We have a new GaGa Pit on Constitution Field thanks to Josh Zelinsky and his crew of volunteers. Josh is a member of Voluntown Boy Scouts Troop 74 and he organized, and funded the pit as his Eagle Scout Project. Thank you Josh and volunteers!

On Saturday, December 1, the Voluntown Recreation Commission sponsored a Gingerbread House Contest and Craft Fair. The event was a great success, thank you to everyone who donated their time to organize it! There were  many fabulous entries. Attendees voted for their favorites and the winners are listed below.

Most festive #12 Pixy Elliott , Jada. Veda

Most creative #14 the Curry Family

The Assessor will be available by appointment only from now until January 31, 2019. Appointments can be scheduled by calling  860-376-3927 M-Th, 9AM-2PM. For more information on the Assessor’s hours, visit the Assessor website page.

The following Snow Removal Policy was approved by the Board of Selectmen on 11-13-18.

Town of Voluntown Snow Removal Policy

There are 29 miles of streets in Town. Due to the high costs of removing snow, it is important for the Department of Public Works  (DPW) to use its resources wisely with cooperation from the residents to minimize the cost. Additionally, the state CTDOT plows Routes 49, 138, & 165.

Plow Routes – The streets are plowed and salted in order of priority. Main (collector) roads are addressed first with special attention to steep hills, and difficult intersections. Side streets are done next, then dead end streets, Side streets will remain unplowed if the main roads require repeated plowing. This may not seem fair to the residents of side streets or dead ends, but main roads must remain open.

Blocked Driveways – All snow plows angle the same way – to the driver’s right – and when going by they will push the snow in front of a driveway. The homeowner is responsible for access to his driveway. The only way to avoid extra shoveling is to wait until DPW crews have done their final clean up on the street.

Mailbox Damage – The Town repairs or replaces only mailboxes and/or posts that are actually struck by a plow blade. Usually a paint mark or truck tire tracks supply evidence of a mailbox strike. The Town does not repair or replace mailboxes and/or posts that fall from the force. of plowed snow. Mailboxes and supporting posts must be installed to withstand the rigors of snow removal, including the force of snow pushed from the street onto the roadside.

Street Parking – The Town plows need all roadways, including cul-de-sacs, to be cleared of vehicles and personal property, including but not limited to boats, trailers, campers and basketball hoops, to provide access and efficient snow clearing capability. During a storm, residents should park in their driveways and not on the streets. It is a safety hazard to residents and plow drivers when vehicles are parked in the road. Not only do parked vehicles reduce the sightline for pedestrians and oncoming vehicles, but they also force the plows to veer out of the travel lane. Please remove vehicles from the roadway prior to a snow/ice storm. Similar to mailboxes, DPW is only responsible for damage done to a vehicle as a result of the plow blade actually striking the vehicle, not the effect of snow, ice, or salt hitting the vehicle as a result of plowing.

Private Plowing – The Town of Voluntown prohibits plow contractors and residents from pushing snow from driveways or parking lots onto Town streets. This practice is dangerous and impedes the Town’s snow removal efforts. If there is no other alternative to pushing snow into the street, the plow driver must plow off the windrow left across the street by re-plowing until the road is safe. This may not necessarily mean bare pavement, but certainly it should be no worse than when the driver began work.

Snow Stakes –  The Town of Voluntown Highway Department reminds Voluntown residents to install “snow stakes” now before the ground freezes. It is difficult to distinguish between the pavement edge and the edge of a lawn in heavy snowfall. Installing stakes along property edges as close to the pavement as possible without interfering with traffic will help homeowners avoid unsightly lawn damage this winter, especially for properties with underground sprinklers or invisible fencing. Snow stakes should be 30-36″ high and can be purchased at a local hardware store. If using wooden stakes, paint the top 3″ of the stakes red to increase visibility against the snow.

Re-Plowing/Snow Removal Concerns – If you have snow removal concerns call the Town Hall at 860-376-5880.

Medical transportation for Voluntown Seniors (60+) and disabled adults is now available. This program is available to individuals that reside in Voluntown, have completed a registration form, and have submitted a $24 annual registration fee payable to the Town of Voluntown. Individuals who are eligible for free transportation through Medicaid are asked to use that program instead. More Information Here. 

What does the $24 Annual Fee  include?

• 48 one way rides per person are available from now until June 30, 3019 for medical appointments only
• Medical appointments must be in New London County, Plainfield, Lisbon, or Westerly, RI. 

A Caregiver Mileage Reimbursement Program is also available.

• No fee is collected for this program.
• The rider retains a volunteer driver (friend, neighbor, family member).
• Driver is reimbursed on mileage that is calculated based on the shortest distance to the destination.
• Must be approved by a town official.

Applications are available at the Town Hall, Public Library, from Joan Barrus, the Voluntown Elderly Laison, and can be downloaded from the  Voluntown Seniors page on the Town of Voluntown Website. More information can be found there as well.

The Voluntown Substance Abuse Prevention Council, and the Voluntown Youth Service Bureau are both seeking community member volunteers. More information on each organization below.

The Voluntown Substance Abuse Prevention Council

Our mission is to raise awareness and provide education and advocacy to youth, families, and the community to promote mental health, reduce the impact of substance use and problem gambling and prevent suicide. 

Volunteers needed to

• serve on the Advisory Board
• represent Voluntown on Regional Committees
• choose an area of expertise: Suicide prevention, Mental Health promotion, prevention of underage substance use, problem gambling, treatment of various disorders, recovery issues
• help with events, publicity, information dissemination
• give suggestions

The Voluntown Youth Service Bureau

Dedicated to promoting the well-being of Voluntown’s children, youth, and families.

Volunteers needed to

• serve on the Advisory Board
• help with after school programs
• assist with sports activities
• present programs- What is your hobby, profession, avocation?
• attend out of town meetings
• write grants
• help with fundraising
• give great suggestions
• monitor website
• create better posters

For more information on each of these organizations and to get involved, please contact Melinda Bryan at 860-694-8733 or mbryan@voluntownct.org

EDC Commissioners and Volunteers Needed

DECLARING PERSONAL PROPERTY: All persons liable to pay taxes are hereby notified to declare all tangible personal property owned by them on October 1, 2018.  Non-residents are required to declare property located in any town for any three months preceding October 1, 2018.  Failure to declare by November 1, 2018 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, horses and ponies, 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, 2018 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, 2018.

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, 2018 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, 2018.

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, 2018.

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, 2018.

LAND CLASSIFICATION:  Persons seeking to classify land under Farm, Forest or Open Space, for the first time, must file between September 1, 2018 and October 31, 2018 with the Assessor.  Persons seeking to classify as Forest must also have a complete certified forester’s report done by October 1^st.  Only changes to the original filing (ownership, use or acreage) need to be reported annually.

Assessor, Town of Voluntown

Rev. 9.4.18

We have been aware of glitches to our website email notifications and are starting a new email notification program. If you would like to receive email notifications from the Voluntown Town Hall about upcoming town meetings, events, and information, please sign up to be on our new emailing list (even if you had already signed up for the old one- Sorry!) through the following link: http://www.voluntown.gov/subscribe-to-emails/

The current website alert system will be discontinued on October 1st.

The Voluntown Volunteer Fire Company has a new website, www.voluntownfire.org. Residents are encouraged to visit this site for fire department news, information on volunteering, department event information, and to reserve dinner tickets.