Bethel First Selectman's Report: Police Station Training Range, COVID-19, Vaccine Program, Legislative Session

Bethel First Selectman's Report 

Wednesday, February 3, 2021

 

POLICE STATION TRAINING RANGE

• Final engineering report by Becht Engineering delivered to Downes and chair of PSBC; meeting to discuss resolution is being set for next week.

  CHARTER COMMISSION

• As discussed previously, an executive order will be necessary in order to proceed with a referendum, due to disruption of the statutory process at the start of the global pandemic. Charter commission attorney Nick Vitti is drafting suggested language for consideration by the office of the governor.

UPDATE ON COVID-19

• The rate of new COVID infections is beginning to drop, in Bethel and around the state. However, the virus is still very dangerous and mitigation actions are more important than ever.
• Bethel's positivity rate has declined from 11.9% two weeks ago to 8.1% last week.
• The newer, more infections strains of COVID-19 have been found in Connecticut, and state health officials believe they will be the dominant strains by the end of March.

VACCINE PROGRAM

• Bethel's clinic began operations for the first time this past Saturday, January 30^th. The clinic, which is a shared service with the Town of Redding, administered 100 doses, 60 to Bethel residents and 40 to Redding residents. All recipients were in the 75+ age group.
• To date, Bethel has administered vaccines to about 45% of the total 75+ population in town. The majority have been administered via the federal VAMS scheduling system.
• Vaccine supplies remain very limited; new supplies are expected later this week, and staff will continue to reach out to the 75+ population to schedule appointments.

2021 STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION

• Several proposals have been introduced into committee that should be watched and commented upon.
• "Mansion tax" of 1 mill on properties assessed at $300,000+
• "Penalty" tax on properties where towns have not reached the 10% threshold according to the affordable housing statute.
• On the positive side, several environmental initiatives have been introduced that will help reduce the costs of recycling and waste disposal for municipalities:
• EPR on gas cylinders
• EPR program on disposal of tires
• Statewide requirement for unit-based pricing
• Grants for municipalities to initiate improved recycling programs
• Most important initiative is modernizing the "bottle bill":
• Increase deposits to 10-cents
• Include deposits on wine, liquor and sports drink bottles.
• Include deposits on "nips."

Visit the Town of Bethel online here.