August 16 Update From Easton First Selectman Bindelglass

**News Release Submitted by Easton First Selectman Bindelglass**

Aug. 16, 2024

Good afternoon,

August is flying by and school will be starting before you know it. Last weekend Citizens for Easton sponsored the farm tour which, as always, brought rave reviews.

The Easton Senior Center will be offering adults by Appointment only: Flu, COVID, Shingles, and Pneumonia shots on Tuesday, September 24th, and Wednesday, October 16th, from 7:00am-Noon. Please call to schedule your appointment today at (203) 268-1145. Please bring your insurance ID when you come for your appointment. The center needs to start ordering doses so please make your appointments as soon as possible.

College students, please be sure to request your Absentee Ballot before you head back to school. Please visit https://www.eastonct.gov/home/news/attention-college-students for more information.

We have finally had a stretch of weather without rain or excessive heat so there is a new surface on the tennis/pickleball courts at Helen Keller Middle School. Play can begin on Saturday. We will be allowing play on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please be considerate of your neighbors and keep play to one hour. NOTE: We are aware that the center strap for adjusting the net is missing. It is on order and will be installed as soon as received.

As we continue to study traffic/speed controls in town, one of the options that has been presented to us is speed cameras which record speeds of passing cars and then can automatically send out warnings, and then fine notices. The speed for fines can be set at a minimum of 10mph above the posted limit or higher. Obviously, this could be controversial for a number of reasons. More to come as we get more information.

The town received a petition to hold a special meeting to change the ordinance governing the Planning and Zoning Commission. The proposed ordinance would abolish the current commission at the time of the next municipal election in 2025, and elect new members. It would also allow for the removal of a member “for cause” by a town meeting. Both of those provisions of the proposed ordinance have been reviewed by the town’s attorneys and are felt to be inconsistent with the laws of the State of Connecticut. Therefore, no special town meeting will be held. Nonetheless, I remain committed to proposing an ordinance change that would make the members of Planning and Zoning elected. At the August 1st selectman meeting, I laid out the principles of a proposed ordinance where, as current terms expired, replacements would be voted in. This principle was supported by my selectmen colleagues as well and conforms with current law.

This week we say goodbye to Pam Ferraina, Easton resident and assistant assessor. She did a wonderful job for our town and we thank her for all her hard work and wish her well in her new endeavors.

From the library: Save the dates! The Friends' annual used book sale will be held in the Community Room at the Library on Saturday, Sept. 28 from 9-4 and Sunday, Sept. 29 from 11-4. There will be a special sale event for children's books only on Friday, Sept. 27 from 3:30-6 pm. Children will be warmly welcomed as long as they are accompanied by an adult.

The Friends are eagerly awaiting donations of books, CDs and DVDs. We are also accepting games and puzzles. Now is the time to clear out unwanted books from your bookshelves! These may be dropped off at the Library during their normal hours of operation. Donations will be accepted through September 16. Please, no textbooks, encyclopedias, VHS tapes, cassettes, or LPs. Also, please do not donate anything that is torn, scribbled in, musty, mildewed, water damaged, falling apart, or out of date. (Demand is very low for travel guides from the 1970s.) Thank you for doing your part to make this year's sale a success in support of our Library!

Last week, I mentioned issues surrounding the sale of the Aquarion Water Company possibly to the quasi-governmental Regional Water Authority (RWA). Hearings will be held next week. Information regarding these meetings is as follows:

The public hearing times will take place on the following dates:

• Thursday, August 22 at 7:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, August 27 at 10:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.

You may attend the meetings in person at Hotel Marcel, 500 Sargent Drive, New Haven, Connecticut, or via remote access. For information on attending the meeting via remote access and to view the application and accompanying information, visit http://tinyurl.com/yyxk7xcs.
At last night’s selectmen meeting we approved a resolution in support of adopting the natural hazard mitigation plan for FEMA. The drafted plan can be viewed at: https://bit.ly/draft-nhmp-august with additional information here: https://ctmetro.org/regional-planning/environmental-planning/.

Lastly, on September 11th, I will host a brief gathering at the 9/11 memorial in front of the library. Similar to last year it will be low-key, and all are welcome. I will post the details shortly.

Have a great weekend!

Dave