Board of Selectmen: Molon To Stay, Stansfield To Go, Clogged Town Hall Toilets, MIRA Rate Hike, Uncertain BoE Budget Vote

09/10/24

The referendum vote for Region 20’s school budget was changed for a fourth time. Initially  it was set for Saturday, September 14th at Goshen Town Hall from 12-8 pm to now being postponed till after the November 5th presidential election. (Note: The vote is now tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, December 3^rd.) First Selectman Todd Carusillo advised that the school district claims to have cut the budget by $700,000, reducing its projected $3.65 million budget deficit.

Tyler Lake was scheduled to be drawn down beginning Monday, September 23rd. Drawdown means the water level of a lake or pond controlled by a dam is lowered for a period of time typically for several months. Lakes and ponds can be drawn down to conduct water facility repairs, to kill off invasive plants by exposing them to freezing temperatures, to manage flooding events, and to prevent ice damage to shoreline structures when the bodies of water freeze in the winter. The Public Works department was scheduled to begin paving Newcomb Road starting on Thursday, September 12th. Trash tipping fees continue to increase in Goshen. Tipping fees for August cost the town $16,302.95, a near $3,000 increase from August 2023’s tipping fees. Carusillo called for all town residents to recycle to reduce tipping fee costs, “Everybody still has to do their part in recycling. It’s very important to recycle.”

The position of Agent for the Elderly was offered to Treasurer of Goshen Community Care and Director of Social Services for the nursing home Noble Horizons Danielle Mastrocola. According to Carusillo, Mastrocola has been working in health care and with seniors for 25 years, served as Director of Social Services for Noble Horizons for 15 years, and lived in Goshen for about eight years. Selectman Dexter Kinsella motioned to appoint Mastrocola as Goshen’s new Agent for the Elderly. This was unanimously approved. Following the appointment, Mastrocola briefly spoke about herself. “I do have a lot of experience working with seniors, as Todd said, and I look forward to working more with the town and helping our seniors here,” said Mastrocola.

Kinsella then motioned to add the Black Bear Americana Music Festival to the agenda. This was unanimously approved. The festival submitted a special event application for the event and is awaiting approval from the Fire Marshall, fire chief, and Troop B. Kinsella motioned to accept the application. This was also unanimously approved. The 6th Annual Black Bear Americana Music Festival was scheduled to be held from Friday, October 11th to Sunday, October 13th at the Goshen Fairgrounds.

09/17/24

Donna Molon rescinded her resignation from the Board of Assessment Appeals. “I’m happy she did that,” said First Selectman Todd Carusillo, “because with her skill and education and real estate, she’s a blessing to have on the board.” The Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority (MIRA) will increase tipping fee costs to $181 per ton by July 2025. Carusillo hopes to opt out of Goshen’s contract with MIRA to avoid this tipping fee increase. The referendum vote for Region 20’s school budget will take place on Tuesday, December 3rd. However, the vote date is still subject to change as it may cause scheduling conflicts with the town of Litchfield according to Region 20 Acting Superintendent Kristen Della Volpe and Litchfield First Selectwoman Denise Raap. Bathrooms in Goshen Town Hall are temporarily out of order due to a clog in the building’s pipeline.

For Public Comment, Susan Wheeler reported that Region 6 only has $1,400 in their budget and may cost Goshen around $450,000 in bills and debt costs. Lynette Miller later clarified that the $450,000 will be the responsibility of Region 6, Region 20, and Litchfield Schools.

Carusillo and fellow Selectmen Dexter Kinsella and Scott Olson attended a fire department appreciation dinner, paid for by the town, on Saturday, September 14th.

09/24/24

According to First Selectman Todd Carusillo, a bear in Cornwall attacked and killed a donkey, resulting in the donkey’s owner shooting the bear to death. (Note: according to news source AP, this attack occurred in May of 2024.) Carusillo advised residents to report any and all altercations with bears to Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) for record keeping purposes. 51 bear sightings have been reported in Cornwall, 92 in Goshen, 204 in Litchfield, 27 in Warren, 41 in Morris, 508 in Torrington, 243  in Harwinton and 69 in Thomaston in 2024 according to DEEP. Many bear sightings go unreported in areas where they are common, as in Goshen.

Goshen received two bids for winter maintenance along Rock House Road. Jespersen Landscaping, LLC submitted a bid of $250 for salting and plowing services combined, $250 for salting only per trip, and $250 for plowing only per trip. Knox Property Services, LLC submitted a bid of $250 for salting and plowing services combined, $175 for salting only per trip, and $175 for plowing only per trip. Both businesses are based in Goshen and both are registered to work in the state according to the Connecticut State Business website. Carusillo noted that this road’s winter maintenance needed a bid because it’s cheaper for another company to maintain the road instead of using town services, “Rock House Road is off 272” (Note: Olson stated to GN, additional hourly workers are hired to augment town crews for snow plowing/salting work.  Subcontracting this road out saves the town money). Selectman Dexter Kinsella motioned to accept the bids and send them to Public Works Supervisor Garret Harlow. This was unanimously approved.

Public Comment: Janet Hooper asked about the status of the 190 Sharon Turnpike property. Carusillo said he hasn’t heard back from the Goshen Land Trust in regard to the property.

10/01/24

Inland Wetlands and Water Courses Commission Chairman Thomas Stansfield will not run for the chairman position this upcoming election season. First Selectman Todd Carusillo thanked Stansfield for his 30 years of service to the Town of Goshen. Selectman Scott Olson also thanked Stansfield for his service and the giving of his time to the town.

Carusillo noted that the Board will approve the Black Bear Music Festival during this meeting despite the application lacking a traffic and law enforcement plan. According to Carusillo, Fire Chief Barry Hall will meet with Black Bear Music Festival coordinator on Monday, October 7th to review emergency plans with approval from the fire chief expected to be submitted on Tuesday, October 8th. Olson clarified that the application will be approved early so as to have the event’s legal notice published prior to the event’s start. He then motioned to approve the Black Bear Music Festival application. This was unanimously approved. The 6th Annual Black Bear Americana Music Festival will be held from Friday, October 11th to Sunday, October 13th at the Goshen Fairgrounds.

Olson then motioned to add to the meeting’s agenda a discussion on correspondence from Public Works Supervisor Garet Harlow regarding fees for driveway permits and roadway excavation. Harlow suggested the driveway permits be increased from $100 to $150 and roadway excavation permits be increased from $150 to $350. Driveway permits are required for the construction or replacement of a driveway that connects to a town road while excavation permits are necessary when excavating on a town road, within the town right of way or on town property. Olson requested that Harlow determine for next week’s meeting when the permits were previously increased and by how much.

For Public Comment, Goshen Public Library Board of Directors member Josephine Jones advised residents that the removal or destruction of signs on people’s yards is a felony. Jones reported that several residents’ signs were destroyed or removed from their properties. According to Connecticut’s General Assembly, people who steal, deface, or vandalize signs may be subject to criminal charges, including larceny and trespass.