Photo By Jean Falbo-Sosnovich
Front row left to right: Selectwoman Trisha Danka, First Selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis. Second row left to right: Selectmen Pat Lombardi, Robert Findley, Al Bruno and Fred Stanek
SEYMOUR — Here are some highlights from the Jan. 3 meeting of the Seymour Board of Selectpersons:
Cyber Scam Theft
Regarding the theft last year of $375,000 from the town’s coffers, via a cyber crime, First Selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis told her fellow Selectpersons that she plans to give them an update in January.
“We are continuing to receive information in regards to the $375,000 taken from the town in a cyber crime,” Drugonis said. “I’m hoping to be able to update this board, the Board of Finance and the residents in regards to what took place and the actions that are being taken at our next January meeting.”
The crime, the specifics of which are still under investigation, is in the hands of local police and the FBI.
The board’s next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 17 at Town Hall.
Changing Of The Guard
A swearing-in ceremony for the town’s new fire chief, new police detective and new fire commissioners will be held at 7 p.m. Jan 12. at Seymour Middle School, 211 Mountain Rd. Drugonis invited the public to attend and welcome all the new officers onboard.
Gearing Up For Budget Season
Drugonis, aware of a major hike in statewide utility costs that are going to hit taxpayers hard in their pocketbooks, is prepared to kick off the budget season for 2023 – 2024 next week, asking town departments to hold the line on spending.
“It is that time of year again,” Drugonis said. “I have asked all (town) departments to come in flat with the understanding of contract requirements and the rise in utilities.”
Drugonis will kick off her annual budget summit next week, meeting first with vendors, including insurance and other suppliers of town goods on Jan. 9 and then with all town department heads on Jan. 10 to present their individual budget requests. From there, the Board of Finance will schedule its annual budget workshops, which Drugonis stressed are open to the public and held in person at Town Hall. She said the workshops are the place for residents to learn about what each town department — from the Board of Education to the public library — are asking for and can add their two cents during the public comment portion of the workshops.
Drugonis encouraged residents to stay tuned to the town’s Facebook page for meeting and workshop schedules, and ultimately for information on when and where to vote at the annual budget referendum.
Residents last year approved a $62.4 million budget, which included $25.1 million for the town’s side of expenses and $37.2 million for the Board of Education. The budget represented an increase of 5.4 percent over the previous year’s budget.
Who Will Fill Bowen’s Shoes?
With the recent resignation of former Selectperson Christopher Bowen, Drugonis said she is still awaiting a name from the Democratic Town Committee for a replacement.
Drugonis hopes to name someone at the board’s next meeting Jan. 17.
According to the town charter, the board has 30 days from the notice of Bowen’s resignation to name his successor. Bowen was a Democrat when he was first elected to the board in Nov. 2019. However, he changed his political party last March to unaffiliated. But because Bowen was a Democrat when he was first elected, his replacement must also be a Democrat, according to the town charter.
Bowen resigned because he plans to move out of Seymour.
