant for that project, the terms of which require a twent y percent match responsibility by the Town.  Following questions by residents about STEAP grants – Connecticut’s Small Town Economic Assistance Program — that funds economic development, community conservation and quality-of-life capital projects for localities ineligible to receive Urban Action bonds, the request for funds was unanimously approved. 

Following a brief discussion about the resurfacing and repair of Wakeman Hill Road, Meadow Land, and Bridgeworth Lane, and the Selectmen answering a question about the scope of the project, residents unanimously approved a request to authorize an appropriation, not to exceed $700,000, from either the Town’s capital non-recurring fund or American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds for the project.

The other item to receive unanimous approval was a request for approval to appropriate a sum, not to exceed $11,000, from the capital non-recurring fund to purchase a sander for Public Works Truck 4.  Residents inquired about the sander, but nonetheless voiced their approval for the purchase. 

The third request of residents was for authorization to appropriate a sum, not to exceed $66,500, from the capital non-recurring fund toward Phase I of the Town’s plan to add dock slips in Sherman Town Park.  Phase I of the prop osed project includes Request for Proposal costs, Design services, a Survey, and Project administration.  Discussion ensued about the project’s scope and next steps.  Two residents voted against the appropriation; the request passed. 

Item four brought about the most discussion, lasting nearly twenty minutes.  It was for authorization to appropr iate a sum, not to exceed $10,000, from the capital non-recurring fund for the purchase of new computers for the Sherman Senior Center.  Residents questioned why new computers at the Senior Center were necessary and why the cost (for ju st five computers) was so high.  Selectman Robert Ostrosky and Selectman Joel Bruzinski took the lead in answering and explained that the need for new computers is part of an entire network plan, and the cost includes more than just the computers.  While three residents voted NO, the request for such appropriation passed.

The Board of Selectmen are scheduled to meet for the first meeting of the new year on Thursday January 25, at 7:00 p.m. in Mallory Town Hall.  At the time of writing, an agenda was not yet available.