REMINDER: STARTING ON THURSDAY, MAY 2ND THROUGH SEPTEMBER 26TH, THE VOLUNTOWN/STERLING TRANSFER STATION’S HOURS ON THURSDAYS WILL BE 11:00 A.M. TO 6:45 P.M. ALL OTHER DAYS AND TIMES WILL REMAIN THE SAME.
Community Events- May
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.
May 16- Voluntown Historical Society Annual Membership Meeting Dinner and Presentation, Guns of Norwich
Norwich was home to over 25 firearms manufacturers through the 1800’s until the 1930’s. Join the VHS on May 16 when they host a dinner program presented by the Guns of Norwich Historical Society who will also bring a selection of antique guns to view. This is also our annual membership meeting for folks to join or renew their VHS membership of $20.00. There will also be a number of raffle prizes. Served family style, the dinner menu features Penne Pasta with Bolognese Sauce, Garden Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing, Dinner Rolls, Chocolate & Vanilla Cake, and Coffee. Dinner will be served at 6:00 pm with the program following at 6:45 pm. Tickets for the dinner & presentation are $20/person and will be available at the Town Hall beginning next week. For those who only wish to see the presentation (limited seating), a $5.00 donation is suggested to help defray program costs. Tamarack is also having a car show that same evening, so be sure to check out that event after the dinner program. More info in the Facebook page event, or on the Voluntown Historical Society website.
May 27- Annual Memorial Day Parade is Monday
Parade starts at 2PM with a ceremony at Robbins Cemetery. Procession moves to the Town Green for a ceremony. Procession continues to Voluntown Elementary School.
June
June 1- Angel Ride is passing through town 165E with a stop at the Voluntown Firehouse and then continuing on 49S.
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.
Vision for Voluntown Survey
Please take a moment to complete this survey that is in conjunction with Community Conversation: Vision for Voluntown which will be held on Wednesday, April 24, at 6PM at Voluntown Elementary School. Questions will be explained and discussed more at the workshop. Survey will be live until May 1st. Paper copies of the survey are available at Town Hall, and at the library. This informal survey is looking for opinions on how residents and visitors view Voluntown today, and in the near future. Results should be available in the Selectmen’s office by the end of May if anyone is interested. Here is the link to the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Voluntown
SAVE THE DATE! 6TH ANNUAL SUPER 5K
Applications can be picked up at the town hall, in the VES office, or can be printed and downloaded. You can also register online. If you are ordering a T-Shirt, your registration must be received by April 24th. T-shirts cost an additional $5.
April is Earth Month: Host a Neighborhood Cleanup Event!
April 22 is Earth Day, but this year in Voluntown we are encouraging residents to host a neighborhood cleanup event any day! The Selectmen’s office will provide trash bags and will dispose of the trash. We are looking for people or businesses who would like to pick a section of town- such as your road- and organize a cleanup event. Please contact the Selectmen’s office- 860-376-5880, or thanson@voluntown.gov for more information and so we can put your event on the calendar.
Voluntown Earth Month Events
Green Falls Trail Clean Up sponsored by Friends of Pachaug Forest & The Last Green Valley: Saturday, April 20, 9:00 AM- 12:00 PM. Join Friends of Pachaug Forest, Inc. as we team up with community volunteers to clean up the hiking trails in the Green Falls section of Pachaug State Forest. Strong winds combined with freezing rain and wet snow over the past winter dropped many trees and branches on trails and there is considerable brush as well as trash from litterbugs to be removed. We will be removing trash in and around the park on trails, roadways and from the water. A limited amount of hand tools including rakes and brush cutters will be available, but you’re encouraged to bring your own. Make sure to bring work gloves, (nitrile gloves and trash bags will be provided for trash pickup) wear heavy boots and bring tick repellent. Following cleanup, we will meet back at the beach to enjoy snacks, iced water and conversation. Feel free to bring a bag lunch as we relax and enjoy the afternoon together with “friends”. Live music will be provided by local musician and songwriter Jonny Debit! If you have questions or to volunteer to help please contact: Michael Lane, Director of Operations at 860-861-5404 or via email at mike.fopf@outlook.com Check Friends of Pachaug Forest Facebook page for cancellation or updated.
**Attn Scouts: Badges will be provided to members of scouting troops who participate in the Green Falls clean up event. Please RSVP as soon as possible to: susan.fopf@outlook.com so we ensure we have the proper number of badges!
Voluntown Elementary School Cleanup Day: Saturday, April 27th, from 9:00 AM -12:00 PM. Volunteers need to help clean out gardens, rake, and more. Bring tools, and a bucket loader is needed to move mulch. Contact Margaret Voland at mvoland@voluntownct.org
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.
