SALISBURY — First Selectman Curtis Rand said his main concern at the moment was finding seniors who do not have computer access or are having trouble getting registered for the COVID-19 vaccine.
Rand spoke at the monthly online meeting of the Board of Selectmen Monday, Feb. 1. Selectman Chris Williams was busy with the road crew and did not attend, and Selectman Don Mayland had technical difficulties and was delayed.
Once the meeting was formally convened, Rand expressed his vaccination concerns and turned it over to Lisa McAuliffe, who runs the town’s senior programs at the Grove.
McAuliffe said for seniors struggling to get vaccinated, the simplest thing to do is call her at 860-435-5186 for assistance. [The state has also expanded its help line, see story in this issue Page A1.]
McAuliffe also mentioned that the basketball court at Trotta Field has been flooded for an ice skating rink, see photo above. The rink is the size of a standard ice hockey rink and is divided between a sticks-and-pucks section and a general skating section.
Rand provided an update on flashing beacons for Main Street (Route 44) crossings in the center of Salisbury and at The White Hart. He said the beacons are just about through the state Department of Transportation approval process. He also cautioned that per state regulation the beacons in the center of Salisbury will require the loss of four parking spaces.
Rand said the town plans to install a similar beacon where the rail trail crosses Salmon Kill Road. That project is easier to do because it is on a town road.
The selectmen approved a motion to increase building permit fees from $7 per thousand to $10 per thousand. Rand said the fee hasn’t changed in years and the extra revenue will help offset the increase in Town Hall expenses related to building supervision.
While waiting for Mayland to join the meeting Rand took the opportunity to address a rumor he’d heard, that there was some talk of paving over the small park and garden at the Holley Street end of Factory Pond.
“That’s not going to happen,” Rand said. “It was never going to happen, and we’re not thinking about it.”
Rand repeated this on Feb. 4 at the Affordable Housing Commission meeting.
