Voluntown Town Hall

DECLARING PERSONAL PROPERTY: All persons liable to pay taxes are hereby notified to declare all tangible personal property owned by them on October 1, 2019.  Non-residents are required to declare property located in any town for any three months preceding October 1, 2019.  Failure to declare by November 1, 2019 as required by law will result in a 25% PENALTY assessment.

Local Assessors will mail declaration forms to all property owners previously on record. Failure to receive a form does not negate the requirement to declare.  Forms will be available in the Assessor’s Office.

NOTE:  Real property or Connecticut registered motor vehicles do not need to be declared.  Taxable personal property includes:  unregistered motor vehicles, motor vehicles located in Connecticut but registered in another state, mobile manufactured homes not assessed as real estate, manufacturing machinery and equipment, business furniture and fixtures, farm machinery, farming tools, mechanics tools, electronic data processing equipment, telecommunication equipment, cables, conduits, pipes, poles, business expensed supplies and other property such as billboards, video games, vending machines, leasehold improvements, etc.

VETERANS who served for more than ninety days during a time of war or have been disabled must have recorded their honorable discharge with the Town Clerk by October 1, 2019 in order to receive a minimum of $1,000 assessment exemption.  Disabled Veterans need to file proof of their VA rating with the Assessor to receive an increased exemption.

ADDITIONAL VETERANS EXEMPTION: Increased exemptions are available for those who meet necessary income requirements and the above Veterans’ criteria.  An application along with proof of income must be filed with the Assessor biennially.  Filings for this year must be made by October 1, 2019.

ARMED SERVICE MEMBERS may obtain an exemption on one (1) passenger motor vehicle if proof is submitted.  See local Assessor.

TOTALLY DISABLED: any person under the age of 65 that has been awarded total disability must apply by January 31, 2019 in order to receive a $1,000 assessment exemption.  Applicants must furnish proof of award.

FARM MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT:  Eligible farmers must file the notarized exemption application on or before November 1, 2019.

MANUFACTURING MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT installed in a manufacturing facility and used in the manufacturing process may be allowed exemption.  Eligible manufacturers must complete and file the MME Exemption Application by November 1, 2019.

NEW COMMERCIAL TRUCKS with a gross vehicle rating in excess of 26,000 lbs. should check with the Assessor’s office for tax exemption eligibility.  Application must be completed and filed with the assessor by November 1, 2019.

LAND CLASSIFICATION:  Persons seeking to classify land under Farm, Forest or Open Space, for the first time, must file between September 1, 2019 and October 31, 2019 with the Assessor.  Persons seeking to classify as Forest must also have a complete certified forester’s report done by October 1st.  Only changes to the original filing (ownership, use or acreage) need to be reported annually.

Assessor, Town of Voluntown

Rev. 9.17.19

Town of Voluntown is selling used tables as is for best offer. They were used as library computer desks. Three are 30.5″ high, 24″ deep, 36″ long. One is the 30.5 ” high, 24″ deep, 60″ long. Currently at the library. Sealed bids will be accepted by the Selectmen’s Office until 6pm on Sept. 24. Any questions call 860-376-5880.

Town of Voluntown is seeking a licensed  Electrician to do some minor repairs. Please call the Selectmen’s office at 860-376-5880.

The Board of Assessment Appeals for the Town of Voluntown will be conducting hearings for motor vehicles assessed on the October 1, 2018 Grand List on Tuesday, September 17, 2019 at 6:00PM in the Town Hall Meeting Room located at 115 Main Street, Voluntown, CT 06384.

Gil Grimm, Chairman
Voluntown Board of Assessment Appeals

THE BUILDING INSPECTOR/ZONING OFFICER WILL BE OUT OF THE OFFICE ON SEPTEMBER 26TH.

THE BUILDING INSPECTOR/ZONING ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WILL NOT BE IN HIS OFFICE ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8TH, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22ND AND THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24TH.

For Immediate Release September 16, 2019

For More Information: Av Harris av.harris@ct.gov (860) 509-7270

DPH ANNOUNCES FIRST HUMAN CASE OF EASTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS IDENTIFIED IN CONNECTICUT THIS SEASON

RESIDENTS ARE ADVISED TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN BY AVOIDING OUTDOOR ACTIVITY FROM DUSK TO DAWN, WHEN MOSQUITOES ARE
MOST ACTIVE

Hartford –Department of Public Health (DPH) Commissioner Renée D. Coleman-Mitchell today is announcing that an adult resident of the town of East Lyme has tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). This is the first human case of EEE identified in Connecticut this season. The patient became ill during the last week of August with encephalitis and remains hospitalized. Laboratory tests, which were completed today at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Laboratory in Ft. Collins, Colorado, confirmed the presence of antibodies to the virus that causes EEE.

“EEE is a rare but serious and potentially fatal disease that can affect people of all ages,” cautionedDPH Commissioner Renée Coleman Mitchell. “Using insect repellent, covering bare skin and
avoiding being outdoors from dusk to dawn are effective ways to help keep you from being bitten by mosquitoes.”

The EEE virus has been identified in mosquitoes in 12 towns and in horses in two other towns. Towns where mosquitoes have tested positive for EEE include Chester, Haddam, Hampton,
Groton, Killingworth, Ledyard, Madison, North Stonington, Plainfield, Shelton, Stonington, and Voluntown. Horses have tested positive for EEE virus in Colchester and Columbia this season,
and the virus has been detected in a flock of wild pheasants. Other states throughout the Northeast are also experiencing an active season for EEE. In addition to the virus being found in mosquitoes, there have been a total of eight human cases of EEE infection in Massachusetts and one human case in Rhode Island, with one case in each state resulting in a fatality.
“This is the second human case of EEE ever reported in Connecticut,” said Dr. Matthew Cartter, Director of Infectious Diseases for the DPH. “The first human case of EEE reported in Connecticutoccurred in the fall of 2013.”

Link to information on 2013 case:
https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/Departments-andAgencies/DPH/dph/infectious_diseases/CTEPINEWS/Vol34No3pdf.pdf?la=en

The DPH advises against unnecessary trips into mosquito breeding grounds and marshes as the mosquitoes that transmit EEE virus are associated with freshwater swamps and are most active at dusk and dawn. Overnight camping or other substantial outdoor exposure in freshwater swamps
in Connecticut should be avoided. Even though the temperatures are getting cooler, it is important to remember mosquito season is not over and residents should continue to take measures to prevent mosquito bites, including wearing protective clothing and using repellents. Although EEE-infected mosquitoes continue to be detected in the southeastern corner of the State,
the numbers are declining and we are not experiencing the excessively high levels of activity seen in Massachusetts. There are currently no plans to implement widespread aerial pesticide spraying in the State.

Severe cases of EEE virus infection (involving encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain) begin with the sudden onset of headache, high fever, chills, and vomiting. The illness may then progress into disorientation, seizures, and coma. Approximately a third of patients who develop EEE die, and many of those who survive have mild to severe brain damage. There is no specific treatment for EEE. Antibiotics are not effective against viruses, and no effective anti-viral drugs have been discovered. Severe illnesses are treated by supportive therapy which may include hospitalization, respiratory support, IV fluids, and prevention of other infections. It takes 4 to 10 days after the bite of an infected mosquito to develop symptoms of EEE.

Connecticut Mosquito Management program

The management of mosquitoes in Connecticut is a collaborative effort involving the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) and the Department of Public Health (DPH), together with the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Pathobiology at the University of Connecticut (UCONN). These agencies are responsible for monitoring and managing the state’s mosquito population levels to reduce the potential public health threat of mosquito-borne diseases.

For information on what can be done to prevent getting bitten by mosquitoes and the latest mosquito test results and human infections, visit the Connecticut Mosquito Management Program
web site at https://portal.ct.gov/mosquito

For more information about EEE prevention, please visit the CDC website:
https://www.cdc.gov/easternequineencephalitis/gen/pre.html

Press Release

09/05/2019

Risk of Mosquito-Borne Diseases Continues: Eastern Equine Encephalitis Positive Mosquitoes Found in 10 Connecticut Towns

West Nile Virus Detected in 17 Connecticut Towns

New Haven, CT – The State Mosquito Management Program is warning Connecticut residents about the risk of infection by eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile virus (WNV) this season.  So far, the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) has detected EEE-infected mosquitoes in: Chester, Haddam, Hampton, Killingworth, Madison, North Stonington, Plainfield, Shelton, Stonington, and Voluntown.  In addition, WNV-infected mosquitoes have been detected in: Bridgeport, Chester, East Haven, Greenwich, Groton, Hartford, Manchester, New Haven, North Haven, North Stonington, Norwalk, South Windsor, Stamford, Voluntown, West Hartford, West Haven, and Wethersfield.

“We continue to see exceptionally high numbers of mosquitoes carrying EEE virus especially in communities in southeastern Connecticut,” said Dr. Philip Armstrong, Medical Entomologist at the CAES. “In addition, we are detecting WNV in numerous towns throughout the state. Late summer-early fall is the critical time of the year when virus activity reaches its peak in the mosquito population.”

“We are experiencing an extremely active season for EEE throughout much of the northeastern US, with multiple human and horse cases now being reported in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Rhode Island.  We strongly encourage residents throughout the state to take simple steps to prevent mosquito bites,” said Dr. Theodore Andreadis, Director of the Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases at the CAES.  “This includes applying insect repellent and covering bare skin, especially during dusk and dawn when biting mosquitoes are most active.”

There are no reported human cases of EEE or WNV infection so far this year in Connecticut.  Two horse cases of EEE (Colchester and Columbia) and one horse cases of WNV infection (Easton) have been reported in Connecticut this year.

Eastern equine encephalitis is a rare but serious mosquito-borne viral disease in people and horses. On average, there are 6 human cases reported each year in the United States. The mortality rate of hospitalized patients is one-third and approximately one-half of survivors suffer from permanent neurological damage. In Connecticut, outbreaks of EEE have occurred sporadically in horses since 1938 and the first locally-acquired human case and fatality occurred in the fall of 2013.

West Nile virus is the most common mosquito-borne viral disease in the United States and reemerges every summer in Connecticut. One hundred fifty-seven human cases of West Nile virus, including 4 deaths, have been diagnosed in Connecticut residents since 2000.

To reduce the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes residents should:

• Minimize time spent outdoors between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
• Be sure door and window screens are tight-fitting and in good repair.
• Wear shoes, socks, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt when outdoors for long periods of time, or when mosquitoes are more active. Clothing should be light colored and made of tightly woven materials that keep mosquitoes away from the skin.
• Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in an unscreened structure and to protect small babies when outdoors.
• Consider the use of mosquito repellent, according to directions, when it is necessary to be outdoors.

The State of Connecticut Mosquito Management Program is a collaborative effort involving the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, the Department of Public Health, the Department of Agriculture, and the University of Connecticut Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science. These agencies are responsible for monitoring the potential public health threat of mosquito-borne diseases.

The CAES maintains a network of 92 mosquito-trapping stations in 72 municipalities throughout the state. Mosquito traps are set Monday – Thursday nights at each site every ten days on a rotating basis. Mosquitoes are grouped (pooled) for testing according to species, collection site, and date.  Positive findings are reported to local health departments and on the CAES website at https://portal.ct.gov/CAES/Mosquito-Testing/Introductory/State-of-Connecticut-Mosquito-Trapping-and-Arbovirus-Testing-Program.

For information on West Nile and eastern equine encephalitis viruses and how to prevent mosquito bites, visit the Connecticut Mosquito Management Program Website at https://portal.ct.gov/mosquito

August 26, 2019

To All Voluntown Residents,

It has come to my attention through repeated conversations with representatives from the Connecticut Department of Health, and the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, that Voluntown is an area of high risk for the Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) Virus. Mammal biting mosquitoes have tested positive for carrying the EEE virus have been trapped at the Mt. Misery and Frog Hollow Horse Camp section of Voluntown. Though the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is spraying these areas of the Pachaug State Forest this evening (8/26), the state is aware that EEE carrying mosquitoes could still be breeding in other areas of Voluntown, specifically areas of cedar swamps.

EEE is a rare but serious and potentially fatal disease that can affect people of all ages and it is highly recommended that residents avoid mosquito bites.

Special attention should be made by those who would be outdoors from dusk to dawn, especially;

• High school students who are waiting for the a.m. bus
• Outdoor recreation participants (hikers, walkers, fishermen, campers)
• Participants/spectators of sporting events

Mosquito bites can be avoided by;

• Minimizing time outdoors at dusk and dawn.
• Be sure door and window screens are tight fitting and in good repair.
• Wear shoes, socks, long pants, and long-sleeved shirts. Clothing material should be tightly woven.
• Use mosquito netting when sleeping out doors
• Consider using mosquito repellent when it is necessary to be outdoors and always use them according to label instructions. The most effective repellents contain DEET or Picaridin. Oil of lemon eucalyptus is also effective for brief periods of exposure.

Any questions can be directed to UNCAS Health District 860-823-1189.

Thank you,

Tracey Hanson,
First Selectman

The Assessor will be in office tonight, 8/26, at 5:45pm. He can always be reached at crose@voluntown.gov.

TOWN OF VOLUNTOWN, CT 

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 

FOR TOWN ATTORNEY

The Town of Voluntown, Connecticut seeks proposals for Town Attorney services from interested law firms with a minimum of seven (7) years of experience representing Connecticut municipalities.  Sealed proposals for Town Attorney, are invited and will be received by the Town of Voluntown, until 3:00 P.M., October 1, 2019 at the Selectmen’s Office, Voluntown Town Hall, 115 Main Street, Voluntown, Connecticut, 06384 at which time and place they will be publicly opened and read aloud.

Proposals must be submitted in a sealed envelope plainly marked with the appropriate title.

The Information for Proposals may be obtained at the Voluntown Town Hall, Selectmen’s Office, 115 Main Street, Voluntown, Connecticut, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., and Tuesday: 9:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

In addition, the proposal can be downloaded from the Town of Voluntown’s website www.voluntown.gov.

Proposals, to receive consideration, must be in the hands of the authorized representative, no later than the day and hour mentioned above.

The Town of Voluntown reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals; to waive any informalities, or; to accept any proposal deemed in the best interests of the Town of Voluntown.

All bids will be considered valid for a period of for sixty days (60) days after the date of the bid opening. In the event that the contract cannot be awarded within this time period, the time may be extended by mutual agreement between the Town of Voluntown and the designated, qualified low Bidder.

The Town of Voluntown is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.

Board of Selectmen

Tracey Hanson                        Ronald Millovitsch                  Mark Oulton

First Selectman                       Selectman                                Selectman

Request for Proposal Town Attorney Documents

Posted 8/5/19 4:50pm