Shovel-ready projects, probate plans reviewed

SALISBURY — The Board of Selectmen met June 1 and discussed ongoing projects, the imminent arrival of Verizon cell phone service in town, and heard from Probate Court Judge Charles Vail about another possible court consolidation proposal emanating from Hartford.

First Selectman Curtis Rand reported that the Long Pond dam repair project received 11th-hour approval from the federal Fish and Wildlife Service. The construction can take place in a relatively short window of time without unduly disturbing either the endangered bog turtle or the users of the lake. Ten contractors have picked up sets of plans for the new dam from Town Hall; the bid deadline is June 25. (See story, this page.)

Bob Riva said the Firehouse Building Committee is setting dates for testing at the ITW site on Route 44,  expecting final drawings by June 15, and anticipating a walkthrough for potential bidders in July.

Work should begin by mid-August, he added.

Rand said the architect designing the new Grove building has incorporated a porch into the design, and the plans are heading to the Planning and Zoning Commission for approval. “It increases the footprint a bit,� Rand said, “But I don’t think it will be a problem.�

Construction on the new building will start once the summer season is over, right after Labor Day. “I’d like to see the frame built over the summer,� Rand said.

He also reported a meeting with state Department of Transportation officials about the intersection of routes 44 and 41 in Lakeville. “They haven’t completed their preliminary plans,� he said.

“One thing I told them is whatever they do, they’d better slow traffic coming into it from the west.�

That project won’t commence any time soon, Rand said. “They’re probably not too eager to have two major construction projects going at the same time,� he said, referring to the Route 7 bridge, which will be closed next weekend to allow for delivery and placement of large beams.

Rand said that Verizon service should be arriving in town shortly. Verizon asked the Siting Council, a state agency, for permission to add a diesel generator to the cell tower site. Rand said he objected to that and the company and council agreed to a much quieter propane generator and a small shed instead.

Charles Vail asked the board to adopt a resolution that supports maintaining the current probate court facility in North Canaan, should HB 6385, a bill to consolidate the probate courts, pass through the state Legislature and be signed by Gov. Rell.

Despite a reorganization of the probate court system just two-and-a-half years ago, Vail said, the budget crisis in Hartford has legislators looking to cut costs wherever possible.

Vail said he had met informally with other judges and they would suggest an expanded, U-shaped district that runs along the Route 44 corridor, adding New Hartford, Barkhamsted, Hartland, Colebrook and Winchester to the existing six-town district of Salisbury, Sharon, Norfolk, North Canaan, Falls Village and Cornwall, and keeping the North Canaan court open at least part-time.

Should Salisbury be attached to a district that includes Torrington, he said, the likelihood of a small-town candidate for judge winning would be unlikely.

And he added that Northwest Corner residents could be seriously inconvenienced should they be forced to drive to Winsted or Litchfield to a probate court. “This is a state service. People should not have to drive an hour, especially when you can drive across the state in two hours.�

The board adopted Vail’s resolution unanimously.