Board of Selectmen: Fog Lights at the Fairgrounds, Blight Ordinance, Caught Going 85 in a 25

10/17/23

All Selectmen were present. Selectman Harris addressed matters from last week's minutes. Previously on the weekend of Friday, October 6th at the Black Bear Concert, a camper accidently damaged the Goshen Fairgrounds main waterline, resulting in the grounds plumber shutting down the water. “What I would recommend is that we ask the fairgrounds, because they’re a private entity, to make available to each renter a list of contacts that they have available for that weekend if anything comes up.” Harris made a motion to approve town payroll and warrants for October 19th in the amount of $75,898.39. Vote was unanimous.

Carusillo’s First Selectman Report announced that the Public Works Department has begun installing Crime Watch signs in various neighborhoods throughout town. Car break-ins continue to occur and Carusillo reiterated for residents to lock their doors, “I just wanna tell the public, please lock your doors! He recommends that people purchase and install doorbell cameras to identify and report robbers.

State Police are coordinating with town authorities to prevent speeding instances. To date, they’ve determined that most of the speedsters are from out of town driving trucks. Carusillo wants police to put more pressure on stopping the speedsters.

Carusillo contacted the State Department of Transportation (DOT) about Goshen Fairground Lighting after concerns were voiced regarding the visibility of the crosswalk, especially in fog.  Fairground maintenance personnel requested Carusillo contact the DOT what lighting is necessary to make the crosswalk visible in fog. “I’m waiting for a response from the Thomaston office to come up and do a survey because of the fog,” Carusillo explained.

In Public Comment, Board of Assessment of Appeals’ member Audrey Blondin suggested that the Town Clerk position be appointed rather than elected. “Doesn’t really seem like it's a political job and an appointment in this day and age might be more appropriate”, she said.

10/24/23

The fourth meeting for October, all three Selectmen were in attendance with Kinsella joining via Zoom. The minutes of last week’s meeting were unanimously approved. The town payroll and warrants for October 26th in the amount of $1,475,788.73 were unanimously approved also.

First Selectman’s report, Carusillo announced that the Public Works Department is grading town dirt roads in preparation for the Fall and Winter seasons. Grading is the process of restoring road surfaces by removing washboard ripples, filling potholes, and getting rid of any other road irregularity. He went on to announce that the Broadband Advisory Committee will seek dissolution, “…they’re going to make their final report and asked to be dissolved.”

Carusillo brought up the possibility of issuing a Blight Ordinance, “We don’t have one in effect and apparently we’ve been getting some complaints about some blight around town…apparently there’s a few areas around town that have a lot of stuff in front of it.” Most of the complaints were issued by new residents who were curious if Goshen had a Blight Ordinance to look at areas on Hall Meadow Road. Blighted properties are structures or spaces that may pose a threat to a community’s public health or safety due to a property’s abandonment, deterioration, dilapidation, or unsanitary conditions. According to Connecticut’s General Assembly, municipalities who adopt blight ordinances can issue daily penalties up to $1,000 to blighted property owners for repeat offenses within a 12-month period. Carusillo plans on talking with Torrington Attorney Charles “Chip” Roraback to write-up a Blight Ordinance. Harris warned residents that what may appear to be blight on some properties may just be farm equipment or materials.” Carusillo suggests people clean up any garbage that may be sitting around in people's yards.

For Correspondence, the board received a letter of resignation from Scott Olson who will be resigning as Chairman of the Economic Development Commission. Olson is running unopposed for Selectman.

10/31/23

The BOS fifth meeting for October was on Halloween, Tuesday, October 31st. All Selectmen were in attendance with Kinsella joining via Zoom. Kinsella motioned to approve last week’s meeting minutes which was unanimously approved. Harris motioned to approve town payroll and warrants for November 2nd for $63,150.40 which was also unanimously approved.

First Selectman Report, Carusillo reported that state police are utilizing radar to catch speedsters going through Lyman Lane and Beach Street. Harris added that, “Apparently Tuesday of last week, they got somebody on Beach Street doing 85 miles an hour… That’s a reckless driving offense. That’s serious.” The speed limit on Beach Street is 35 mph.

Carusillo announced that the Subcommittee of the Board of Selectmen to oversee the construction of the new Public Works and Fire Departments Storage Facility on Sharon Turnpike will have its first meeting on Friday, November 3rd at 6 pm.

Recycling Coordinator Paul Collins reported that Saturday’s Household Hazardous Waste collection was highly successful, “There were about 535 cars there. I know that Goshen, we issued at least 62 residents got tickets to go to it… We had one car that broke down in the middle of the line. That kind of screwed things up but other than that, it was a very well-run event!” Residents with tickets from Cornwall, Goshen, Litchfield, Torrington, Winchester and several other nearby towns were able to drop off hazardous waste to be properly disposed of at the Torrington Wastewater Facility.

Harris motioned to appoint Board of Assessors member Jerrod Upton for another three-year term. This was unanimously approved. ● Harris motioned to appoint Building Board of Appeals member Christopher Wright for another five-year term. This was unanimously approved.