SEYMOUR — First Selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis took to Facebook on Nov. 30 to host a live Q&A session with residents to bring them up to speed about what’s happening around town.
A total of 82 people tuned in to the live event, which lasted just over 30 minutes. Those are great numbers for Facebook live events, especially since the platform has been de-emphasizing long-form video content.
Drugonis prefaced the event by telling residents she plans to host the Facebook live chat on a monthly basis. Drugonis hosted her first Facebook live update last month.
Kurt Miller, the town’s CEO, fielded questions and comments from the live audience, which Drugonis answered in real time.
Drugonis briefed residents on the following tidbits:
* Chaves Bakery on Route 34/Roosevelt Drive closed last month, but the building was just sold and a new business will be moving in. Drugonis had no info on the business.
* Newport Healthcare, which gained approval in August to renovate the former Villa Bianca banquet facility on Route 34/Roosevelt Drive, was expected to close on the property on Thursday (Nov. 30).
* A convenience store/deli is expected to move into the former M&T Bank storefront in the AutoZone plaza downtown.
* As of Friday (Dec. 1) the winter parking ban goes into effect. This year, parking is allowed on odd sides of the street. If anyone has questions, they are asked to call Seymour Police at 203 – 881-7600.
* Seymour has been collecting empty nip bottles on side of the road, and Drugonis said the town currently has $46,000 in an account that the state says can be used for the town to purchase street sweeping equipment, filters from storm drains and related gear, which she said will help defer costs in town budget.
* Seymour’s first “buddy bench” was installed this month at Broad Street Park. The blue and gold bench, donated by Bushi Ban, is meant for anyone feeling lonely or alone to have a sit, with the hope that anyone who sees that person will take a moment to sit next to the person and talk.
* The Board of Selectpersons held a public hearing at 6 p.m. Dec. 5 at Seymour Town Hall to discuss a $16 million state grant the town applied for (but was initially denied due to lack of public participation) regarding construction of a connector road from Route 67 downtown to Route 42 in Beacon Falls. The road would open up more than 220 acres owned by Haynes for a potential mixed-use of commercial, residential and retail space.
A previous Valley Indy story on that proposal attracted many comments on Valley Indy Facebook.
Resident Alicia Wilhelm asked how much the future Haynes’ project would lower Seymour’s mill rate.
“That will depend on several things, and what goes in there, like housing, commercial, retail,” Drugonis said. “For us to get any feeling of what it could do for our mill rate won’t likely be known for two years or so.”
Resident James Walsh asked for an update on the Bungay/Botsford/West Church streets road project.
“We met with one resident that was holding the project up with an easement, and we’re finalizing discussions now about the easement,” Drugonis said. “Both I and the town engineer believe work will start at the end of spring, and the project will be done next year, there’s no doubt about it in my mind.”
Resident Bill Calcagni inquired about the former Trestle Tavern building on Main Street, and it being quite an eyesore.
“It’s a sore site, it was condemned by the fire marshal when people were living in there, and there is currently a stop work order on the building,” Drugonis said.
Drugonis said the building was being converted into a two-family house, but the building inspector said site plans were not being followed, and stopped work from continuing for the time being.
Resident James Walsh also asked if the community center could house monthly dances for town teenagers. Drugonis said she will bring that up with the town recreation commission.
Resident Julie Lynn asked whether the town is planning any indoor air quality studies for the third floor of the community center at 20 Pine St., which is still not being used. The lower and main levels are home to the senior center and recreation department. A satellite program of the Boys and Girls Club of the lower Naugatuck Valley was previously housed there, but Druginis said they relocated during the pandemic to the Seymour/Oxford Food Bank building.
Drugonis said the state health department wanted upgrades to the air handling system in the building’s lower level during COVID, to ensure the air was being turned over more frequently.
“The town didn’t have the money to update that and the Boys and Girls Club moved out,” she said.
