I’d like to provide an update on the following Town matters:
1. Holiday Season: Best wishes to all for a wonderful and safe Holiday Season. PLEASE SLOW DOWN WHEN DRIVING! The Portland Police remind us to never drink and drive and to wear seatbelts, simple suggestions to improve everyone’s safety.
2. Water: The two questions on the November 4 ballot passed overwhelmingly. The first question was for $1.025 million for water storage tank improvements, and the second was for $816,000 for the High Street Water Main replacement. The dollars for these projects will come from the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund, which provides low interest loans for water system improvements. Water rates will need to be adjusted to pay for these loans. The Water Authority (Board of Selectmen) will be discussing these projects over the next several months.
3. Elmcrest Re-Development: A meeting with Town Staff and the Developers’ Staff occurred this past week. The site plan application to the Planning Department is expected very soon.
4. Boat Launch at Brownstone Avenue: The State Department of Environmental Protection gave approval for the final plan and cost estimate of the Boat Launch to be completed by Fuss & O’Neill, the project engineers. We will have a public meeting to present to all in the near future.
5. Extension of Brownstone Avenue: Our town engineers are completing plans for the road extension to Middlesex Avenue. This project, funded through a STEAP Grant is expected to commence Spring 2009.
6. Streetscape project (Main Street from the Arrigoni Bridge to Marlborough St.): Preliminary designs have been submitted to the Town. A public informational session (60% design) will be held in January-February. This is a fully funded Federal and State Transportation project to improve the safety and appearance of Main Street.
7. DOT Traffic Light – Route 66/Payne Boulevard/Middle Haddam Road Intersection: The DOT contractor has conducted site surveying as well as the re-surfacing of Payne Boulevard. Currently on a winter break, the project will resume work again in April; to be completed by June 2009. Thank you for your patience.
8. Courtesy: I have been asked by a resident to remind all dog owners to curb their dog. It is a Town Ordinance to pick up after our best friends – it’s good for the environment and simply common courtesy of our neighbors. Thank you for your cooperation.
I will provide periodic updates on these matters – feel free to call me anytime.
