Community message from First Selectman Bill Tinsley
Growing Season!
Springtime is here! The snow cover is gone and temperatures are beginning to moderate. The season of new life and renewal is an appropriate way for us to think about the “JUMP START” path we are on in Brookfield. Growing season!
Economic activity and life is sprouting. Along Southern Federal Road we will see more new construction with the addition of a new Dunkin Donuts (Near the YMCA) a Chic-fil-A across from the ShopRite Plaza, and the completion of a new retail/commercial center across from Costco. Road construction for North and Southbound turning lanes at the Shop-Rite Plaza traffic light will begin soon, and the finishing touches to the water line will be completed.
At the Four Corners, we continue to make planning progress with the Brookfield Village LLC project. The property owners for this project recently purchased an additional 5 acres (19 & 23 Station Road), and have started the project update review process with Zoning and Inland-Wetlands Commissions. Some important transition plans for current businesses at this project site are taking shape. The former Rocco’s has reopened as a Steakhouse – HOT STONE. Also in the Town Center District, the project known as the Residences at Laurel Hill has made important pre-construction progress.
In the Berkshire Corporate Park, the first building in the Brookfield section belongs to our newest neighbor, Eastern Financial. They are off to a strong start with approximately 750 employees at their recently opened national call center. They are a very welcome addition to Brookfield and the area – please join me in wishing them great success.
And of course, we are in the thick of budget planning season. Growth in our local economy is the best way for us to take care of funding our local service needs. A budget of $60.5 Million will be presented at a Public Hearing in the High School auditorium at 7pm on April 8th. The anticipated referendum date is May 20th. Spending at this level would result in a very modest increase of 1.69% to the property tax (mill) rate. The municipal spending proposal addresses some long overdue additional contributions to the capital budget and begins to make a small contribution to our long term obligations for Retiree Health Care Benefits. Education program costs benefit from the favorable cost impact of an early retirement incentive program and a decline in student population. A budget summary can be viewed at www.brookfieldct.gov
Our Parks Revitalization Plan proceeds on schedule. Competitive bids have been received for Phase I (Cadigan Park) and the Municipal Building Committee is in the process of reviewing them. We still expect to start construction this spring!
We also plan to lower the town’s debt service costs by refinancing our 2006 General Obligation Bonds. We could save $750,000 in interest expense.
All-in-all, Brookfield is moving forward and the momentum is good! In closing, I’d like to wish everyone a safe, happy and healthy spring!