Town Manager's Report - July 1, 2019

Windsor Community Block Parties

The Youth Services Bureau and the Windsor Police Department will be sponsoring Windsor Community Block Parties happening on July 12th at Sharshon Park, on July 26th at Lancaster Park and on August 9th at Deerfield Park.   All parties are from 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.  There will be games, arts & crafts, face painting, music, bounce-house, food and more!  This program is created by youth in the Summer Teen Employment program (STEP) to promote family fun and community spirit in a substance free environment. Admission is a school snack donation for the Weekend Wheels program.  For more information, call 860-285-1990.

 

Input Sought For Wilson Redevelopment Sites

The Economic Development and Planning departments conducted a workshop on June 28th to begin identifying possible future land use options and redevelopment objectives for the former Wolcott School at 451 Windsor Avenue and the town-owned redevelopment parcel at 458 Windsor Avenue.

Members of the Wilson Deerfield Advisory Committee, Economic Development Commission and Redevelopment Agency were invited to participate.  A representative of the Town Planning and Zoning Commission also attended.

A public drop-in meeting is scheduled for July 10th at the Community Center at 330 Windsor Avenue to get comments and input from residents regarding possible future uses for the two properties.

Residents are invited to show up at any time between 5:30 PM and 8:00 PM on the 10th to give their suggestions, learn more about other ideas and participate in exercises.  Light refreshments will be available.

Following the public meeting, a committee of Wilson residents and town officials will review the comments and input and formulate recommendations.

For more information, contact Jim Burke at 860-285-1877.

 

Waterside Crossing Office Park Drainage System

The Waterside Crossing office park includes a privately owned and maintained pond. The outlet system of the pond is intended to maintain the water surface in the pond at its optimum level. The outlet system has failed, causing the water level in the pond to drop over the past few days.  The private land owner is currently making arrangements to have the outlet structure repaired to allow the water level to recover.

 

Farmington River Spillage Update

Over the past few weeks town staff have continued to be in contact with CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), CT Department of Public Health (DPH) as well as the CT Airport Authority.

  • Use of the river for recreational activities is allowed.
  • State DPH is advising that fish caught from the Farmington River in the vicinity of the MDC wastewater treatment plant outfall near Phelps Brook, downstream to the Connecticut River, should NOT be eaten. This advisory will remain in place while State officials evaluate the impact to the fish tissue and the watershed.

Additional long-term monitoring of the river and sediments is planned with oversight by the Connecticut DEEP.

Water samples were taken from several points on the river on June 9th, 11th and June 21st in an attempt to see how the chemicals are diffusing. Results from the first two sets of samples show a significant reduction in presence of PFAS chemicals.  Results from the June 21st samples are not yet available.

The engineering firm retained by Signature Flight is now working alongside DEEP to develop a longer term monitoring and testing plan.

The Connecticut Airport Authority has also taken a variety of steps in the past weeks ranging from evaluating all of their facilities that have foam fire suppression systems to putting in place temporary prevention measures to limit any future discharges of foam agents containing PFAS chemicals into drainage systems.

Updates will be shared on town media platforms as additional information becomes available.

 

Train Station Public Information Meeting

The CT DOT will be hosting a public information meeting on Thursday, July 25, 2019 at Town Hall.  The meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. with a presentation slated for 6:00 p.m.  The purpose of the meeting is to review proposed upgrades to the existing train station passenger platforms that will provide increased safety for passengers. The upgrades relate to constructing high level platforms to serve CTRail’s Hartford line and Amtrak.  CTDOT personnel will be available during the meeting to discuss this project. These changes are required by the Federal Railroad Administration.