Board of Selectmen Meeting Notebook

The Suffield Board of Selectmen officially approved the May 11 town budget meeting, heard updates on grant applications and announced the retirement of an appreciated town official during a multi-faceted meeting in Town Hall on Wednesday.

Town Budget Meeting

The Suffield Board of Finance set the final proposed budget on May 2 after adjusting it to reflect the results of the bonding referendum. The meeting, open to all qualified voters in Suffield, will be held at the Suffield High School auditorium on May 11.

Grant Updates

Director of Economic Development Patrick McMahon updated the board on the town’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application and plans for possible Small Town Economic Assistance Program STEAP.

McMahon said the CDBG application is centered on making two of the units of the town’s senior housing handicapped accessible. There is a waiting list of nine people for the two current handicapped units. The application is requesting $120,000 to make the renovations and remove floor tiles containing asbestos from some of the units.

Ideas for possible STEAP funds were also discussed, including repairing the White’s Pond Dam in Sunrise Park and sidewalk construction.

Director of Public Works Retires

The Board of Selectmen announced Suffield Director of Public Works Jack Muska’s retirement at the meeting.

Muska, who attended the meeting to discuss revisions of the town’s snow removal policy, spoke fondly of his seven and a half years in Suffield and thanked the selectmen for their support.

The board thanked Muska in return for his service and wished him well.

“You deserve a good retirement,” said Selectwoman Joanne Sullivan.

Selectwoman Eileen Moncrief said Muska was brought confidence to his department and brought people together during his time as director.

“You came at a time where you brought order out of the chaos,” she said.

Muska’s retirement is scheduled to become effective on August 1.