From the Desk of the First Selectman
Don Lowe First Selectman Column 09/02/24
Labor Day weekend is now behind us and, basically, so is the summer of 2024. I hope you’ve had a wonderful summer. As they say, your tan will fade but the memories go on forever. To me, there’s something in the air this time of year that prods, “Okay. Now it’s time to get serious.” And there are a lot of important things coming up.
The October 5 referendum on the Sherman School renovation/repair project is at the forefront of serious upcoming matters. There are several important dates associated with this referendum. First off, while the voting day is from 8am to 8pm at Charter Hall on Saturday October 5, Sherman taxpayers can also vote absentee starting Tuesday, September 24 thru Friday, October 4. Ballots can be picked up from 9am to noon, and 1pm to 4pm on Tuesday thru Friday of those dates at Mallory Town Hall in the Town Clerk’s office. Also, we are opening the Town Clerk’s office on Saturday, September 28 from 9am to noon in order to better accommodate residents for absentee ballots. Remember that any Sherman property owner/taxpayer can vote in a referendum; it’s not limited to only registered voters like it is in an election of candidates.
Other important dates related to the referendum are September 14 at 9:30am in Charter Hall for a Town informational forum on the project. Another Town informational forum on the project is scheduled for Tuesday, September 17 at 7pm via Zoom for another chance to learn more about the project prior to the vote. Lastly, there is a Town Meeting on September 21 at 10am in Charter Hall wherein we move the YES/NO school project question officially to referendum. That meeting will also provide another opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the project.
All of the questions on the school project involving a repair only option, building a new school, and bussing a portion of our students (grades 5 thru 8) to area middle schools have been now been explored and answered. Each option is filled with lengthy timeframes and financial uncertainties and that’s why I urge you to support (vote Yes) the current option being proposed. This proposal features a manageable work timeline and a not-to-exceed cost with a well-supervised financing/bonding plan leveraged for the lowest possible taxpayer impact. In last week’s column I wrote what that impact is likely to be. Expect a mailer in your mail box in the coming days that outlines the cost and offers a formula so that you will know what this project means dollar-wise for your tax bill.
In any case, our school’s infrastructure is failing on several fronts and one thing is guaranteed: the State and Federal government mandate that students attend school in a safe environment. That includes proper heating, ventilation, plumbing, roofing, and general facility well-being. Sherman WILL be asked to fix what breaks and what is presently broken. We can do this in control of our work timeline (two years) and financing numbers, or we can be forced to piecemeal this work on demand over the course of many years at an unknown expense and repeated interruption of the educational process. Again, I urge you to vote for this plan.
The Sherman Church is holding a service of thankfulness for all EMS/Fire first responders at this Sunday’s service, September 8 at 10am. The church will recognize the dedication of Sherman’s first responders all are welcome to attend. A special coffee hour will follow in the church’s Fellowship Hall.
