Killingworth Selectmen Approve $9,850 For Addiction Prevention, Review PFAS Testing And Speeding

KILLINGWORTH, CT — The Killingworth Board of Selectmen unanimously approved $9,850.42 in opioid settlement funding for Haddam-Killingworth Youth and Family Services during its Oct. 13 meeting, while also reviewing additional PFAS contamination testing and concerns about speeding on town roads.

The board also approved the purchase of a portable sound system for Parmelee Farm, discussed revisions to the town's ethics code and reviewed plans for selling two town-owned lots on Beaver Dam Road.

All three selectmen — First Selectman Eric Couture, Nancy Gorski and Joel D'Angelo — attended the meeting.

Opioid Settlement Funding Approved

The board voted 3-0 to approve a fiscal year 2027 funding request from Haddam-Killingworth Youth and Family Services for addiction prevention and related programming.

D'Angelo made the motion, which Gorski seconded.

Finance Director Regina Regolo reported that Killingworth had received $96,950 in opioid settlement funds and distributed just under $25,000, leaving approximately $72,000 available before the newly approved allocation.

Couture noted that the timing and amounts of future settlement payments could vary.

Additional PFAS Investigation Proposed

Richard Desrosiers of GZA presented a proposal for additional testing of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, at the town campus and fire station.

The proposed investigation would have two phases.

The first would test a wooded area for PFAS contamination and assess groundwater depth and potential future use of the property.

The second would determine the horizontal and vertical extent of known contamination to help estimate remediation costs and support potential state funding and grant applications.

Board members discussed possible cleanup approaches, associated expenses and whether Connecticut Water might contribute to the investigation costs.

The board asked GZA to divide its proposal into two separate change orders, with individual costs for each phase, and to discuss possible cost-sharing with Connecticut Water.

A special meeting involving Connecticut Water may be scheduled.

No change order was approved during the meeting.

Resident Raises Speeding Concerns

Stuart Heisler, of 464 Roast Meat Hill Road, raised concerns about speeding and neighborhood safety.

Heisler said he had contacted the town at least twice about the problem, filed an incident report and could provide video documenting speeding vehicles.

The selectmen acknowledged that speeding is a townwide concern and discussed possible speed cameras, updated traffic data and additional enforcement.

Previous enforcement efforts resulted in approximately 200 tickets, primarily in the southern part of town, according to the meeting minutes. Future enforcement is expected to address locations throughout Killingworth.

Couture said the town had requested a state safety audit of the intersection of Route 80 and Roast Meat Hill Road.

He said the state initially reported only one recorded accident at the intersection over five years. The town subsequently submitted additional records from the Ambulance Association and Valley Shore for review.

The intersection also may be considered for inclusion in the Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments' Transportation Improvement Program.

Couture said he would follow up with RiverCOG representatives Rob Haramut and Kevin Armstrong about updated traffic information.

He also planned to consult state Reps. Tom Fenton and Matt Carroll about a possible engineering review of Roast Meat Hill Road.

The board requested an update at its second meeting in November.

Ethics Code Revisions Under Review

Robert Rimmer of the Ethics Committee summarized revisions to the proposed town ethics code following a public hearing.

Rimmer said the committee removed language requiring officials and employees to acknowledge the code because they are already subject to other applicable laws and governing documents.

The selectmen discussed whether the code's application to Board of Education members should be clarified in town human resources policies.

The Ethics Committee relied on existing legal guidance but did not make a determination on that issue, according to the minutes.

The Board of Selectmen will review the revised code before scheduling a Town Meeting.

Members also discussed coordinating the ethics code and the Multi-Year Capital Improvement Plan for consideration at the same Town Meeting.

Capital Plan Targeted For November

The selectmen reviewed preparations for presenting the town's Multi-Year Capital Improvement Plan.

Discussion focused on explaining the plan's spending tiers, recurring costs and major capital expenditures.

Board members emphasized the need to account for changing costs, including inflation and fluctuations in diesel fuel prices for snow removal.

The plan is reviewed annually to reflect changing financial conditions and maintain eligibility for state funding.

The board hopes to present the plan at a November Town Meeting, with December as an alternative, and finalize it before Jan. 1 to meet the state's planning deadline.

Couture identified Nov. 9 and Nov. 23 as possible Town Meeting dates but said the board was not yet ready to schedule one.

Town-Owned Beaver Dam Road Lots Could Be Sold

Couture reported that attorney David Tycz is reviewing the legal requirements for selling two town-owned lots on Beaver Dam Road.

The town acquired the properties in 2019 through foreclosure or a deed in lieu of foreclosure as collateral for costs associated with completing Beaver Dam Road.

Couture said a Town Meeting might not be required to authorize the sale because the properties were not acquired for open space or public use, although the original acquisition approval remains unclear.

A public hearing would be required because of the properties' value.

Couture said he would obtain a legal opinion and that the selectmen would need to adopt a new resolution authorizing him to execute sale documents.

The properties would be offered through a best-offer process. Only one inquiry had been received at the time of the meeting.

No sale was authorized.

Portable Sound System Approved For Parmelee Farm

The board voted 3-0 to approve the purchase of a portable public address system for Parmelee Farm at a cost not to exceed $525.

Gorski made the motion, and D'Angelo seconded.

Tim Gannon requested the equipment, which includes two additional wireless microphones, for community events such as the Pumpkin Carving Gathering, Christmas at the Farm and the Lions Easter Egg Hunt.

The proposed purchase price was $468.49.

The equipment would be purchased through the town's Amazon account, with funding from the former Farm Activity Account, which contains money raised by farm volunteers. The purchase was also subject to Board of Finance approval.

During public comment, Gannon said the Board of Finance had acknowledged that $500 remained in the approved concert budget because three concerts were held instead of four.

He said those funds would be used for the equipment purchase.

Budget Preparation Underway

Regolo reported that the town's annual audit is due Dec. 31 and that budget materials for fiscal year 2027-28 are being prepared for distribution by Nov. 1.

Those materials will include a budget timeline, cover memorandum and worksheets.

The town is working to standardize capital requests from departments and organizations, including Highway, Parks and Recreation, Parmelee Farm and the Fire Company.

A draft Jacobson Road assessment is expected during the first week of November for preliminary review before distribution to the full board.

The selectmen agreed to add the budget process to their next meeting agenda to discuss beginning preparations earlier and coordinating departmental presentations.

Gorski also emphasized the importance of having a Board of Education representative attend selectmen's meetings during budget season to answer questions.

Other Business

The board unanimously approved seven overpayment refunds totaling $768.59.

The selectmen also approved the minutes of their Sept. 28 special meeting by a 3-0 vote.