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Budget dates set, funding requested for broadband and Community Center

SHARON — Budget public hearing and town meeting dates were set and their location determined at the regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, April 13.

For consideration of the 2021-22 proposed education and town budgets, the public hearing will be held on Friday, April 30, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The location will be Sharon Center School, where adequate spacing will be available for those who attend in person.

The annual town meeting to vote on the budgets will be held on Friday, May 14, also beginning at 6:30 p.m., and also at Sharon Center School.

The proposed budgets will be posted on the town’s website (www.sharonct.org) after the April 20 meeting of the Board of Finance determines the final proposed budget figures, giving residents an opportunity to provide written or phoned-in comments in advance of the April 30 public hearing.

Residents can request paper copies of the budgets by contacting Town Hall, First Selectman Brent Colley said. Although it will not be possible for residents to vote on the budget proposals by Zoom, there will be Zoom access provided for both the public hearing and the town meeting.

Funding for a broadband plan

The selectmen also discussed, amended and approved the town’s five-year capital plan and agreed to provide it to the Board of Finance to be included with the budget proposals. Two major future expenditures were added to the capital plan, including funding for preparation of a town plan for broadband access. 

An expense of $30,000 is already included in the proposed annual budget to cover preliminary planning, but the selectmen agreed to add the project to the capital plan for future planning and implementation of town-wide broadband coverage.

Now is the time to add this important piece to the capital plan in anticipation of federal infrastructure funding, Broadband Task Force Chairman Jill Drew said, pointing to the importance of the town having a plan in place when applications are available in the future. 

Ten residents are currently volunteer members of the Broadband Task Force, Colley noted.

Also added to the capital plan was a request for $300,000 for long-term renovation improvements to the town’s Community Center.

Leila Hawken

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