Easton Selectmen Approve Projects, Address Public Safety And Concerns

EASTON, CT — The Easton Board of Selectmen held its regular meeting Tuesday evening at Town Hall, where members approved a series of motions, discussed community concerns, and heard reports on public safety and infrastructure.

First Selectman David Bindelglass called the meeting to order at 7:33 p.m. The board unanimously approved the minutes of its March 6 meeting, following a motion by Selectwoman Kristi Sogofsky and second by Selectman Nick D’Addario.

During the public comment portion, residents raised a range of concerns, including the potential tax impact of the proposed Aquarion Water Company sale, concerns about fairness in the permitting process, a missed EMS call, and beach sticker availability for Easton residents. One resident also requested that the town update its website to include recognition of the Aspetuck Peoples in the town’s historical section.

Michelle Spadaro and Carole Lisi presented a request for an 8-24 referral to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a replacement playground at the Easton Community Center. The current structure is 18 years old. The proposed upgrade, which would come at no cost to the town and take approximately three to four weeks to complete, received unanimous approval from the board.

An agenda item regarding the designation of the Town Hall as a Local Historic Property was tabled.

Fire Chief Robert Klem provided a comprehensive update on the Fire Protection Review Committee’s work. Topics included recommended updates to the town’s fire ordinance, compliance with OSHA and NFPA standards, improvements in fire response data systems, expansion plans for housing additional personnel, and enhanced training incentives for staff and volunteers. Chief Klem also discussed regional dispatch options and structural planning. Bindelglass thanked Klem for his “very comprehensive report and hard work.”

The board awarded a $12,105 bid for guide rail installation to Atlas Companies, following a recommendation by Public Works Director Ed Nagy. The motion passed unanimously.

The board also accepted the resignation of Emjek Cordover and expressed gratitude for his service. In addition, Bindelglass acknowledged the passing of Vida Peskay, who had served on the Library Committee, the Library Building Committee, and the Board of Education.

Additional items were added to the agenda during the meeting. One involved a discussion of Planning and Zoning ordinance changes. The language was deemed acceptable, but the board tabled the item to adjust term dates. Another motion added a second public comment session, during which a resident noted that beach passes had run out quickly last year, preventing some from accessing their boats. D’Addario suggested exploring reciprocal passes with Fairfield as a potential solution.

During board member comments, Sogofsky reminded residents of the upcoming Boy Scout Gourmet Breakfast on March 29 at 7:30 a.m., and noted Helen Keller Middle School’s 60th anniversary celebration. Bindelglass said the Regional Water Authority has not yet filed for approval with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority regarding the Aquarion matter. He also addressed concerns about two EMS calls that were redirected to mutual aid due to staffing, and noted that a second town-wide postcard had drawn complaints.

In other remarks, Bindelglass said renters may have misunderstood a land use matter, and that he would review and potentially revise his public statement. He also mentioned that Sport Hill races are scheduled for May near Memorial Day.

The meeting adjourned at 8:56 p.m. following a unanimous vote.