By Michelle L. Santoro

Sherman – A large number of residents gathered for a Town Meeting at Charter Hall Monday evening, August 17, to vote on several items previously warned and presented to them, including a request of the Sherman School Building Committee (“SBC”) for a pre-referendum appropriation for pre-construction design services.  First Selectman Don Lowe and Selectmen Joel Bruzinski and Bob Ostrosky were present.  Resident Jim Reilly was elected Moderator of the meeting and read the Warning for all in attendance, then proceeded to ask residents to vote on each item individually.   

Following the August 1 Special Meeting of the Board of Selectmen (“BOS”), Board of Finance (“BOF”), Board of Education (“BOE”) and the SBC, held at the request of the SBC, residents were asked to authorize an appropriation, not-t o-exceed $340,000, from the capital non-recurring fund to fund the preparation of schematic drawings, outline specifications, and associated architectural, engineering, and related se rvices for the Sherman School Renovation Project.  At the Special Meeting the necessity of this pre-referendum funding was explained.  One hundred sixty-six residents voted.  The registrars conducted a hand vote based on a show of cards. The motion passed with 121 residents voting in favor of the appropriation – or seventy-three [73%] percent – and 45 residents voting against it – or twenty-four [24%] percent. 

At the August 1 meeting, it was further explained that the State required certain resolutions before Sherman could apply to it for construction cost assistance for the project.  Residents were asked to consider and authorize the following: (1) a resolution that the Sherman School Building Committee, the formation of which was approved in Town Meeting on May 26, 2022, is hereby authorized (to act) as the bui lding committee with regard to the Sherman School Renovation Project, (2) a resolution that authorizes at least the (pre-referendum) preparation of schematic drawings and outline specifications for the Sherman School Renovation Project; and (3) a resolution that authorizes the Sherman Board of Education to apply to the Commissioner of Administrative Services (for monies toward the project) and to accept or reject a grant for the Sherman School Renovation Project (from the state).  Each resolution was overwhelmingly approved by voters by a show of cards raised in favor.   

At its July board meeting, the Board of Selectmen (“BOS”) voted to move to town meeting a request to retroactively authorize an emergency expenditure of $9,521.66 from the capital nonrecurring fund for an A/C unit condenser in Town Hall, and to authorize the discontinuance of the Town of Sherman Ordinance Regarding Septic System Management – the “Walk-Over” ordinance.  Both items were overwhelmingly approved by residents by a show of cards raised in favor thereof.

Residents can find additional information related to the SBC/BOE’s preferred conceptual design for the school’s renovation that was prepared for and discussed at the Special Meeting held by the BOS earlier this month at:  

Further, additional information – including slideshows – and recordings of all meetings related to the school renovation project can be found at: