Located in the northeast corner of New London County, Voluntown is a rural community consisting of 39.8 square miles with two-thirds of the town made up of state forest. Pachaug State Forest offers many outdoor activities; such as hunting, camping, hiking and horseback riding. The town hall and library are located in the Village Center, along with the PreK-8 school, Constitution Field, the walking track, and gazebo. Voluntown was Incorporated in 1721 and has a rich history of textile mills, historic buildings, the Civilian Conservation Corps. (CCC Camp), folklore and was originally known as “Volunteer Town”.
Welcome to Voluntown
Office Closed
The Building Office will be closed between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Monday, March 25th.
Get Involved in Town Government
GET INVOLVED IN TOWN GOVERNMENT
This is a municipal election year. We are starting a series of articles that will explain a little about the election process, and provide information on the municipal offices that are up for election or appointment this year.
- There are currently several volunteer opportunities in town, please visit the town website for more information on volunteering.
- View previous articles in this series here.
SPOTLIGHT ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
Posted on March 18, 2019
This week we will focus on the Board of Education. This board currently meets on the 1st and 3rd (if needed) Thursday of the month at 7:00 PM. The board is responsible for everything involving the school as well as all the students that live in the Town of Voluntown. A few of these responsibilities as seen on the Voluntown Board of Education webpage are: Budget & Finance, Policy, Long-Range Planning & Community Relations, Strategic Wellness, School Security and Safety Committee, and Food Service.
The Board of Education Mission Statement
The Voluntown Board of Education commits to providing our students the basic skills essential to competent functioning in our society, including their ability to read, write, listen, speak, manipulate basic math concepts, and acquire a general knowledge of science.
It is, therefore, our mission to help our students mature into independent, reasoning, and responsible individuals, who can adapt constructively in an ever-changing, multi-cultural, and technological world. (April, 2004)
Current Board Members
* Diana Ingraham, Chair
Kristen Trahan, Vice Chair
* Barbara Gileau, Secretary
* Kate Beauparlant
Skart Paul
Christopher Wilson
* Flo Harman
The * indicates the member terms that end this November and positions that will appear on the ballot in November.
Election Information
This year four (4) candidates will be elected to the Board of Education on November 5, 2019. At the Democratic and Republican Caucuses to be held the week of July 16-July 23, 2019, each party is allowed to endorse only two (2) candidates. All four (4) of these candidates will appear on the ballot unopposed unless a resident chooses to petition to be added to the ballot. For more information on petitioning, please contact the Town Clerk.
OFFICE CLOSED
THE BUILDING/ZONING OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED ON THURSDAY EVENING, MARCH 28TH FROM 6:00 P.M. TO 8:00 P.M.
Community Events- March
If you have an event that would be of interest to Voluntown residents, please email event submission to thanson@voluntown.gov. Check the Community Events website page to view calendar and more listings, including weekly events. 
Voluntown Youth Service Bureau Dodgeball Tournament
Come join us for a healthy, fun-filled day and help support the Voluntown Youth Service Bureau
Due to the weather on March 2, the Dodgeball Tournament has been moved to March 23.
League A: Students in grades 5 – 8 9:00am
League B: High School students and adults 9:45am
Teams consist of 6 players
Registration fee: $10 per player ($60 per team) Please make checks payable to: Town of Voluntown
Teams must register by Friday, March 20, 2019. NO LATE REGISTRATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED
Teams must submit a TEAM Registration form (provide their team name, team captain/contact information, and team members).
Individual players must each submit a PLAYER Registration Form.
***Team Captain must be 18 years or older***
Please make sure all players have read the Voluntown Youth Service Bureau Dodgeball Tournament Rules.
Teams can turn in registrations/money to the VES front office, 195 Main Street ~ Voluntown, CT ~ 06384.
You may contact the following people for questions: Melinda Bryan (860-694-8733) Brian Racicot (860-376-2325 ext 244)
Regional Job Fair on March 26, 2019
SAVE THE DATE
The Norwich Bulletin’s
REGIONAL JOB FAIR
TUESDAY • MARCH 26, 2019
COURTYARD MARRIOTT
181 W. Town St., Norwich 10am – 3pm
Some of the biggest employers in the area will be there!
Some of the biggest employers in the area will be there!
For information contact:
Jim at 860-425-4357
In preparation for this Job Fair, if you are in need help with resumes and interviewing or other job services please visit the American Job Center http://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/ContactInfo/Default.html, all of the services are free and open to the public. If you are a Veteran, request to speak specifically to Jon Pierce or Jim Hutchinson.
We are located at the Montville American Job Center http://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/ContactInfo/CTWorks/MNTVL_Info.htm 601 Norwich New London Turnpike (RT 32), Suite 1 Uncasville, CT 06382 Office Hours – Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. AJC Career Center Services/Workshop Schedules – (860) 848-5240 First, start by registering with the CT Dept. of Labor’s CTHires if you are not registered or have been registered with the DOL in the past, by going to https://www.cthires.com/vosnet/Default.aspx and creating a user account.
Volunteers Needed
Friends of the Voluntown Library Newsletter: Volunteers Needed
We could use some help!
Sadly, our graphics consultant, Paula Jordan-Gluck is moving on to new ventures and will no longer be able to do our graphics. We owe so much to her for guidance and input in keeping our newsletter attractive and informative.
The Friends of the Voluntown Library Newsletter is looking for someone (or two) who can help with the graphics collected for the ads that pay for printing and for soliciting and collecting for the ads themselves. These are volunteer positions.
The newsletter is printed six times a year. The major work is done for the May/June issue when all ads are renewed or replaced. After that, only new ads are included.
If interested, please contact Anne Olsen at 860-376-2370 or Diana Ingraham at jingraham1@comcast.net.
Anne and Diana
Wood-Pawcatuck Wild and Scenic Rivers Stewardship Council: Alternate Representative Volunteer Needed
The Voluntown Board of Selectmen are seeking a resident volunteer to be appointed as the Alternate Representative to the Wood-Pawcatuck Wild and Scenic Rivers Stewardship Council. Stewardship Council members should be prepared to represent the Town and provide communication between the Stewardship Council and the Board of Selectmen. The Stewardship Council is expected to meet at least once bimonthly. If you are interested in being appointed to the Stewardship Council as an Alternate, please submit a request in writing to the Board of Selectman by Monday, March 25. Requests can be emailed to jzelinsky@voluntown.gov, or dropped off at the First Selectman’s Office. For more information on the Wood Pawcatuck Wild and Scenic Rivers, visit their website: http://wpwildrivers.org/ For more information on the Stewardship Council (see Chapter 7) visit here: http://wpwildrivers.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/WandSStewardshipPlanFINAL.pdf
Cable Television Advisory Council of Southeastern CT: Representative Volunteer Needed
The Voluntown Board of Selectmen are seeking a resident volunteer who is interested on being appointed to the Cable Television Advisory Council of Southeastern CT. Information on the CTACSC can be found below. If you are interested in being appointed, please submit a request in writing to the Board of Selectman by Monday, March 25. Requests can be emailed to jzelinsky@voluntown.gov, or dropped off at the First Selectman’s Office.
MISSION OF CTACSC:To advocate for the citizens within the Groton Cable Franchise area towns of Groton, Ledyard, North Stonington, Stonington, and Voluntown. To represent the citizens before the Connecticut Public Utility Regulatory Authority (PURA) and to undertake initiatives to make the Cable and Video Service providers as responsive as possible to the citizens’ needs.
GOALS OF CTACSC:
Advocate cost containment
Continue to advocate for the needs of franchise members
Continually review the cable channel lineup and advocate for customer requests
Raise the public awareness of the Advisory Council, inform the community of the Advisory Council’s role and solicit public opinions and needs
In addition, the council also monitors the level of community access service available to residents.
STATE REGULATIONS THAT PERTAIN TO CABLE TELEVISION ADVISORY COUNCILS:
16-333-24 Establishment of Cable Television Advisory Councils
16-333-25 Appointment of Advisory Council Members
16-333-26 Term of Advisory Council Members
16-333-27 Vacancies of Advisory Council Members
16-333-29 Elections of Officials and Meetings
Economic Development Commission & Voluntown Farmers’ Market
The Economic Development Commission has 1 seated member vacancy, and 3 alternate member vacancies. These are always positions appointed/ re-appointed by the Board of Selectmen. The Economic Development Commission meets on the Third Thursday of every month (except July and August) at 5:30PM in Town Hall Meeting Room. The mission of the Voluntown Economic Development Commission is to foster economic development in Voluntown and increase the tax base by retaining existing businesses and helping them grow, encouraging indigenous business start-up, and recruiting light industry. The Voluntown EDC currently sponsors the Voluntown Farmers’ Market. The EDC is working on several projects that promote Voluntown as an outdoor recreation tourist destination. Alternate members are needed to fill the seats of seated members when needed for a meeting quorum. For more information the Economic Development Commission, visit the EDC website and/or visit the next meeting on March, 21.
The Economic Development Commission is seeking volunteers to help with the planning of the Voluntown Farmers’ Market. Assistance is needed in event planning, band scheduling, recruiting of vendors, and more. Contact the EDC at EDC@voluntown.gov if interested.
Special Town Meeting February 26- Results
A Special Town Meeting was held on Tuesday, February 26 to act on the following items:
- To consider and act on the following proposed Ordinances:
(a) AN ORDINANCE TO REPEAL THE ORDINANCE FOR THE COLLECTION OF A FEE FOR DMV REPORTING (view the proposed ordinance here, view the one that is proposed to be repealed here)
Item 1a Passed
(b) AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ORDINANCE ON THE PERMITTED METHODS OF PAYMENT OF REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES (view the proposed ordinance here, view the one proposed to be amended here)
Item 1b Passed
(c) AN ORDINANCE WAIVING ALL TAXES DUE IN AN AMOUNT OF FIVE ($5.00) DOLLARS OR LESS (view the proposed ordinance here)
Item 1c Passed
Minutes of the Special Meeting can be found here.
Republican Town Committee
The Republican Town Committee will be holding a caucus Tuesday, March 5, 2019 at 7:00 PM. Please Contact Wendy Gauthier with any questions.
First Place Wins for VES Girls Basketball Team
Congratulations to the Voluntown Elementary School girls basketball team and coaches for First Place in the SEMSAC Small School Girls’ Championship! This is the second year in a row that have earned First Place!!
Voluntown Community Fundraiser – Raffle Winners
The Voluntown Community Fundraiser was a huge success! Thank you to everyone who bought dinner and raffle tickets to support this fundraiser! 550 dinners were sold. Thank you also to everyone who donated the great prizes we were able to offer in our raffle. Also, a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who spent their Saturday volunteering- including members of the Voluntown Volunteer Fire department, Voluntown Baptist Church, Saint Thomas and Anne Church, Living Word Fellowship, Voluntown Boy Scouts, and Board of Selectmen. Below is the list of winners.
$50 Dragon Palace/Italian Basket – 2513230 Sue Ryan
Essential OIls/Humdifier – 2513020 Brian Cook
1 Month Karate Academy and uniform – 2284300 John Nelkin
1 Month Karate Academy and uniform – 2284439 Christina Kettle
$100 Sunny’s Gift Card – 2284488 Megan Quintas
Grill/Cooler/Propane tank – 2513212 Kristina Fisher
4 Corned Beef Dinners – 2513217 Leane Picco
Grill – 2284375 Julia Strands
G-Spa Basket – 2284307 Warren Goldman
$125 Town Grille Certificate – 2513190 Denise Danibale
$125 Town Grille Certificate – 2513148 Wendy Gauthier
Breakfast for 2 at Chickie’s – Hilda Jolin
100 Gallons of Oil – 2513070 Martin Grenier
$50 Avon Certificate – 2284448 Judith Alik
Wall Art – 2284267 Camden Ricard
Television – 2513086 Steven Holt
K-9 Clippers – 2513014 Hille LaMothe
Sisu Farms Soap basket – 2513077 Martin Grenier
$100 Salem Prime Cuts – 2513268 David Etchells
$100 Main Street Salon – 2513262 Bob Petit
