Town composting plans hit snag

CORNWALL — The Board of Selectmen’s goal of creating a local composting service at the Cornwall Transfer Station has hit a snag. After meeting with representatives from the state to discuss Cornwall’s proposal, First Selectman Gordon Ridgway reviewed the status of the application during the regular selectmen’s meeting on March 21.

“The process of getting this approved is more complicated than I had anticipated,” said Ridgway.

Cornwall’s proposed composting plan involved the collection of fallen leaves from around town to create working piles for the leaves to break down at the town’s transfer station. Residents could then bring food scraps to add to the pile. The final product would yield locally sourced compost that residents could take home to use in their gardens.

Ridgway was told by the state that four towns have similar composting programs across Connecticut. Each of these towns already had leaf composting permits in place before applying for a permit to compost food scraps.

“We have to apply first for a leaf composting permit,” said Ridgway.

The state also requested additional mapping of the site to ensure that the leaf piles are at least 100 feet away from any brooks. Despite a brook near the transfer station, Ridgway said he believes they can still find a place for the composting piles.

The goal of having an operational composting service by Earth Day (April 22) may be out of the picture, but the board planned to move forward with the process of getting its proposal approved by the state.

“We have a path forward,” said Ridgway. “We’ll be busy filing permits and things, which is why it’s going to take three months.”

The selectmen also reviewed the aftermath of a recent winter storm that caused road closures and power outages across Cornwall. Ridgway said that at the peak of the storm about 95% of the town was without power.

“Cornwall and Goshen apparently were hit the hardest of all the towns in Connecticut,” said Ridgway.

Severe wind and up to two feet of snow at the higher elevations in town blocked roads and caused trees and branches to fall. Ridgway said local emergency crews were prepared for the storm and responded quickly to the damage.

“It made me appreciate the few people on our crew behind the wheel that put in long hours and kept everything open,” said Ridgway.

The board thanked Emergency Management Director Diane Beebe as well as Jim Vanicky of the highway department and his team for their efforts to clear roads of trees,  which enabled Eversource to restore power across town.

“Eversource put on a very good effort with their contractors that they called in ahead of time from the South and Midwest,” said Ridgway.

Ridgway said he got a check-in call from Gov. Ned Lamont on Tuesday morning.

“He wanted to make sure we were all all right and I assured him we were all well,” said Ridgway. “He was glad to hear that things had improved as far as emergency response with the power company.”

To thank the highway department for their efforts, the board approved a motion to give the highway crew an honorarium of $500 each and $750 for Vanicky.

Ridgway said the board wanted to “give credit to the few who really keep the town going when things are in bad shape.”

Moving on, long-time Cornwall resident John Calhoun offered to donate a portrait of his ancestor, also named John Calhoun, to mount in town hall. The elder Calhoun donated the town hall building to Cornwall in 1908.

“I think it would be appropriate to put this on the mantle at the town hall,” said Ridgway. “We have a collection of uniquely Cornwall art and this portrait would be in good company.”

Cornwall’s town hall was built with local stones quarried from the Calhoun’s quarry on Todd Hill. In addition to operating as town hall, over the years the building has been used for plays, performances, music, voting, a library and more.

The board accepted the donation and planned to hold a ceremony once the portrait has been received.