Cornwall wastewater project advances

CORNWALL —Staying on track with the schedule devised for the town to make a decision on West Cornwall’s wastewater project, the Board of Selectmen passed two crucial resolutions at its regular meeting on Tuesday, May 17. The votes were unanimous.

The first resolution discusses appropriating $6.23 million for the project, authorizing an eventual bond issue for that amount, but in the interim allowing the town to borrow the funds temporarily. The second resolution would direct the selectmen to schedule a town meeting on the project and to follow that town meeting with a referendum vote two weeks later. That referendum will determine whether the project is to move ahead.

“With these resolutions we are agreeing to put this matter before the town,” First Selectman Gordon  Ridgway said.

Ridgway noted that the town has been notified that it will receive federal funding toward the project in the amount of $3 million, approaching half the cost.

Expressing thanks to all volunteers who have worked for many years to move the project ahead, Ridgway singled out the efforts of U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-5), who brought federal funding to the project.

An information forum is  scheduled for Saturday, June 11, to be held on Zoom. The referendum is projected to be scheduled for Saturday, July 9.

Sharon Hospital

Continuing to follow closely Nuvance’s planned cutbacks to Sharon Hospital’s services, the selectmen voted unanimously to endorse a letter being sent by state Rep. Maria Horn (D-64) requesting that an areawide public hearing be held on those plans.

“It’s essential that the state’s Office of Health Strategy hear from the community,” Ridgway said. That office is considering the Certificate of Need submitted by Nuvance detailing the changes.