Sharon Board of Selectmen

8/25/25 

Present: 1st Selectman Casey T. Flanagan, Selectmen Lynn Kearcher and John Brett 

Paree Hecht asked for an update on the sidewalk project – preliminary plans and cost estimates have been completed but adjustments need to be made before the town informational meeting. 

Chelsea Weintraub and Chris Andrews were present concerning their request for permitted use of the town owned access road behind the Town garage to the property located at 103 Sharon Valley Road. Andrews made various comments on the liability issues and that it is CT law that one cannot cut off access to a farm. Flanagan expressed his concerns: currently the owners have access to their property and they should not rely on the Town for additional points of entry.  The Road Foreman would need to monitor people and vehicles going in and out on the road putting additional responsibility on him. The liability the Town may incur would be an issue also. The Road Foreman has stated that he is not comfortable with the proposal. The request was unanimously denied. 

Mr. Flanagan reported that he reached out to our Tax Assessor and Town Attorney regarding the Sharon Housing Trust’s request to forgo the annual taxes on 91, 93 & 95 North Main Street. Both were unclear on the avenue to achieve this – an Ordinance perhaps. Attorney DiBella suggested having the Trust’s attorney draft an Ordinance, attach his opinion on why this would be appropriate, then have him (Attorney DiBella) review the documents submitted.  

Cardinal Engineering has submitted a proposal for engineering services for the replacement of the Kirk Road culvert. This project is under the 50% State Local Bridge Program grant. The total proposal is $124,000. A motion that the BOS accepts the proposal and takes the allocation out of the Roads/Bridges account to the Board of Finance, passed unanimously. 

With Zelina Blagden’s resignation from the Town Hall Committee, John Brett has submitted a letter of interest in being appointed to this Committee. Brett would like to take on the role of art curator for the “Town Hall gallery”. A motion to appoint Brett to the Town Hall Committee, with a term to November 18, 2025, passed unanimously. 

Kearcher reviewed the study report on Mudge Pond submitted by Kelsey Sudol, Environmental Associate with the NW Conservation District. The Town does make a yearly contribution to the District in the budget. The report addressed how the lake is changing due to climate changes. There are two inlets that were studied and showed phosphate content. As there are various streams that feed into the pond. Sudol suggested that a stream survey be done under their Stream Walk Program, with water testing being done. The survey could be conducted with the help of volunteers. There would be costs associated with the lab testing as well as perhaps professional fees. A motion to have Kearcher pass this report on to the Mudge Pond Association passed unanimously.