July 25 Update From Bethel First Selectman Carter

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

July 25, 2025

Dear Bethel,

Charter Revision

The Charter Revision Commission began their work just over a year ago and has completed a draft report recommending changes to Bethel’s charter. The Board of Selectmen (BOS) will set a date for a public hearing in the next few weeks. After the hearing, the BOS can recommend changes to the Commission or the report will become final 15 days after the hearing. The BOS will approve or reject all or some of the changes and then vote to send the charter to the voters. Once the BOS votes to send the charter to the voters, we have 15 months for a referendum. We are likely to have the charter questions on the November, 4th 2025 municipal election ballot, but there are parts of the process that could delay a vote to sometime early next year. Stay tuned for the recommendations and a hearing date.

Road Work Downtown

Our Highway Department has prepared Library Place and Durant Ave. for milling and paving. We are expecting contractors to start work early next week. Once the milling is complete, we will expect them back to pave the following week. There will be access to the local businesses, but you may want to take alternate routes.

Bethel Family Needs our Help

A family in our community experienced a recently experienced horrible house fire. While the humans in the family were safe, unfortunately their pups, Bear and Bean didn’t make it out. They have also lost all of their possessions. They could really use our help, so please check out https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-jamie-and-arden-rebuild-after-fire to learn more and contribute. There are many ways to help, but any contribution will go a long way.

Inland Wetlands Meeting Cancelled

The Inland Wetlands Commission for Monday, July 28th has been cancelled. The next regular meeting is Monday, August 11th at 7 pm at Town Hall in Meeting Room D.

Info Meeting: Car Tax Assessment

The change in the car tax assessment has created many questions! Mark your calendar for an informational meeting on Car Tax Assessments! Join us Thursday, July 31st at 6:00 pm in Meeting Room A. To watch virtually, visit https://meet.google.com/mct-gqme-bwi or dial in at ‪+1 267-415-1914 PIN: ‪359 994 026#

Danbury Rail Line Closure

Don’t forget that the Danbury Branch Rail Line will be using buses to replace trains to allow for construction along the line between next Friday August 1st through Sunday, August 17th. As part of the project, the crossing on South Street in Bethel will be repaired and South Street will be closed at the tracks from Thursday, August 7th to Sunday, August 17th. There will be posted detours downtown to avoid the South Street crossing.

Summer Reading

There are only 75 days between the end of the school year (June 13th) and the first day of school (Aug 27), which means there are only 75 days to knock out summer reading. This week marks the half way point for summer reading! We are lucky to have the Bethel Public Library and Byrd’s Books with great summer reading resources. And don’t count out Rainy Day Paperback for really great summer reading choices!

Feeling stressed?

Join Prabha Makayee for Mindfulness Meditation for Adults at the Bethel Public Library where she guides you through the steps of meditation on Wednesdays at 3:30 pm. With just one second, one breath and one thought of changing your perspective you can realign your well-being to a more peaceful, happy mindset. There is no registration required, but check the BPL calendar for cancellations at https://www.bethellibrary.org/events/.

Kind Works After Dark

Join Kind Works “After Dark” for a BYOB Happy hour on Friday, August 1st at their place at 32 Stony Hill Rd. from 7 to 10 pm. Be creative and participate in their community art project! At $20 it’s a great way to support kindness in Bethel!

BEF Beer Fest

Last call for craft beer lovers! Don’t miss the highly anticipated Bethel Beer Fest to Benefit the Bethel Education Foundation next Saturday, August 2nd on the Town Hall lawn from 3 pm to 6 pm! VIPs can show up at 2 pm for an extra hour of tasting and a gift to take home. Tickets selling quickly at https://www.bethelctbeerfest.com/. Remember, this is one of the biggest fundraisers of the year for BEF. If you don’t drink beer, Designated Driver tickets are available!

Summer Concert Series

Our Summer Concert Series begins on Sunday, August 3rd. Enjoy free music on the Town Hall lawn from 6 pm to 8 pm. There are no food trucks, so bring your picnic basket! The summer band lineup: Cross Purpose 8/3, Willie and Jan Band 8/10, Kenn Morr Band 8/17, Lost Rebel 8/24, and Station Dawgs 8/31.

Meckauer Workday

Save the date! The Friends of Bethel Parks and Recreation is holding a work day at Meckauer Park, Saturday, August 16 from 9 am to 1 pm. They will clean up trash, remove invasive plants, and touch up paint. Signing up is not required but appreciated to help them plan: https://forms.gle/gof9zgrUtsSMRmR7A

Shoutouts

A shoutout to the cast of the ERA/Parks and Rec production of West Side Story. Your work really paid off and your show was amazing!

A huge shoutout to Dr. Bernal, the new President of WestConn and Dean Vernon, Dean of the School of Visual, Performing, and Communication Arts for partnering with ERA and Bethel by allowing our actors to perform on your 97 million dollar, state-of-the-art, 130,000 square foot visual and performing arts center stage!

A shoutout for the Where’s Waldo participants who have stopped in to Town Hall! There are only 6 days left until the wrap up party. Good Luck!

Have a great weekend!

Dan



P.S. “Join the Story” as Bethel celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Learn more and stay tuned for events and opportunities at https://bethel-ct.gov/america250.