News from Brookfield Town Hall

August 4, 2015

Town Beach Park and Cadigan Park

These parks are BEAUTIFUL! Progress at the Town Beach on Candlewood Lake continues and completion is in sight. The boat ramp, beach, cabana building, and the northern end landscape are complete and in-use. Site work on the Southern end of the park is the only major work remaining and the progress made daily is visually easy to follow. All work should be completed by mid-August. After the close of the season, corrective measures will be taken to reduce ground water moisture content on the beach sand surface.

Across the road from the beach at Cadigan Park - the Pavilion, Bath House and Concession stand buildings are also near completion. This outdoor sports complex must be the best in the state...also beautiful and a source of pride for our town!

Please mark your calendars for Saturday, September 26, 2:00pm to 7:00pm. We will take that time as a community to celebrate the completion of these facilities with an official ribbon cutting. The celebration will feature music, games, food, swimming, and pontoon boat rides on the lake.

The Still River Greenway

Can you believe it? YES! Construction has begun on this project and it will be completed by the beginning of next summer. This two mile multi-use pedestrian trail will have its Southern Terminus on Rt133/Junction Road and its Northern Terminus on Route 202 near the Four Corners. The Greenway will cost $2.8 million to build; 80% of the cost is funded by a Department of Transportation grant and 20% by Town of Brookfield funds.

Brookfield Schools - A fresh start from a strong position

In the last two years, Brookfield has struggled with a number of administrative issues in our schools. Those issues have been, and continue to be addressed - the issues are mostly behind us. Happily, on behalf of the entire community, it is with great pleasure that I welcome John Barile, Superintendent; Maureen Ruby, Asst. Superintendent; and Al Cameron, Director of Business and Operations. As new administrators, they join a teaching staff and school system that is highly ranked by state and national standards.

Moving ahead - John, Maureen, and Al start from a strong position. The Town approved: 1) an increase to the schools budget of $1.0 million (2.5%) for FY 2015/2016, and 2) appropriated $2.7 million for a long list of capital maintenance projects. Our schools have the lowest ratio of students-to-teachers, and students-to-full time employees in our history. We teach Spanish K-12. We've had full day kindergarten for a number of years, in a kind, nurturing early childhood environment - Center School. We have more Advanced Placement (AP) courses at the High School than ever before. More and more of our high school graduates are attending highly ranked and competitive 4 year collegiate programs; and every High School student is supplied an IPad to assist their studies and access to information.

In November, we will elect a predominately new Board of Education. I look forward to working collaboratively with our new board members and administrators to advance student readiness and tackle the facility improvement needs we face...especially in grades K-5. From a base of strength, we look forward to "raising the bar".

In closing, please let me extend my best wishes to all for the safe enjoyment of the rest of the summer.

Bill Tinsley

First Selectman

Brookfield, CT

SELECTMEN'S MEETING: The next regular Board of Selectmen's Meeting will be held on Monday, August 3 at 7:30pm in Meeting Room 133 at Town Hall. The meeting will be live streamed on the Town's website and posted the following day on the home page in Video on Demand.

SPECIAL TOWN MEETING: The Board of Selectmen has scheduled a Special Town Meeting prior to their regular meeting on Monday, August 3, at 7:00pm in Meeting Room 133, regarding two items:

STILL RIVER GREENWAY PROJECT: A Special Town Meeting to consider and act upon a resolution to authorize an appropriation of $396,000 in addition to the $2,407,000 previously appropriated (on 5-6-14) to fund the costs of the design and construction of approximately 8,500 foot multi-use trail. The State of Ct will expend 80% of the $396,000 appropriation and the Town will pay the additional 20% totaling $79,200. You may view the Special Town Meeting Notice and Resolutions on the Town's website.

LOTCIP GRANT: A Special Town Meeting to consider and act upon a resolution authorizing a special appropriation in the amount of $798,351 using LOTCIP grant funds (100%) for the purposes detailed in the LOTCIP grant contract and summarized as Roadway and Streetscape improvements at the Route 202 and Route 25 intersection. You may view the Special Town Meeting Notice and Resolutions on the Town's website.