March 7 Update From Easton First Selectman Bindelglass

**News Release Submitted by Easton First Selectman Bindelglass**

March 7, 2025

Good afternoon,

This week I met with Deputy Emergency Management Director, Schuyler Sherwood, and Chiefs Doyle, Arnold, Klem, and Waugh to discuss possible changes to our dispatch system and the possibility of moving some functions to the Southwest Regional Communications Center. We are continuing to study options. This is part of the community risk reduction program I described previously, with Schuyler overseeing the coordination and interactions between our emergency services. His experience will prove valuable as we move forward in providing improved public safety services to the town.

The Board of Finance finished its first review of the town budget this week. A formal presentation of the budget will be made on March 24th by the Chairmen of the Easton and Region 9 Boards of Education, and the Chairman of the Board of Finance. What was presented includes a decrease in the town's budget of $558,185, and in increases in the Easton Board of Education of $1,311,980 and Region 9 of $1,262,726, which given our percentage of students equates to an amount of $706,101. Region 9 will be meeting on March 13th for further discussion on their budget. Following the budget public hearing, the Board of Finacne will take the public input it has received and formulate a final proposal for the Annual Town Meeting. This will be followed by a referendum. Following passage of the budget, the Board of Finance will set the mill rate.

It has obviously been a tumultuous week for Ukraine. Staying out of the politics of last week’s Oval Office meeting, it seems clear that the people of our sister city will need more support than ever. With the electrical grid being a common Russian target, the need for generators remains acute. While Ukraine Aid International is independent, many organizations which provide humanitarian aid in Ukraine have government connections and are no longer being funded. In all the conversations I have had with the mayor and people of our sister city Sviatohirsk, they have been incredibly grateful for our support. This is a rallying cry for people to respond to, and I hope you will consider giving your support. Every little bit helps. Please go to https://ukraineaidinternational.org/easton-sviatohirsk/.

Congratulations to Officer Tamra French & K-9 ‘TJ’ of Easton CT Police Department for winning first place with 11,702 votes in the Hometown Heroes Grant Giveaway! Thank you to everyone who voted in the giveaway and showed outpouring support for our Police K-9 Units nationwide! Congratulations to all the winners!

As our time springs ahead this weekend, the Office of the Fire Marshal would like to remind everyone to check the batteries in your Smoke Detectors and Carbon Monoxide Detectors. If you need any assistance with changing your battery, installing smoke or carbon monoxide detectors, or if you need a smoke detector, please reach out to the Fire Department at 203-268-2833. For more info: https://www.eastonct.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif3071/f/pages/smokealarms_0.pdf

REMINDER: Effective March 7th, Town Hall will close at 1:00 pm on Fridays (while also opening earlier than usual at 8:00 AM). Demand for services is typically low on Friday afternoons, and many surrounding towns have reduced or eliminated Friday hours without adverse effects. Hours will remain 8:30 am – 4:30 pm Monday through Thursday, and Fridays will change to 8:00 am – 1:00 pm. All of our full-time staff are reducing their lunch times and starting earlier on Friday so their total hours are not affected. This applies only to town hall workers. Part-time staff is not affected.

The Easton Tax Collector has a DROP BOX available for taxpayers to leave their payment (check/money order only, no cash) at Town Hall during business hours (Mon-Thu 8:30 am - 4:30 pm, Fri 8:00 am – 1:00 pm) if they are closed. It is located inside the building, on the wall, to the right of the Town Clerk’s door. The drop box is checked frequently throughout the business day. Please ensure payment is submitted by 4:30 pm on the last business day of the payment deadline or payment will be considered late. Payments are date-stamped, secured, and processed as time allows. If you would like a receipt, please leave a note with your payment or contact the tax collector at 203-268-6291

Activities around town:

Easton Public Library is hosting The Lenihan School of Irish Dance for an Irish Step Dancing Performance on Thursday, March 13th at 4:30 p.m. Register here.

The Staples Academy Foundation is hosting an Irish Music Concert on Thursday, March 13th at 7:00 pm and a St. Patrick's Day Dinner on Saturday, March 15th from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Congregational Church Hall, 336 Westport Road in Easton. Tickets to all events can be purchased here: https://staplesacademyfoundation.org/

Easton P&R is partnering with Redding P&R to offer our residents this amazing New York City Bus Trip that leaves from the Redding Community Center (RCC). NY Rangers vs. Edmonton Oilers Hockey Game at MSG on Sunday, March 16th, leaving the RCC at 3:00 pm for a 7:00 pm game. Seats are in section 216. The price for the trip is just $182. Sign up online at www.townofreddingct.org (Under Trips/Events, "Redding Express Trips"). Questions? Call Redding P&R at (203)-938-2551.

Easton Public Library is hosting “Author Talk: Emotional Fitness by Shaun Zetlin” on Saturday, March 22nd at 2:00 p.m. Join Shaun to learn how fitness can help heal you from anxiety, depression, stress, and trauma. He is a Master Trainer, Author, and Motivational Speaker. Shaun is the author of the Push-up Progression Series and Emotional Fitness. He has been featured in books, articles, magazines, television, radio, and podcasts and can be contacted via www.zetlinfitness.com. Books will be available for purchase and signing. Registration is recommended.

Covenant Church of Easton is hosting a “Feed the Hunger Packathon” on Saturday, April 5th from 9:30 am to 11:30 am OR 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm at 1 Sport Hill Road. Help us pack 25,920 meals for hungry children across the globe! Sign up for a session by following this link https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0944A4AD2DA6F94-feed. There will be a nominal cost to participate, which goes directly towards the cost of the food we will be packing and the Bibles that are distributed to the meal recipients. The cost is $20 per adult and $5 per child 18 years and younger. There are jobs for everyone ages 5-105! Help us feed the world’s most needy children! Last year our packed boxes were sent to Ghana, where most children only receive one meal a day, which is the lunch that is provided at school through Feed the Hunger. Our support helps feed both the physical and spiritual hunger of these special children. For further info call (203) 371-8335.

Have a great weekend,

Dave