Loucks looks back, ahead to new year

SHARON — First Selectman Robert Loucks ended 2012 with some reflections on progress made in town on key projects as well as some thoughts on things he plans for the future and some disappointments. “One of the things I am most proud of is we are still working to improve the infrastructure in Sharon,” Loucks said, adding that, “There is still money in the town budget to allow for more infrastructure improvements.” When asked what he would like to see tackled first, he said, “Repairing culverts and bridges and repaving more town roads.”He encouraged town residents to participate in the process of deciding in what order work should be done. “People need to get involved in the budget process in April, attend budget hearings and speak up for what needs attention. I do want to see more people involved in the budget process.”Mitchelltown RoadHe spoke about the long-delayed Mitchelltown Road bridge project. Hemlock Construction, the contractor for the job, came up with a way to continue the project through the winter, rather than waiting until the warmer weather of next spring. “Hemlock is precasting the concrete supports in their warehouse in Torrington,” he said. “This will eliminate the problem of outdoor casting in cold weather, which can lead to inferior quality.”Loucks said he is anxious to get the bridge repairs completed so Mitchelltown Road can be opened again. He said his best guess is the repairs will be completed by the end of February or early March. “But that is only a guess, as unforeseen issues can crop up during the work.”Of his 2012 disappointments, Loucks said, “It’s too bad Andrew Roraback was not elected to Congress. He has done an excellent job for all the people in the Northwest Corner for a long time and would have done the same in Congress, representing Connecticut’s 5th District.”Roraback, a Republican state senator, lost in the November election to Democrat Elizabeth Esty.Another disappointment concerned Sharon Hospital. “Sharon Hospital is a jewel,” he said. “It provides necessary medical services not available anywhere else in the immediate area. It is the town’s largest employer and a very good taxpayer. All around, Sharon Hospital is a good citizen for Sharon.”He was sorry to see that “the state legislature cut $411,000 from Sharon Hospital’s government subsidies. That will hurt the hospital and its ability to properly care for all people who come there.” People come to the hospital’s emergency room for treatment from Connecticut and from across the state line in New York, he said, including some who can’t pay for the cost of their care. The hospital has to absorb the cost of treating those out-of-state patients without receiving financial reimbursement from Connecticut.“I hope we find a better solution,” Loucks said.Business upgradesOn the bright side in 2012, Loucks said the new owners (Eddie and Todi Canie) of the Sharon Country Inn deserve a great deal of credit for investing in the town. “Not only did they do a first-class job of totally renovating and upgrading the inn, they are living on premises to make sure it is properly operated.” He also said they are doing a terrific job of marketing the property as a place for weddings and other events in the warm weather, and they are reaching out to the area’s private schools and Lime Rock Park patrons as well.He also pointed to the renovation of the building at 1 Gay St. as a positive development. The former home of the Herrington’s hardware store, Helen Kilmer’s fitness center and then the Prime Finds resale shop, it now has two completely rebuilt apartments on the second floor. The ground floor will be occupied by the Sharon Package Store, which will move from its location at 16 West Main St. in early 2013.2013: struggles aheadLooking ahead to the year to come, Loucks said, “We can expect to receive less money from the state than in previous years,” due to fiscal belt-tightening in Hartford.As an example, he said, “The Northwestern Connecticut Regional Planning Collaborative, which we are part of, will likely see much less state funding.”Speaking generally, Loucks said, “I hope we see something positive come out of the Newtown tragedy.”“Guns are not the only problem,” he noted. “There are also numerous social issues that need to be addressed.”As examples he said one report shows 71 percent of pregnant teens come from broken homes, as do 90 percent of homeless teens, 71 percent of school drop-outs, 75 percent of teen drug users and 57 percent of teen prison inmates. Loucks said these problems also need solutions.