NATIONAL VIETNAM WAR VETERANS DAY
This year marked the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War which was commemorated on March 29th. I would like to thank the 9 million Americans who served our country and honor their bravery and commitment. I recognize the impact this war had on our veterans and their families, and I want to give thanks to the survivors and those who sacrificed their lives on behalf of our nation. We will always remember those whose lives were lost and honor the soldiers who returned home.
COVID-19 UPDATE
As COVID-19 numbers rise with the spread of the Omicron subvariant BA.2, we are continuing to monitor cases both locally and statewide. Southbury saw a decreased number of positive cases last week and currently has a 6.1% positivity rate. I will be working with our Emergency Management team as we continue to evaluate the situation and will recommend appropriate mitigation strategies as necessary. I urge all residents to stay safe during this surge and will provide updates as we continue to monitor the spread in Southbury.
TOWN BUDGET UPDATE
The Board of Finance and Board of Selectmen held a joint special meeting this past Monday to vote on the annual Town budget. The budget was approved unanimously by the Board of Finance and will move forward to Town referendum on May 4th. I am proud of the work of all involved in developing this budget and believe we have created a responsible spending plan for this coming fiscal year. The municipal budget has increased 1.5% with the Region 15 School District at a 3.45% increase. If approved, the mill rate will be 28.6, a decrease of 7/10 from last year. I urge residents to come out to the polls and vote in favor of the budget on May 4th. Voting information for the referendum can be found here.
BALLANTINE POOL
The preliminary design for Ballantine Pool and Bath House is moving forward. The engineers from Silver Petrucelli & Associates toured the facility last week to help with their design of good, better, best options for our pool complex. These options will help the Town make an informed decision on the best way to proceed with our aging facility.
Pool & Bath House Options:
- Good: Build a new pool consistent with what we currently have and update the bath house to current ADA compliance.
- Better: Build a new zero entry pool with a water feature, six swim lanes and a bath house that meets the size requirements of the larger pool.
- Best: Build a zero entry pool with two additional swim lanes, a snack bar and new bath house consistent with the size requirements of the larger pool.
I am looking forward to continue working with Silver Petrucelli & Associates to complete the preliminary design and cost estimates for these three options and will be providing updates as we move along in the process.
JOB OPENINGS
The Town has many exciting employment opportunities available that we have advertised for this week. Applications and job descriptions for these positions can be found here.
Planning Director
We are hiring for a Planning Director to join our Land Use Department and manage the operations of Planning, Zoning and Inland Wetlands. The Town is in the process of updating its Plan of Conservation and Development, so this position offers an exciting opportunity for involvement in this important project. The position requires administering, enforcing and interpreting State Statutes and Town regulations relating to Planning and working with the land use boards and commissions, outside agencies and the general public. The salary range is $75,000-$85,000 and is full-time at 35 hours/week with a comprehensive benefits package.
Fire Marshal
The Town is looking for a new Fire Marshal to join our team. This position is responsible for fire inspections and investigations, building plan reviews, permitting for open burning and fireworks, developing and managing the department budget and organizing fire prevention and education programs. I encourage individuals with State of Connecticut Fire Marshal or Deputy Fire Marshal certifications and three to five years of fire marshal or firefighting experience to apply. Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered. This is a full-time position at 35 hours/week with a salary range of $65,000-$75,000/year.
Project Manager
The Public Works Department is hiring for a full-time Project Manager at 35 hours/week with a comprehensive benefits package. The salary range is $65,000-$70,000/year. This position will be in charge of coordinating and managing construction and repair projects for Town infrastructure. We have a great team at Public Works and are working on many exciting projects such as two bridge repairs and preparing for the construction season. We are looking for candidates with five years of experience in management of public works or construction projects and a Bachelor degree in project management, engineering IT, accounting or related field.
The Town is also hiring for a part-time Library Assistant, Assistant Animal Control Officer and Transfer Station Laborer. More details about these positions can be found here.
Jeff Manville
Southbury First Selectman