UNCAS health has reported an algae bloom on Glasgo Pond. This means no swimming, and keep pets away from water. For more information, visit the CT Department of Public Health website.
Posted: July 27, 2019
NOTICE OF DECISION
At their regular meeting on July 10, 2019 the Voluntown Planning and Zoning Commission rendered the following decision:
Application #031319 Text Amendment Change to permit beer and brew pubs in the Village District within the Town of Voluntown.
APPROVED.
Effective the day after the date on which this notice is published.
Dated at Voluntown, CT this 15th day of July, 2019.
Scott Davidson, Chairman
Black Bear Information from the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection
From the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) :
If a bear is seen in your town or neighborhood, leave it alone. In most situations, if left alone and given an avenue for escape, the bear will usually wander back into more secluded areas. Keep dogs under control. Stay away from the bear and advise others to do the same. Do not approach the bear so as to take a photo or video. Often a bear will climb a tree to avoid people. A crowd of bystanders will only stress the bear and also add the risk that the bear will be chased into traffic or the crowd of people.
More info about black bears on the DEEP website.
Tricentennial Coin Design Contest Sponsored by the Voluntown Recreation Commission
The Voluntown Recreation Commission is sponsoring a Tricentennial Coin Design Contest. Residents of Voluntown of all ages are encouraged to submit a design for one side of a 2 inch coin that will be produced for sale and sold during Voluntown’s Tricentennial Celebration in 2021 as an item of memorabilia. Designs must be submitted no later than September 30, 2019. Please review all of the Rules in the link below. Paper copies of the rules, as well as copies of the submission form are available in the Town Clerk’s Office and at the Voluntown Public Library.
Tricentennial Coin Design Rules
Tricentennial Coin Design Submission Form
Media Release from CT DOT RE: Horizontal Warning Signs at Curves on State Roads
View or print PDF version here. Please contact the Project Manager, with any questions and to request information as to exactly what the sign plan is, especially if you own property on a sharp corner on a state road. This project is planned for 2022/23.
Media Release from the CT DOT, RE: LED Relamping of State Owned Traffic Signals
The following CT DOT Media Release is in regards to the LED Relamping of the State Owned Traffic Signal in Voluntown at Rte. 138 & 165.
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 Zoning Board of Appeals
Posted on April 8, 2019
The Zoning Board of Appeals currently meets on the 1st Monday of the month at 7:00 PM when there is an agenda. Appeals may be taken to the Zoning Board of Appeals when it is alleged that there is an error in any order, requirement, or decision made by the Zoning Enforcement Officer or the Planning and Zoning Commission, or when a variance is sought from the provisions of the Zoning Regulations. A variance may be permitted if the Board finds that an unusual hardship because of conditions especially affecting a parcel of land, but not affecting generally the district in which it is located.
Purpose
The Zoning Board of Appeals was created in accordance with Title 8, Chapter 124, Section 8-5 of the Connecticut General Statutes. The responsibility of the Board is to hear and decide appeals where it is alleged that there is an error in any order, requirement, or decision made by the official charged with the enforcement of chapter 124 or any bylaw, ordinance or regulation adopted under the provisions of this chapter and to hear and decide all matters including special exceptions and special exemptions under section 8-2g upon which it is required to pass by the specific terms of the zoning bylaws, ordinance or regulations in harmony with their general purpose and intent and property values solely with respect to a particular parcel of land.
Currently Serving
Wendy K. Gauthier- Chairman
Edward W. Grenier
* Arthur Ivanic
* Karen Anderson
* Vacancy
* Alternate- Cheryl Sadowski
* Alternate- James Gauthier
* Alternate- Vacancy
The * indicates the terms that end this November and positions that will appear on the ballot.
Election Information
This year three (3) full member candidates and three (3) alternate member candidates will be elected to the Zoning Board of Appeals 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 three (3) full and three (3) alternate candidates. All six (6) full and all six (6) candidates will appear on the ballot, along with any resident that chooses to petition to be added to the ballot. For more information on petitioning, please contact the Town Clerk.
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 May 1st. 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 May 1st. 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 April 18.
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.
NEW—> View Your Tax Bills Online
All Voluntown tax bills can now be viewed and printed from online. The link to the web page can be found on the town website home page (see image below) and on the Tax Collector’s web page. This is our first step in our goal for online tax bill paying.
Town of Voluntown Tax Collector’s Notice
TOWN OF VOLUNTOWN
TAX COLLECTOR’S NOTICE
Notice is hereby given to all taxpayers of the Town of Voluntown that the second and final installment on Real Estate and Personal Property, including Supplemental Motor Vehicle taxes on the Grand List of Octorber 1, 2017, are due and payable on January 1, 2019.
The second installments and Supplemental Motor Vehicle taxes may be paid without penalty through February 4, 2019. The rate of interest is 1.5% per month from the due date of January 1st (18% per year) or a minimum of $2.00 per bill or installment. If paid in February, but after the 4th, interest is computed at 3%.
I will be in my office Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., Tuesday evenings from 5 to 7 p.m., as well as Saturday, February 2nd from 9 a.m. until noon for the collection of these taxes.
Payments may be made by mail (P.O. Box 96 ,Voluntown, CT), or in the office at 115 Main Street, Voluntown. If a receipt is required, please send a portion of the bill and enclose a self addressed stamped envelope.
FAILURE TO RECEIVE A TAX BILL DOES NOT INVALIDATE THE TAX OR INTEREST.
Dated at Voluntown, CT this 24th day of December, 2018.
Giselle Neri
Tax Collector
Visit the Tax Collector’s web page for Tax Collector news and updates.
