PUBLIC NOTICE
Town of Somers
Notice of Seventh Day Before Election Day Registration Session

In accordance with Connecticut State Statutes Section §9-16, the Somers Registrar of Voters will be holding a registration session to examine the qualifications of electors and admit those found qualified and will be available to restore voters previously removed from the elector list.

The session will be held Tuesday, October 31, 2023, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. through 8:00 p.m. at the Registrar of Voters office, Somers Town Hall, 600 Main Street, Somers, CT 06071.

This shall be the last regular session for the admission of electors prior to the General/Municipal Election on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. For those whose qualifications as to age; citizenship or residence is attained after this date, a limited registration session will be held on the day before the election (Monday, November 6, 2023) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Those seeking additional information may call the Registrar’s office at (860) 763-8211 or the Town Clerk’s office at (860) 763-8207.

David P. McCaffrey, Registrar
Gloriajean E. Sheiber, Registrar

LEGAL NOTICE

TOWN OF SOMERS

NOTICE OF SPECIAL TOWN MEETING

All electors and persons eligible to vote in town meetings of the Town of Somers, Connecticut (the “Town”) are hereby warned that a Special Town Meeting of the Town is to be held at the Somers Town Hall Auditorium, 600 Main Street, Somers, Connecticut on Thursday, October 26, 2023 at 7:00 p.m., for the following purposes:

1. To elect a moderator.

2. To consider and discuss (but not vote on) the following resolutions:

1. 1. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN APPROPRIATION OF $13,200,000 FOR THE SENIOR/COMMUNITY CENTER PROJECT AND THE FINANCING OF SAID APPROPRIATION BY THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND NOTES IN ANTICIPATION OF SUCH BONDS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $13,200,000
   2. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN APPROPRIATION OF $10,500,000 FOR THE HVAC AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT AND THE FINANCING OF SAID APPROPRIATION BY THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND NOTES IN ANTICIPATION OF SUCH BONDS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $10,500,000

The full text of the foregoing authorizing resolutions are on file and open to inspection at the office of the Town Clerk, Town Hall, Somers, Connecticut for the use or inspection of any interested person.

All electors and persons eligible to vote in town meetings of the Town are hereby further notified that pursuant to Section 7-7 of the Connecticut General Statutes, as amended, the Board of Selectmen by resolution adopted at its meeting on July 20, 2023, removed the foregoing resolutions from the agenda of this Special Town Meeting for submission to the voters for vote by voting machine to be held on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, at the times and at the polling places to be noticed.

3. To adjourn the meeting.

Dated at Somers, Connecticut this 18 day of October, 2023.

TOWN OF SOMERS BOARD OF SELECTMEN

Tim Keeney, First Selectman

William Meier, Selectman

Robert Schmidt, Selectman

The Somers Economic Development Commission will be promoting “Small Business Saturday” a national event, on November 25^th. The EDC will create advertising and offer shuttle buses to patrons to encourage participation. We’re working to make Somers businesses more visible. If your business wants to be a part of the promotion, you must be willing to offer a discount on that day. If you would like to be included in the publicity,  contact the EDC either by mail at [email protected] or by mail at 600 Main Street, Somers, no later than Friday, October 20th, so you can be listed in the flyers and included on the bus route. Please include the discount your business will offer so it can be in the publicity.

The purpose of this explanatory text is to provide you with information about the Appropriation and Bond Referendum questions that will appear on the ballot to be voted on at the November 7, 2023 Referendum.

• Senior/Community Center Project

The Town engaged GWWO Architects to study and design a new Senior/Community Center. The goal was to determine if the current Senior Center could be expanded and improved to suit the needs of more residents in Town. The architects recommended that a new facility be constructed rather than renovate the existing facility. A survey was undertaken to seek and gather input from Town residents regarding the proposed facility. Based on such input, design plans for the facility were created. The proposed new building will provide more space for programming, a multipurpose room, fitness studio, a lounge, gymnasium, indoor walking track, and administrative offices.

Referendum Question:

Shall the resolution entitled, ‘RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN APPROPRIATION OF $13,200,000 FOR THE SENIOR/COMMUNITY CENTER PROJECT AND THE FINANCING OF SAID APPROPRIATION BY THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND NOTES IN ANTICIPATION OF SUCH BONDS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $13,200,000’, be approved?

The ballot label for such question reads as follows:

Shall the Town of Somers appropriate $13,200,000.00 for the Senior/Community Center project and authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds and notes in the same amount to finance said appropriation?

• School HVAC and Electrical System Improvements Project

The Board of Education engaged CES Engineering to study and design HVAC and electrical system improvements for all Somers schools. Upon completion of the study, it was determined to undertake the design and construction of improvements and renovations at the Somers Elementary School (“SES”) and to compete design plans for the remainder of the Somers schools. The proposed design for the SES project consists of the making of heating, air conditioning and ventilation system improvements and electrical system improvements. This SES project is expected to take two years to complete.

Referendum Question:

Shall the resolution entitled, ‘RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN APPROPRIATION OF $10,500,000 FOR THE HVAC AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT AND THE FINANCING OF SAID APPROPRIATION BY THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND NOTES IN ANTICIPATION OF SUCH BONDS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $10,500,000’, be approved?

The ballot label for such question reads as follows:

Shall the Town of Somers appropriate $10,500,000.00 for the HVAC and electrical system improvements project and authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds and notes in the same amount to finance said appropriation?

The above information and the full text of the appropriation and bond resolutions are attached below.

Printed copies are available in the Town Clerks office.  Or click on link below to view full size and print out if you want to.  Complete explanation of the two ballot questions available on separate news posting on the website.

At the link below is the listing by Street of the locations, times and description of offerings.  With the forecast of rain on Saturday the town has given permission to everyone participating to include Sunday, if they want to.  So many households participating will also be open for business on Sunday.  Have a great time, both buyers and sellers, this weekend.

Connecticut Water Company is beginning installation of a new water main the week of Sept. 25 in Ellington and Somers on Egypt Road between Elderberry Lane in Ellington and the Somers Highway Garage in Somers. About three-quarters of a mile, or 4,000 feet, of water main will be installed at a cost of approximately $1.3 million. Two fire hydrants will also be replaced as part of the project. The main and fire hydrant will provide additional fire protection for public safety and improved water quantity and quality to area residents.
“Investing in drinking water infrastructure improves water system reliability and enhances water quality,” stated Vice President of Service Delivery, Rose Gavrilovic, P.E. She added, “When customers turn on the tap they expect high-quality water, without interruption. This investment in new water main will serve customers for decades to come.”
Work hours for the project will be 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The project is expected to be complete by the end of the year. The project is funded through the Water Infrastructure and Conservation Adjustment (WICA) on customer bills. Connecticut Water’s goal is to replace about one percent of its more than 1,850 miles of water main every year through the WICA program. The company plans to invest over $52 million in water treatment, water storage and pipelines in 2023.
Construction is expected to begin in the area of Egypt Road and Elderberry Lane.
Customers in the construction area have been notified of the project and will receive advance notice of any scheduled water service interruption because of the water main installation project.

The annual Great Escape Road Race and Four Town Fair Parade are this Saturday, September 16th.
The Great Escape Road Race on Egypt and Field Roads takes place from 8:00 AM until 9:00 AM.
The Four Town Fair Parade begins at 10:00 AM on Battle Street, continues west on Main Street, south on South Road (Rt. 83), south on Field Road, and finishes at the Fairgrounds on Egypt Road.
Field and Egypt Roads portions will be closed from 8:00 AM until 1:00 PM. Battle Street, Main Street, and South Road portions will be closed from 10:00 AM until 1:00 PM.
Expect delays.

Please be aware Eversource will be perform Aerial Inspections of the transmission Lines by helicopter.

PURPOSE OF FLYOVER: Aerial IR patrol of transmission lines by Transmission Operations and Maintenance

DATE: 8/29 – 9/15

DESCRIPTION OF AIRCRAFT: Navy & Silver helicopter, tail # N1431W

FLIGHT TIMES:   8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., weather permitting  

TOWNS TO BE FLOWN OVER: Entire CT system

LANDING AREAS: The following airports will be used for landing and refueling efforts:
• Sikorsky (Bridgeport)
• Robertson
• Windham
• Groton
• Goodspeed

CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

STAND DOWN 2023
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 22, 2023
8:00AM – 2:00PM

The Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) is preparing for our annual STAND DOWN, a day event during which VA staff and volunteers provide food, clothing and health screenings to homeless and at-risk Veterans. In addition, Veterans also receive referrals for health care, housing solutions, employment, substance use treatment, mental health counseling and other essential services. The 2023 CT DVA Stand Down will be held at the following five regional locations:

FIVE REGIONAL LOCATIONS 

                                    Bridgeport   University of Bridgeport, Wheeler Recreational

Center, 400 University Ave.

                                    Bristol           ST. Gregory CCD Center, 1043 Stafford Ave.

                                    Danbury       Danbury War Memorial 1 Memorial Drive.

                                    Norwich       Easter Seals Veterans Rally Point, 24 Stott Ave.

                                    Rocky Hill    CTDVA Main Campus, 287 West Street.

The DVA continues our commitment to serving Connecticut’s Veterans, Active Duty, National Guard and Reserve military personnel, and their immediate families by providing this “one stop” access to a range of programs and services offered by state and federal agencies, Veterans organizations, and community-based non-profits at these regional sites across the State.

Below is a list of confirmed service providers for the CT DVA Rocky Hill location:

AARP Connecticut – Community Resources

AGP MEDICAL – Medical Equipment

Amazon – Employment

American Legion Auxiliary – Personal care items/clothing

American Red Cross – Health / Social Services

Amplify – Behavioral Health & Recovery Support

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield – Healthcare coverage

Better Business Bureau Serving CT – Consumer Services

Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle. Club Hartford – Personal Needs Items

Catholic Charities – Social Service Benefits

CCSU Veterans Affairs Office – Education

Charter Oak State College – Education

Columbus House – Housing

CHRO – Legal (Discrimination & Accommodations)

Community Health Center – Dental & Vaccinations

Community Health Network of Connecticut, Inc. – Healthcare Coverage

Community Health Resources – Behavioral Health

Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles

Driver’s license renewal

            Driver’s license duplicates

            License suspension services

State ID

General DMV information

Connecticut Lions – District 23B – Eye Care / Personal Needs Items

CT BAR ASSOCIATION – Legal

CT Department of Labor – Employment

CT Veterans Legal Center – Legal

Department of Administrative Services – Talent Solutions – Employment

Department of Connecticut Veterans of Foreign Wars – Veterans benefits

Department of Social Services – Social Service Benefits

Disabled American Veterans – Coat Distribution

Disabled American Veterans – Veterans Benefits

DMHAS – Recovery Support – Behavioral Health & Recovery Support

DMHAS-Nursing Home Diversion & Transition Program – Behavioral Health

FedEx Ground – Employment

GFWC of Newington/Wethersfield – Personal need Items

Interval House – Housing

Manchester Emblem Club #251 – Personal Needs Items

MDA-UAW Local 571 – Personal Needs Items

Middletown Emblem Club #452 – Personal Needs Items

Military Support Program – Behavioral Health

Norwich Vet Center – Behavioral Health

OFFICE OF JOHN B. LARSON – Constituent Support

Office of the Treasurer, Unclaimed Property Division – Financial

Thin Line Peer Support Team – Veteran Peer Support

Salvation Army – Water & Snacks

SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY- US SENATE – Constituent Support

Somers Congregational Church, Somers CT – Personal Needs Items

State of Connecticut Department of Revenue Service – Taxes

The Kennedy Collective Mobility Services – Transportation Information

The National Veterans Council for Legal Redress – Veterans Benefits

The Phoenix – Recovery Support Activities

Village For Families and Children – Behavioral Health & Recovery Support

The Work Place – SSVF / Housing

Travelers Inc. – Personal Needs Items

United States Attorney’s Office – Information on Civil Rights and ADL laws

University of New Haven, Military & Veteran Affairs – Education

US Coast Guard Auxiliary – Veteran & Community Services

US Dept of Housing & Urban Development – Housing

VA Connecticut – Homeless Team – Housing

VA Connecticut – VRE – Employment & Education

VA Connecticut – Veterans Benefits Administration – VA Benefits

VA Connecticut – Suicide Prevention Program – Behavioral Health

VA Connecticut – Home Based Primary Care – Medical

VA Connecticut Healthcare System – VA Healthcare

VETS Inc. – SSVF / Housing

Veterans for Peace Connecticut Chapter 42 – Community Support

VFW Auxiliary Department of Connecticut – Personal Needs Items

Wethersfield/Rocky Hill Elks Lodge 2308 – Personal Needs Items

The current transportation schedule is available here:

A transportation schedule is forthcoming for municipalities in the Somers Regional Area.

https://portal.ct.gov/DVA/Pages/Veterans-Stand-Down/Transportation-Schedule-2023