Aug. 30 Update From Bethel First Selectman Carter

**News Release Submitted by Bethel First Selectman Dan Carter**

Aug. 30, 2024

Dear Bethel,

Another increase in the public benefits charges on our electric bills start tomorrow, so the Board of Selectmen sent a letter to Governor Lamont. The July increases hit residents hard and increased costs to the town by $300k to $400K. We asked the Governor to encourage PURA to reconsider its decision to increase the charges, since state law allows them to do so in a specified time. We also asked the Governor to push the legislature to focus on energy costs in the next session, special or regular. And we want the Governor to veto future requests by the legislature to use the public benefits charge to make rate payers pay for things that taxes should be used for.

From the Tax Collector: If you didn’t pay taxes by the due date, please use the pink envelops sent with the delinquent bills to send payments or drop payments off at the Tax Collector’s office. The blue envelopes sent out with normal bills will take longer to arrive at Town Hall.

The Charter Revision Commission held its first regular meeting this week. The commission focused on reviewing recommendations from the last charter revision report in 2019 that were recommended by the current Board of Selectmen. Next regular meeting: Wednesday, September 4th at 7pm at the Town Hall in meeting room A. Check out https://bethel-ct.gov/2024-crc for more information. You can also watch this and other recorded meetings at https://www.youtube.com/@Bethel-ctGov.

Attention Bethel sewer customers: Stony Hill Phase 1 Assessments were mailed on Monday, August 26th and the last day to pay without penalty is October 1st. Stony Hill Phase 2 Assessments HAVE NOT been mailed due to a software issue. We working with our soon-to-be-former vendor and will mail the bills when the issue is resolved. The last day to pay Phase 2 assessments will be extended and the due date will be printed on your bill.

Mosquitos are no joke. 443 of the little pests have been trapped by the state at Meckauer Park this summer and last week one of them tested positive for West Nile Virus. There are no vaccines to prevent or medicines to treat West Nile in people. Most people infected do not have symptoms, but 1 out of 150 infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness. In Eastern CT mosquitos have also tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis. Learn more about protecting yourself at https://portal.ct.gov/mosquito.

The next office hours is on Wednesday, September 4th from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm at Town Hall in the First Selectman Office. It is a great time to stop in and share ideas or concerns. Always feel free to call 203-794-8540 or email firstselectman@bethel-ct.gov for an appointment.

The Bethel Park and Recreation Fall Program Brochure is out! For info and to register for our often imitated, but never duplicated programming, visit https://bethelct.myrec.com. Access the Fall Flyer directly here:
https://bethelct.myrec.com/email_files/uploads/Fall_Flyer_2024.pdf

The Bethel Community Food Pantry can use your help! They are looking for a coordinator to oversee the schedule, stay in touch with volunteers, make deposits (one or two a month), and pay bills. They also need a volunteer to manage the food distribution, including tracking inventory, ordering food from the Connecticut Foodshare food bank, shopping online, and coordinating volunteer shoppers. If interested in volunteering for a great cause, please call 203-947-1754 or email: bcfp141@gmail.com.

WorkspaceCT’s fall schedule has been released! By popular demand, they are offering several adult cooking classes. And for kids, they have great theatre programs, family cooking and adult & me sewing classes. If you need childcare on No School days, they added full-day programs for kids (grade 2 and up) on October 3rd and November 1st. Register here: https://www.workspacect.org/events

This Sunday, September 1st the Bethel Holiday Weekend Craft Festival will be on the Town Hall lawn from 11 am to 5 pm.

Our next Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Day for Bethel residents is September 7th at Ridgefield High School from 9 am to 1 pm. It is super easy and they remove the items from your car for you. Check out what you can and can’t dispose of at https://hrra.org/household-hazardous-waste.

If you wash your car on the weekends, why not help out the BHS Field Hockey team and stop by their car wash on Saturday, September 7th from 12-4pm behind the Town Hall. Enter on the CVS side of the building. If you can’t make it, consider a contribution at https://bethel-high-school-all-sports-booster-club.square.site/s/shop.

Don’t miss the Bethel Police Department Annual Cornhole Tournament on September 7th at the Putnam House. Only 36 teams can compete, but there will be plenty of food and fun for everyone! The Putnam House is donating a portion of food & beverage proceeds to Special Olympics Connecticut. For more info and to register, visit
https://give.soct.org/event/2024-bethel-police-department-cornhole-tournament/e602484

A big shoutout to the Bethel Public Schools on your recognition for your mathematics results by the State Department of Education!

Congrats to the teachers, students, staff, and bus drivers who started school this week! As for the bus drivers and students, let’s use caution around school bus stops!

Shoutout to our summer concert series sponsor, Union Savings! Thanks for supporting great music and our amazing downtown!

Thank you to the BHS All Sports Booster Club for your “Welcome Back” gift to our BHS community. The decorated entrance to the High School is amazing! Showing off the Wildcat Pride NEVER gets old!

Have a great weekend!
Dan