Easements and high speed internet, at Sharon BOS meeting

SHARON — The Sharon Conservation Commission attended the town’s Board of Selectmen meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 8, and explained some grievances they have with the treatment of local easements. Chairman Paul Bacsik brought pictures of their issues with three easements near Joray Road, Fairchild Road and Cemetery Road. 

Easements are town-funded trails that once were unmaintained roads or land. There are 13 easements in Sharon, and Bacsik said on these three trails,  trail markers had been removed, “no trespassing” signs were pointed in the wrong direction and large piles of brush were blocking the way. 

Bacsik said he believes the easements were trifled with by owners of property adjacent to the easements, although that has not been officially confirmed. 

First Selectman Brent Colley and Selectmen Jessica Fowler and Dale Jones suggested the commission draft a letter to the owners of property next to the easements in an effort to end the issues involving these trails. 

The selectmen later discussed fiber broadband, and whether faster internet would help businesses and residents in the area. The installation of the new technology could get business owners and workers to “stay here, work here, and live here,” Fowler said. 

According to www.FiberBroadband.org, fiber broadband creates an internet connection that is much stronger, faster and safer than the current broadband connection of the area. 

Colley said that Northwest ConneCT, the pro-fiber broadband coalition made up of 25 municipalities in the Northwest Corner, has sought to provide better internet connection for the area’s businesses and families. He said that Northwest ConneCT is now dealing with a lawsuit with cable companies because municipal broadband is blocked by lobbyist-driven amendments. 

Fowler added that the lobbyists for area cable and phone companies said Northwest ConneCT and similar groups would lead to “municipalities having an unfair competitive advantage.” She said a forum will take place sometime before Dec. 15 for citizens and local legislators to attend. It will explain the towns’ options in this matter and the current status.