TOWN MANAGER
This office together with the Finance Director, is finalizing the proposed fiscal year 2023-2024 general government budget to present to the Board of Selectmen at their meeting on Thursday, March 2, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. This meeting will be held virtually and a link to the meeting is on the Town's calendar located on our website at: hebronct.com Residents are encouraged to attend and become informed where their tax dollars are allocated.
At a recent Capitol Region Council of Governments meeting the Town was approved for an additional $962,400 in funding for the Martin Road Reconstruction project to cover design revisions, culvert replacements, unit price increases, added pedestrian safety and speed control measures. Also, the Town's matching portion of $500,000 for the Old Colchester Road bridge project will be reimbursed by the State of Connecticut.
These additional amounts will relieve the burden that would have been passed onto taxpayers for these projects.
SELECTMEN BOARD/COMMITTEE DATES:
RHAM Board of Education - Monday, February 27, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. - RHAM HS Chorus Room
Economic Development Commission - Monday, February 27, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. - GoToMeeting
Republican Town Committee - Monday, February 27, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. - TBD
Chatham Health District - Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. - ZOOM
School Readiness Committee - Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at 3:30 p.m. - ZOOM
Planning & Zoning Commission - Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. - GoToMeeting
Commission on Aging - Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. - GoToMeeting
Board of Selectmen - Thursday, March 2, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. - GoToMeeting
Board of Assessment Appeals - Thursday, March 2, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. - Town Office Bldg
For more up-to-date information, refer to the Town's website at: https://hebronct.com/agendas/
COMMISSION/COMMITTEES:
Hebron Health and Safety:
We have worked 30 days without a work-related injury or accident.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
This week the Hebron Fire Department responded to 8 EMS, 2 fire alarms, 1 tree/wires and 1 lift assist.
ASSESSOR'S OFFICE
Crumbling Foundations:
Certain homes built in Connecticut between 1983 and 2015 have concrete foundations containing the mineral pyrrhotite. Pyrrhotite expands when it is exposed to water and oxygen and, over time, concrete foundations containing pyrrhotite may crack and crumble. If your house (or an addition to your house) was built in 1983 or after, you should consider having your foundation tested for the presence of web cracking and/or pyrrhotite. Please visit https://crcog.org/municipal-services/crumbling-foundations/ for information regarding qualified vendors, visual inspections, core testing, reimbursement for testing, and reimbursement for remediation. If your foundation is found to have this issue, you can apply for a reduced assessment that can be reflected on your tax bill for up to five years, or until completion of remediation. Please contact the Assessor’s Office with any questions.
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
The week began with a snow/sleet and rain event and this weather continuing throughout the week. The Public Works crew were called in early each day and stayed to assure our roads were salted etc. and safe for vehicular travel. After each event, the trucks were washed and maintained. Mailboxes were repaired. Wood was hauled from the yard. We’re gearing up for the events to follow in the upcoming week.
SENIOR CENTER
Russell Mercier Senior Center has announced the following programs. For more information and full program descriptions, and to register, call the senior center at 860-228-1700. Pre-registration is required for all programs. The senior center newsletter is online at https://hebronct.com/town-departments/senior-center/.
St. Patty’s Day Celebration featuring the Sunshine Singers - Thursday, March 16th Doors open at 11:00am and singing will be at 11:15 with lunch served at Noon. Menu. Please come and support the Sunshine Singers as they sing some Irish Classics and other well known songs. Cost for lunch is $3. Pre-registration for lunch is required and the deadline to sign-up is Wednesday, March 15th by 10:00am.
Mobile Mammography - Hartford Hospital’s Digital Mobile Mammography coach bus is coming to the Hebron Senior Center, Tuesday, May 9th—8:00am—2:00pm 12 Stonecroft Dr. Hebron. Who can make an appointment; Women 35 years of age and older—This is NOT just for seniors; Last mammogram was more than one year ago and was normal/negative. Patients who had a diagnostic breast work-up at last mammogram with negative results and who received a recommendation to return in 12 months. Pre-Registration by April 18th required, call 860-228-1700.
Welcome Our New Social Worker - Please welcome Michele Boutin, the new Social Worker for the Russell Mercier Senior Center. Michele is a graduate of the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford. She currently is pursuing a master’s degree in social work at the University of Saint Joseph. Michele is passionate about helping people locate services that can help make life easier. She is looking forward to working with and meeting the community of Hebron and to being an asset to the Senior Center. Please stop in and say hello.
AARP Tax Preparation for 2022 Taxes - Tuesdays, through March 28th from 9:00am—1:00pm we are hosting free tax preparation through the AARP sponsored tax aide program using volunteers who make the program work. This is open to anyone in any town, 50 years and up. You do NOT need to be an AARP member.
Bus transportation to Mobile Food Truck and the Food Bank - Every other Tuesday (call the center for dates) Pick-ups start approximately 10:30-10:45, food truck arrives 11:15 at the Church of Hope/Red barn Corner of RT 85 & Rt 66. Food bank arrival approximately 11:00am. Please bring your own bags. Must sign-up by 10:00am Monday the day before, 860-228-1700.
Energy Assistance Winter Heating Program - The senior center is taking applications for the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP), which is designed to help offset winter heating costs. If a household’s primary heating costs are included in rent, the household may also apply for assistance. To make an appointment, call the center.
Senior Transportation - Offered to ages 60 and up and all adult disabled individuals, for medical care, personal needs care, grocery shopping, or other pre-approved needs. Transportation available Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., and Friday, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Appointments must be scheduled a minimum of 24 hours in advance, but 48 hours is recommended – and required for new riders. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the center.
CHATHAM HEALTH DISTRICT
Good morning,
NOTE: Beginning March 4th, Chatham Health District will discontinue our weekly COVID-19 Status Report distribution. Reports will be distributed monthly, and appear on our website moving forward.
As of February 23, 6 Connecticut counties (Hartford, Litchfield, Middlesex, New Haven, Tolland, Windham) have a MEDIUM COVID-19 community level and 2 counties (Fairfield and New London) have a LOW COVID-19 community level. You can read more about prevention steps recommended by CDC at different community levels here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/community-levels-county-map.html
-The average daily COVID-19 case rate in Chatham Health District this week decreased to 5.0 cases/100000.
-The number of individuals currently hospitalized is 294. This is a decrease of 13 compared to last week.
-Fatalities increased compared to the last week (75 this week compared to 34 last week).
Approximately 27% of Chatham Health District residents 5 and older have received a bivalent booster dose.
CDC recommends one updated (bivalent) booster dose:
-For everyone aged 5 years and older if it has been at least 2 months since your last dose.
-For children aged 6 months–4 years who completed the Moderna primary series and if it has been at least 2 months since their last dose
In order to protect yourself and others from COVID-19:
-Stay up to date with your vaccinations.
-Get tested if you have symptoms.
Wear a well-fitting mask when in public indoor settings, especially when they are crowded
-STAY HOME if you are sick or have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 5 days, and DO NOT leave home until:
-At least 5 days have passed since your symptoms began or since you tested positive,
-you are feeling much better, and
-no longer have a fever.
If you test positive and are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19, there are treatments available that can reduce your chances of being hospitalized or dying from the disease. These medications must be prescribed by a healthcare provider and started as soon as possible after diagnosis to be effective. Contact a healthcare provider right away to determine if you are eligible for treatment, even if your symptoms are mild right now. You can find a Test to Treat location here: https://aspr.hhs.gov/TestToTreat/Pages/default.aspx?
Chatham Health District is coordinating vaccine clinics. To see upcoming scheduled vaccine clinics in the district, visit our website: https://www.chathamhealth.org/services-2, or call 2-1-1. If you or a loved one is homebound and is not up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccination, register here: https://dphsubmissions.ct.gov/homebound
PARKS AND RECREATION
Hebron Day and Farmers and Artisans Market - We are currently accepting vendor applications for our Farmers and Artisans Market. The market will be held the first Saturday of each month from June – October, at Hebron Elementary School. We are also accepting vendor applications for Hebron Day, Saturday, June 17th. Located at Burnt Hill Park. Applications can be found on our website. https://hebronct.recdesk.com/Community
Easter Eggstravaganza! – We will be hosting our annual Easter Egg Hunt again this year. There will be pictures with the Easter bunny, music, a bounce house and arts and crafts. Event is free and open to the public for ages 10 and under. The event will be held at the pavilion at Burnt Hill Park. Saturday, April 8th from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Crafting Around the World - In this series of classes, we will head out on an adventure around the world. Each week will be dedicated to learning and crafting about a different country. Come explore and create with us! Class will be held in the Community Room of the Douglas Library on Wednesdays from 5:30-7:00 p.m. March 1,8,15, 22.
Karate - Instructional karate focusing on building confidence, self-respect, and discipline following the style of Goju ru, made famous by the “Karate Kid” film series. Six-week ongoing sessions, Mondays, and Wednesdays in the Gilead Hill Activity Room. Ages 5-11 5:00 p.m-5:50 p.m. Ages 12+ 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Cost $85 per session.
