Kotchoubey welcomed to Cornwall Board of Selectmen

CORNWALL — After input, research and volunteer effort from town residents, the Cornwall selectmen have reached a resolution on lighting the holiday tree at Cornwall Bridge with solar lights. The decision was made at their regular meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 19.

This year it will be a smaller tree that will be lighted for the holidays within the Cornwall Bridge triangle, the selectmen agreed. The solar equipment available this year is only capable of lighting the smaller tree; the larger tree would call for more solar energy to sustain its greater number of light strands.

First Selectman Gordon Ridgway reported that volunteer Fred Scoville will attempt to get the large star working and mounted atop one of the trees.  There will be a holiday celebration and tree lighting on Friday, Nov. 29, at 5 p.m.  Participants will gather in the parking lot of the National Iron Bank in Cornwall Bridge.

When the town can afford it, the larger tree could be solar powered, but that will be at least one year away, the selectmen estimated. It is difficult to run a tree solely on solar, particularly in December, the darkest month.

“We still have the largest solar live tree in the state,” Ridgway noted.

The selectmen also welcomed newly elected Marina Kotchoubey to the board. 

“I’m happy and honored to be here,” she said.

After 22 years of service to the town as selectmen’s administrative clerk, Joyce Hart has announced her retirement, effective on Wednesday, Jan. 15.

“It has been fun,” she wrote in a letter that was read by Ridgway.

“It has been fun, and challenging sometimes,” Ridgway commented. 

“I know more than anyone what Joyce has done to keep the office running well,” he added, citing diverse issues and her sensitivity to the needs of people visiting Town Hall.

Hart intends to continue her service with the town’s volunteer ambulance service.

Once the job description has been updated, the town will conduct a search, and will hope to find a new candidate in enough time to allow for overlap and training.  

Kotchoubey urged that enhanced computer skills be included, anticipating the possibility of electronic communication with residents throughout the town.

With winter coming, the selectmen voted to activate the annual parking ban. Parking is prohibited on paved town highways between Sunday, Dec. 1, and Tuesday, March 31. Cars must be parked at least 6 feet from the travel portion, where the plows need to work without obstruction. 

“Keep your cars away from the plows,” Ridgway said.

Selectman Priscilla Pavel raised a request from a resident who would like the transfer station to open at 8 a.m. Ridgway said that he would speak with staff at the transfer station to determine the current traffic volume and estimate the budget impact of providing for an early opening. The matter will be included on the agenda for the next meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 3.