Letter: Summer isn’t a slow time in Beacon Falls

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To the editor,

Now that we are officially into summer, we have a chance to take a collective breath and hopefully enjoy some recreational opportunities, vacation, and take advantage of the events happening around our community. However, that doesn’t mean that there’s any less activity happening around the town.

At the top of that list, I’d like to remind everyone that there will be a special meeting of the town’s Land Use/Open Space Board on Tuesday, July 7 at 7 p.m. in the Woodland Regional High School auditorium. The purpose of this board meeting is to conduct a public forum for discussion of the Beacon Falls Energy Park project. While the members of this board represent each of the key boards and commissions here in town, such as Planning and Zoning, Conservation, Inland Wetlands, etc., who will be poised to ask the tough, probing questions we need for complete transparency on this project, I strongly encourage every interested person in town to attend as well. This meeting will have opportunity for public comment and interaction with the development group prior to their taking the concept to the state Siting Council for a declaratory ruling on the viability of the project. There will be no better time for all of your questions and concerns to be addressed, up front, so please, mark your calendars.

Also, this month’s Board of Selectmen meeting will be held on Monday, June 6, one week earlier than usual in order to accommodate summertime schedules. Prior to that meeting, at 6:45 p.m. in the Town Hall Assembly Room, we will conduct a town meeting for the purpose of voting on a projected $2.1 million road bond package, which will completely address the condition and drainage issues for the entire length of Burton Road, Noe Place, and the remainder of Highland Avenue which is not covered by the grant money we received to perform similar repairs to Highland Avenue Extension. In addition, we had bid openings last Friday for the repair to the Town Hall parking lot approved at a town meeting earlier this year. That contract should be awarded as you read this article, and work should be completed over the summer.

On the lighter side of things, our Parks and Recreation programs begin to get into full swing this month. Our summer Concert on the Green series has already started, though Mother Nature has caused washouts over the last two weekends. Please check the schedule for the upcoming events, and new dates for any postponed concerts will be announced as they are decided. Additionally, our annual Family Day fireworks event is set for Saturday, July 11 at the Pent Road Recreation Complex, with busses running from the Woodland parking lot as usual. Earlier that morning, Matthies Park will be the site again for our third annual Cardboard Boat Regatta. Entries are already coming in to Town Hall, so please come out and support this interesting and fun event. We are also still taking reservations for the summer camp program, and this year we are partnering with the Naugatuck YMCA for an extended day afternoon program, which we are very excited about, so take advantage of these enjoyable opportunities for your youngsters to have plenty of local summer fun.

On a final note, we have had good turnouts since April at our monthly transfer station openings, and we are planning to have it open again on Saturday, July 25. Remember to get your Town of Beacon Falls resident sticker either from the Town Clerk’s office in Town Hall or at the Beacon Falls Police Station; the cost is only $2 and is required for anyone taking advantage of the transfer station openings, as well as to take advantage of Matthies Park as it is a residents-only recreation facility.

I hope you all have a safe and enjoyable summer.

Christopher Bielik

First Selectman

Beacon Falls