BoS conducts business

#Middlebury #ChiefDeely #Peddlers

By MARJORIE NEEDHAM

Actions the Middlebury Board of Selectmen (BoS) completed at their September 19 meeting included approving a permanent police chief, designating where some of the ARPA funds will go, awarding a contract for the Fenn Farm cupola restoration, and discussing the evolving peddler’s ordinance. First Selectman Edward B. St. John also gave an update on water line projects in town.

Police Chief Patrick Deely

Selectmen unanimously approved changing the status of Acting Police Chief Patrick Deely to permanent police chief. Deely had served as the acting police chief since the retirement of Chief Fran Dabbo in August 2021. St. John said he was pleased with the changes Deely has made during the past year.

Social Services and Senior Center Director JoAnn Cappelletti presented several requests for ARPA funds to help her department’s clients. She asked for $1,000 for a telephone reassurance program called “Are You OK?” that makes daily automated calls to folks registered for the service. It is intended for folks who are seniors or disabled (or simply live alone).

The program calls each home daily. If no one has answered the call by the third attempt, the police department is contacted so an officer can make a welfare check. The one-time cost of the program covers the software and a training fee. Cappelletti said Southbury is already using the program.

Next, she requested funds to assist clients who may lose electrical service in May 2023 because the cost of electricity has increased, the program that helped clients struggling to pay their electric bills during COVID will no longer exist and assistance grants are decreasing to $1,200 per client from $2,500.

She also asked for funds to help clients cover the cost of home heating fuel. She explained the two available fuel assistance programs, both of which have payment limitations, and said the jump in the cost of home heating fuel will mean clients this year will run out of resources faster than in the past.

St. John said Middlebury’s ARPA fund assistance needs to be limited to Middlebury residents, and ground rules for both the electric and home heating bill assistance need to be set.

After discussing the level of funding needed, St. John said ARPA funds would be designated so $1,000 would go to “Are You OK?”, $5,000 would be set aside to help clients with their electric bills, and $10,000 would be set aside to help clients with their home heating bills.

Selectmen turned next to bids for repairing the Fenn’s Farm cupola and installing the new weathervane donated by a Middlebury resident. On the recommendation of the Land Preservation and Open Space Commission, St. John made a motion to accept the bid by M.F. Rosa Contracting of Wolcott to do the work for $12,899. Work may begin as early as October 1.

Selectmen continue to work on the details of the new peddler’s ordinance. Selectman Ralph Barra has been in charge of this project, and he asked for it to be taken into final consideration. Selectman Elaine Strobel asked for a text amendment and also asked how the fee in the proposed ordinance compares with fees in surround towns. St. John asked Barra to review the ordinance with Police Chief Deely before final consideration.

A moratorium on door-to-door peddling in town remains in effect until the new ordinance is approved and accepted. The proposed ordinance includes payment of a $250 refundable fee, being fingerprinted, having a background check, and getting a badge issued that peddlers will wear as they go door to door.

St. John then discussed the water line replacement projects. He said work was about to begin on replacing the Westover lines on North and South Streets. Next year, water lines in the Pies & Pub and Vyne area will be replaced. He said the current water line project on Strait’s Turnpike from Richardson Drive to Middlebury Edge is almost complete.

Selectmen also approved several appointments. St. John nominated himself to fill the seat on the North West Connecticut Public Safety Communications Center held by Rich Nicol until his recent passing. St. John also motioned to have Jesse Langer (Unaffiliated) serve in a Republican position on the Economic Development Commission with the understanding the position will remain Republican, and Selectman Elaine Strobel motioned to have Dave Sieling (R) serve the rest of Jack Worgan’s term on the Parks and Recreation Commission following Worgan’s resignation.

Selectmen are scheduled to meet next on Monday, October 3, at 4 p.m. in the Town Hall Conference Room.