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Puppy story time
Jun 25, 2025
Lans Christensen
Lee Sohl, accompanied by her therapy dog Freddy, came to the Kent Memorial Library Saturday, June 21, and read to kids from dog books she has written. The Kim family was in attendance to enjoy a reading of “Pug in a Truck” and other titles.
Lans Christensen
P&Z to keep meeting on Zoom
Jun 25, 2025
SALISBURY — The Planning and Zoning Commission will continue to host its public meetings remotely via Zoom, as established at its June 16 regular meeting.
The Commission held a discussion surrounding its position statement on meeting formats, with Chair Michael Klemens citing reasons of fairness and accessibility as the rationale for continuing to hold meetings remotely. “It keeps us all on a level playing field,” he said.
He said that a remote model enables commissioners and attendees with busy schedules to attend an increasing number of meetings each month and allows members of the public to attend and watch recordings at their leisure.
“If we go to in-person meetings, we’re going to lose commissioners, or have a terrible attendance record,” he said.
The statement, which the Commission voted to approve with one no vote from Secretary Martin Whalen, asserts that remote meetings offer a number of benefits to commission members, town staff and residents alike.
“Remote meetings maximize public access and participation, efficiently utilize the limited staff resources of the Land Use Office and enable volunteer Commissioners to process a significant volume of complex applications through increasingly frequent meetings,” it affirms.
The Commission originally switched to an all-virtual meeting platform during the Covid-19 pandemic. It has hosted several hybrid meetings, employing both a live session and zoom streaming, but P&Z maintains that the hybrid model causes logistical difficulties and requires twice the staff of a remote meeting.
The Commission took action on the issue in response to numerous calls from members of the public to return to a live format. Salisbury resident Elyse Harney has advocated the change at several recent P&Z meetings. “I want to be able to sit and look at you guys; look you in the eye,” she said. “I feel very strongly about this.”
During the contentious Wake Robin public hearing process, Lakeville-based real estate appraiser Roger Rawlings concluded testimony with even stronger words. “I will finish with the fact that we’re on a Zoom and we’re not in the congregational church with the public watching this,” he said. “I am ashamed.”
“Why are you ashamed to be on Zoom?” Klemens questioned Rawlings later in the meeting. “250 people should be there and you should have to look at them all instead of just a few” Rawlings replied.
At the June 16 meeting, Klemens countered that argument by saying the Commission is legally bound to uphold the rights of the property owner and the public, and as such cannot be legally influenced by crowd behavior.
“The idea that we need to sit in a room with the public and be in some way influenced by their body language or their anger” is erroneous, he said. “It may work on our elected politicians,” he added, “but we have the laws to uphold.”
Wake Robin hearing
The Commission moved to schedule the public hearing for ARADEV LLC’s application to expand the Wake Robin Inn on the last date of its statutorily defined window to do so, Aug. 5.
The delay is meant to allow time for a decision to be issued on pending litigation against P&Z. If approved, the suit would affect P&Z’s ability to review applications regarding hotels in the RR1 zone, which the Inn is located within.
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Fire dept. holds annual banquet
Jun 25, 2025
Simon Markow
Cornwall’s first responders gathered at Mohawk Ski Lodge Sunday, June 22, to celebrate another year of successful rescue services. New volunteers were welcomed as members, the top 10 responders for fire and emergency medical service calls were announced, and longstanding volunteers were recognized for reaching milestones: 10 years for Ian Ridgway and Garrick Dinneen; 15 years for Ted Larson and Elizabeth Russ; 20 years for Fred Scoville; 50 years for Rod MacNeil.
Simon Markow
Cornwall adds two affordable homes
Jun 25, 2025
A crew works to install a modular home on Town Street in Cornwall Monday as part of a regional affordable housing initiative.
Ruth Epstein
CORNWALL — The large trucks and huge cranes seen on Town Street Monday, June 16, signaled the eventual addition of two families to the neighborhood.
The workers were installing a duo of modular homes on two one-acre parcels of land donated by Ginny Potter through a program organized by the Litchfield County Center for Housing Opportunity, with a grant from the state Department of Housing, which saw nine affordable houses being placed around the Northwest Corner.
Referred to as “scattered site homes,” the program is also installing modulars in Salisbury and Norfolk.
Ginni Block, president of the Cornwall Housing Corporation, along with resident George Charlton and Planning and Zoning Commission chairman Anna Timell, looked on as the crew from Signature Custom Homes of Pennsylvania deftly maneuvered the large equipment. Excitement grew as the crane lifted sections of the two-story house up into the air and put them in place.
“It’s just amazing to watch,” said Block. “This is the work of many, many people who made it come to fruition. We’re thrilled it’s proceeding.”
The homes, which feature three bedrooms, will be owned by the future residents. The land upon which they sit will remain with the housing corporation. Block said the cost will likely be around $250,000 to $280,000. Preference will be given to families with three or more members. Occupants will be chosen through a lottery system.
The concept of this new program is to sell the homes at prices that will be affordable to households earning below the area median income.
SRC Construction Services of Meriden was chosen through a competitive procurement process to be the contractor.
Two houses have already been installed on Perry Street in Lakeville.
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