Feb. 21 Update From Bethel First Selectman Carter

**News Release Submitted by Bethel First Selectman Carter**

Dear Bethel,

Duracell Leaving Bethel

In a Friday Update last July, we announced that town representatives and representatives from CT Department of Economic and Community Development toured the Duracell building in Bethel and learned the company was planning to combine their research and development functions with manufacturing. The Governor of Georgia announced this week that Duracell is moving their headquarters to Atlanta over the next two years. While some local jobs will be relocated, the real impact on the town will be determined by what happens with the building, which is still unknown. Stay tuned.

The Grand List

The grand list is the total taxable property value in a town. The total net grand list for Bethel from October 2024, which is used for the budget we are working on that begins July 1, 2025, is $2.756 billion. Normally the value of real estate and motor vehicles increase, which might offset some the amount of money that the town needs in taxes. Unfortunately, the 2024 grand list is $3.1 million less than the 2023 grand list, primarily due to the change in the law on how we value vehicles. By converting the changes in the grand list to actual tax dollars for our budget using the current mil rate, real and personal property grew $736,000 between October 2023 and October 2024. Motor vehicle taxes fell by $828,000. When listening to the budget discussions, it is important to understand we are essentially starting with $92,000 less in revenue in the next budget.

Aquarion Sale

The CEO of the South Connecticut Regional Water Authority (RWA) and the President of Aquarion Water Company reached out for a meeting this week. They answered questions regarding the acquisition of Aquarion by the RWA, including questions about how Bethel customers will be represented on a Representative Policy Board. Each town will have a board member who will cast votes on critical decisions, including water rates, land sales and any large capital projects and investments in water or environmental-related businesses. The town’s votes will be weighted based the number of customers and amount of land owned by the AWA in each municipality. More information will follow closer to the closing on the sale, if approved by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority.

Office Hours

The next Office Hours is Wednesday, February 26th from 7:30 am to 8:30 am. If you have a question or a concern and can’t make it, please email firstselectman@bethel-ct.gov or call 203-794-8540 for an appointment.

Restaurant Week

Bethel Restaurant begins this Monday, February 24th. Participating Restaurants: Avocado Mexican Restaurant, Broken Symmetry, Community Shellfish, Dragonfly, Fat Tony’s, La Zingara, Notch 8, Portofino’s Restaurant, Putnam House, Shakedown Street Eats, Spice, Sycamore, UK Gourmet, Vesta, and Whitlocks. Order a 2025 Restaurant Week Special at a participating location and ask your server for a Restaurant week "raffle entry card." Winners will win a $25 gift card at a participating restaurant!

Sponsored by the Bethel Chamber of Commerce, it is a chance to visit your favorite local eateries. Thank you Chamber of Commerce and sponsors: GoNetSpeed, Connecticut Business Link, and Royal Choice Transportation! Menus available at https://bethelchamberofcommerce.com/event/restaurant-week.

Affordable Housing Hearings

From Planning & Zoning: The public hearings scheduled for Tuesday, February 25th, 105 Milwaukee Ave. (8-30g affordable housing 12 units) and 53 Taylor Rd. (8-30g affordable housing 26 units), have been continued to March 11th at the request of the applicants. Learn more at https://bethel-ct.gov/2025-zoning.

Budget

The third and final meeting for budget presentations to the Board of Selectmen and Board of Finance are next Tuesday, February 25th in the Town Hall General Purpose Room at 7 pm. The Police Department and the Board of Education will be presenting budgets. There are no opportunities for public comment on the 25th, but you are welcome to join in person or watch on Google Meet. Access budget documents and the Google Meet link at https://bethel-ct.gov/2025-bos. Select the agenda and open the Google Meet ling at the top of the agenda. Comments about the budget? Email budget@bethel-ct.gov.

How Municipal Government Works

Mark your calendars for Thursday, March 13th from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm for a non-partisan, educational event to learn how Bethel’s municipal government works and how to participate. ALL Bethel residents are welcome at this event in The Maria Parloa Community Room at the Bethel Public Library. Please reserve your spot at https://forms.gle/N45Zb95dzGKHonKv9.

Dress Fancy

Looking to get dressed up and support a good cause? Check out The Center for Empowerment and Education’s Annual Dinner on April 11th at https://e.givesmart.com/events/Fu2/ and the Ability Beyond Gala on April 26th at https://abilitybeyond.org/special-events/. If dressing up isn’t your thing, RVNAhealth has their annual breakfast on April 25th! https://rvnahealth.org/support-us/fundraising-events/

Shoutouts

Good luck to the Lady Wildcats basketball team in the SWA Semi-Final game at home tonight! You got this!

Congrats Deondrae Farmer for being chosen as the Connecticut High School Coaches Association basketball player of the week!

A shoutout to the Bethel Winter Guard for amazing performances last weekend in Salem, MA! The Middle School JV show is titled “Sew it Seams.” They competed against 7 high school groups and placed 5th! The BHS Varsity show is “Nightwatch” and they placed 3rd!

Have a great weekend!

Dan