Chair Report: May 9th Meeting Preview

Good Afternoon, and a happy first Friday of May neighbors! First, I would like to thank everyone who came out to vote at the budget referendum. Voter turnout has improved over the past three years since not having one in 2020 due to the pandemic, but we will continue to strive for more engagement throughout the process as well as turnout at referendum time. Please see below a preview of our regular town council meeting to be held on May 9th.

On Tuesday, May 9th the Town Council will first read into the record a proclamation recognizing International Firefighters Day, which was on Thursday May 4th. The Council sent a care package in appreciation as well on Thursday.

Following this reading, the Town Council has five new items of business to conduct. The first will be a general budget discussion and a consideration of a resolution to establish the mill rate based on the passage of the budget at referendum on May 2nd.

The next two items of business will be setting public hearings for Tuesday, May 23rd. The first public hearings will include a consideration for supplemental appropriations for a bridge improvement project across the Willimantic River at South River Road, which will be reimbursed 100% by state and federal funding by allowing the Town Manager to accept the reward after funds are allocated by the town up front.

The second public hearing item are revisions to Ordinance 60, Tolland’s local tax relief program for seniors or disabled homeowners. The program is proposed to be revised from a flat freeze based on the home’s assessed value to a credit program with annual increases in the credit. Staff and a resident volunteer spoke on the changes at our previous meeting that the program will maintain benefits for those households under the current plan, simplify implementing the program going forward and is intended to improve participation as well as ease the application process for seniors.

The fourth item of business is a consideration of a resolution to authorize the Town Manager to submit an application for the Department of Agriculture’s Farm Viability Grant. This grant will award up to $5,000 to the Agriculture commission to develop new marketing materials and other projects to support the new farmer’s market on the Tolland Green. The state will offer a 60% match and the town will cover the remaining 40% of whatever is awarded.

The final item of business is appointing a new member to the Tolland Housing Authority.

To review the minutes and packet, please visit:

May 9th Meeting Agenda – https://ecode360.com/TO1208/document/724730626.pdf

May 9th Regular Meeting Packet – https://www.tollandct.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif3921/f/uploads/2023-05-09_regular_meeting_packet.pdf

Town Manager’s May Report - https://www.tollandct.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif3921/f/uploads/2023-05-09_mnanger_report_with_attachments.pdf

Thank you for taking the time to review this report and the attached links above. If you would like to submit any questions or comments to the Town Council regarding town-related topics, please email us at towncouncil@tollandct.gov.