Don Lowe First Selectman Column 03 10 2025
Our Town budget process has been ongoing with one of our last budget workshops to be held tonight (Monday, as I write this). On March 26 at 7pm in Mallory Town Hall we will hold a budget hearing for people to ask questions and make comments. Previous to that, a near final draft of both the Education budget and the Town budget will be posted on the Town website.
All of the budget meetings have been successful and our Board of Selectmen (BOS) has been working together with our business manager Liz LaVia and our treasurer Andrea Maloney in a productive and cooperative manner, like we always do. I am personally grateful for both Liz and Andrea as they bring tremendous expertise to the mission. We are not yet able to give you a preview of what the budget looks like yet and tell what you will be voting on at the Budget referendum, but we will as soon as possible. The referendum will be held from 8am to 8pm on Saturday, May 3.
As we did last year, on the same day as the budget referendum (May 3), we will be holding a Community Expo on the Town Green sponsored by the Conservation Commission and the Commission of the Arts. Many local organizations with be putting up information booths to display their missions. This, after three years, is turning into a robust and well-attended event and also features live music and activities for the children.
Just a reminder that the Board of Assessment Appeals meets on Saturday, March 22. This is by appointment-only and homeowners needed to have applied for an appointment by February 20. Those who sent in the appeal form should have already been notified of their appointment time. If you missed this deadline, you’ll have another opportunity to appeal your property assessment in September.
We are looking for at least one more member for the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA). This commission meets (usually) no more than once a month and takes on land use/building cases that Planning and Zoning cannot rule on. This is thought-provoking work, and if you are someone who has an interest in these types of issues then this might be an enjoyable way to volunteer for Sherman. Reach out to me if you have interest.
We’ve put our clocks forward now and there is certainly the touch of spring in the air. I like this quote from Charles Dickens Great Expectations where he writes, "It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold, when it is summer in the light and winter in the shade." Sort of reminds me of this week’s weather. And, though unrelated except
