Board of Finance: School Finances Questioned; Speed Hump Funding Tabled

Proposed speed humps would not impede snowplowing
11/20/24
Present were Chair Allan Walker, Paul Collins, Bob Valentine. Alternates Russell Murdock and Patrick Reilly were also seated.
The Board of Finance reviewed and received financial reports submitted by Debbie Franklin for October 2024 as well as Tax Collector Rebecca Juchert-Derungs’ October 2024 report.
According to First Selectman Todd Carusillo, early voting costs were higher than expected this election season. Goshen received a $2,000 grant for early voting, a $10,500 grant for general voting, and a $4730 election technology grant to help cover election costs.
Meanwhile, the town has still not received the Region 6 School District auditor’s report despite the Region 20 referendum being held on Tuesday, December 3rd. The Board of Selectmen have since endorsed the referendum question of “Do you support the RSD20 BOE to appropriate $1,900,000 to pay for debt service costs incurred as a part of the establishment of RSD20 and pursuant to the Plan Amendment approved by voters of the District on June 28, 2022 and to authorize the issuance of bond or notes of the district in an amount not to exceed $1,900,000 to finance the appropriation?”. Carusillo explained that they supported the question because the debt is part of the merger of Litchfield and WAMOGO that was approved in 2022. Region 6’s previously bonded debt will be absorbed by Region 20 if the question is passed.
Bob Valentine suggested that someone from Region 6 and Region 20 contact each municipality’s Board of Finance in Region 20, Goshen, Litchfield, Morris and Warren, to clear up questions and concerns about the referendum and the Region’s budget. “We’re reading this stuff in the newspaper,” said Valentine. “We’re going to be asked to weigh in substantial sum of monies and I’m skeptical, as one member of the Board of Finance, I’m skeptical that we have these liabilities. And, if in fact, we do have these liabilities, we’re due an explanation as to why we have these liabilities.” Valentine explained that he believes that the Board of Finance shouldn’t tell the people of Goshen that they need to pay Region 20 anything without proper communication on the school district’s debt.
Carusillo attended two Municipal Solid Waste meetings at the Northwest Hills Council of Governments (COG) and reported that the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority’s (MIRA) tipping fees for Goshen will soon increase from $131 per ton to $181 per ton. Carusillo and other members are striving to gain control of the Torrington Transfer Station ahead of MIRA’s closure in 2027 to “...control the tipping fees” and prevent USA Hauling from controlling the station. According to Anthony Costa, owner of Bridgeport-based Enviro Express that currently operates the Torrington Station, if the COG is able to acquire the Station and bring back MIRA opt-outs, Torrington, Litchfield, Morris, Harwinton and Goshen’s tipping fees could be reduced to $116.50 per ton. Carusillo further stated that if tipping fees go over $181, he plans on opting out of the MIRA contract.
The Woodridge Lake Property Owner’s Association sent a letter to the Board of Finance requesting funding to install three 14-foot-wide speed humps on Shelbourne and East Hyerdale Drives for $15,000. According to a UCONN Traffic Study, speedsters have been found driving at two or three times the legal speeding limit, putting walkers, runners, and bicyclists in potential danger. The humps would reportedly force drivers to slow to 15-20 mph but still allow snowplows and other emergency vehicles to operate unimpeded. Michael Edison, President of the Association, attended the meeting to discuss the fund request. “We went out and looked at speed humps at other towns that are using them and that turned out to be the most feasible technical solution to slowing people down. You can’t really drive more than 15 or 20 miles an hour over that speed hump without becoming really uncomfortable”. Other towns utilizing the type of speed humps proposed for Goshen include West Hartford, Farmington, Simsbury, and Great Barrington, among others. Those towns have reportedly found the humps effective and unproblematic.
Carusillo said that since asphalt plants close in December, as cold temperatures affect asphalt curing, and since there’s currently no money left in the Public Works budget to install the humps, the installation should be delayed until May 2025. In the meantime, Carusillo and Public Works Supervisor Garret Harlow developed a plan to install additional stop signs on Shelbourne and East Hyerdale Drives to get drivers used to slowing down. Commissioner Paul Collins suggested they look at other roads in town that may need assistance with dangerous speedsters before moving forward with the Woodridge Lake area. Patrick Reilly further suggested that the Board of Selectmen reach out to the Connecticut Department of Transportation to review the roads before stop signs or speed humps are installed. (Note: UCONN has already provided data suggesting that East Hyerdale and Shelbourne Drive of Woodridge Lake have speeding problems.) Valentine additionally wants input from local plow trucks before the speed humps are installed, claiming that speed is necessary to effectively plow snow.
Edison has acknowledged that speeding is a problem on town roads outside of Woodridge Lake and suggested that the proposed speed humps could be an effective demonstration of the potential for the humps to address other problem locations in Goshen. He reminded the Board that the proposed humps are not anything new, as they have been used effectively for decades in other towns where it also snows, and that the proposed installations should not be delayed because “you have to start somewhere”.
Carusillo said he would reach out to Connecticut DOT, who must approve any speed hump and new stop sign locations.