SEYMOUR — The Board of Selectmen talked about everything from tacos to train station improvements at its meeting Tuesday (April 5).
Here’s a recap of some of the meeting highlights:
It’s Your Money, Tell The Town How You Want To Spend It:
The town will hold a series of public forums to give residents a chance to weigh in on how to best spend some $4.8 million Seymour received through the American Rescue Plan Act. The federal stimulus funds were doled out to help boost the hard-hit economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. The public meetings will be held at 7 p.m. April 12 at Seymour Middle School, 211 Mountain Rd.; 7 p.m. April 13 at Town Hall, 1 First St. and 11 a.m. April 14 at the Seymour Community Center, 20 Pine St.
Let’s Taco ‘bout Cinco de Mayo:
After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, Hot Tamales’ Cinco de Mayo Taco-Eating Contest will make its much-anticipated return at 5 p.m. May 5 at the restaurant, located in the Seybridge Plaza, 39 New Haven Rd. The seventh annual event will once again benefit TEAM, Inc’s Meals on Wheels program.
While Drugonis herself admitted she simply can’t stomach participating in the gluttonous food fest, she encouraged anyone interested in trying to scoff down the most tacos in five minutes and five seconds to sign up by contacting her office at 203 – 888-2511 or by email adrugonis@seymourct.org.
Former Selectmen Rob VanEgghen is the Valley’s reigning taco king, having scarfed down 13 soft tacos during the last contest held at Hot Tamale’s back in 2019.
Another former Seymour First Selectman Kurt Miller, who participated in past taco-eating contests, opted to serve as emcee of the 2019 frenzied food fest. It’s not yet known whether Miller will step up to the plate, or behind a plate of tacos, and take part again, but Drugonis issued him a challenge to sign up for the fun. She promised to serve as his biggest cheerleader, just as she and her pal, state Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria, did last month, when Miller took part in Ansonia’s annual paczki-eating contest in honor of Mardis Gras.
The 2019 event raised more than $5,000 for Meals on Wheels, which provides nutritious meals directly to the front doors of the Valley’s seniors and shut-ins.
Be Nice to Mother Nature:
As a kick-off to Earth Day (April 22), Drugonis has put out the call for residents to conduct neighborhood clean-ups. While this will not be a bulk pick-up event for homes, Drugonis said she’s looking for residents to team up and clean the wooded areas in their neighborhoods, and pick up any debris, cans, bottles and litter. The town will supply contractor bags and the Public Works Department will collect the bags. Those interested in the clean-up effort are asked to call Drugonis’ office at 203 – 888-2511.
All Aboard for Improvements:
Drugonis expressed gratitude to the state Bond Commission for recently approving a $250,000 grant-in-aid to Seymour to make improvements to the Metro North train station building downtown, and surrounding sidewalks. The money is geared to improve both the safety and accessibility of the train station and the sidewalks nearby. Drugonis said the Seymour train station is most often utilized by early morning and weekend riders.
“We appreciate our delegation’s efforts on the residents’ behalf as well as the Bond Commission’s decision to invest in the Town of Seymour,” Drugonis said in a prepared statement. “As we work to stimulate economic development, investments in the Naugatuck Valley Line, our railroad station and our downtown orbit are crucial to our success.”
