As Holy Week and Passover were approaching, residents took time out of their busy schedules to attend a Town Meeting on Tuesday, April 12, to vote on items brought to them by the Board of Selectmen (“BOS”).  First Selectman Don Lowe called the meeting to order, and the Warning of Town Meeting w as read, setting forth the items to be acted upon. Selectmen Joel D. Bruzinski and Robert Ostrosky were present.  Jim Reilly was elected moderator of the meeting. 

The first motion heard, raised by Matt Heinz, and seconded by Rick Hudson, was for the approval of an amount not to exceed $92,000 from the capital non-recurring fund for new flooring on the first floor of the Sherman Volunteer Firehouse.  Mr. Lowe commenced discussions noting the number of Sherman Volunteer Fire Department (“SVFD”) members in attendance.  SVFD Chief Chris Fuchs also spoke, reminding residents that replacement of the cement floor was originally in the scope of the firehouse renovations, and further elaborated that epoxy floors are standard in firehouses today.  An epoxy floor has an expected life span of 30 years; the company warrants it for two years.  Chief Fuchs said the SVFD wants to award the bid to Stonhard, noting the company is reputable and had replaced the flooring at a firehouse in Madison, Connecticut.  The motion passed un animously.

Next on the agenda was for the approval of an amount not to exceed $4,000 from the capital non-recurring fund for a property survey of a Town right-of-way at the end of Cedar Lane.  Following a motion made by Mr. Hudson, Mr. Lowe briefly discussed the matter.  At the very end of the Lane, an old Town roadway separates two parcels of property that are owned by one person who has now developed a house on one of the parcels.  Several issues have arisen, and the Town’s right-of-way needs to be established, thus necessitating the survey.  The motion passed without any opposition.

The last item on the agenda was for the retroactive approval of the sums of $8,977.74 for the repair and installation of a barn cleaner and $2,662 for the installation of an overhead door at Happy Acres Farm from the Happy Acres restricted fund and to move those expenses out of the Happy Acres Farm operating fund.  Mr. Hudson motioned, and Mr. Heinz seconded.  Mr. Lowe explained that these expenses were only paid out of the operating account because it was “an emergency,” otherwise they would have been paid out of the restricted funds, which is the larger account.  He went on to further explain that the transfer needs to occur so there are enough funds in the operating account to keep the farm running through year end.  Mr. Heinz questioned the need for a barn as he was unclear on whether the Town owned livestock.  Mr. Lowe answered, “No,” the Town did not own any cows, but further explained that it sold the farm’s cows to Jeff and Pete Lescynski in December 2019 as part of the Happy Acres Farm’s reorganization plan.  Now, the Lescynski brothers lease the pastures from the farm and house their cows there.  The motion passed without opposition.

The Town was supposed to vote on an amount not to exceed $11,000 from the capital non-recurring fund for materials to build eight new dock slips on Candlewood Lake in the Sherman Town Park, however, Mr. Lowe learned that the Town is only allowed a total of 56 slips and the proposed Eagle Scout project by the local Boy Scout Troop would exceed that amount.  To move forward with the project, Mr. Lowe said the Town would have to apply to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for permission to exceed its allotment of fifty-six slips.  He noted, the process is lengthy with a substantial application fee.  “It is a $10,000 application.  It takes over one year to find out and there is no guarantee that you will get it; but we are trying to find some other way through this if we can,” he said.  For now, this worthwhile project is not able to move forward; Mr. Lowe withdrew it from the agenda.  

By Michelle L. Santoro