Be #BrookfieldSTRONG!
TOWN REFERENDUM - TUESDAY MAY 29
The Town will vote next Tuesday on the Town and School budgets. The Board of Finance met last night and made reductions to the budget. Given how important this is and how many residents have sent me messages about not being able to vote last week, please take the time to go in and vote. Please exercise your right to determine how Brookfield moves forward. The Capital budget will require a separate referendum, details on which will be coming out shortly.
Absentee Ballots are now ready in the Town Clerk's office. The Town Clerk's office will be open during usual office hours this week.
Given the short time we are working under, the Town clerk's office will also be open from 10 a.m. - noon on Saturday, May 26 for those residents who need an absentee ballot and cannot get to our offices during normal business hours. Absentee ballots for this referendum should be done in person and not via the mail.
INFORMATION ABOUT FEMA
Brookfield needs your assistance as we apply for FEMA Disaster zone status and funding. In order to substantiate our claims, we are asking residential and businesses property owners to submit picture(s) of damage to any structure on your property, along with the address pictured, and a description of the extent of damage sustained.
All submissions should be sent to storm2018@brookfieldct.gov or use this form to submit your information online.
ELECTRICAL UPDATES:
Eversource Crews from around the region, in conjunction with the Brookfield Public Works Crew continue working to restore power to those who still remain without. As of 10 a.m. this morning Eversource was reporting approximately 450 houses were still without power; 95% of customers have had power restored.
Eversource has over 100 bucket crews working on power restoration, in addition to crews installing new poles or verifying service lines to residences. Out of 344 broken poles in the area, over 275 have already been fixed, with progress rapidly nearing completion.
Once restoration is complete, Eversource is committed to a full circuit assessment to insure stability of all poles and cleanup of their repair debris.
You can find updated outage information on the Eversource website.
Town offices, the Senior Center and the Library are open during normal business hours and available as charging stations with wi-fi. Showers and charging stations are available at the Greenknoll YMCA during regular business hours. Please bring your own toiletries.
A NOTE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT:
Dear Brookfield Families, Faculty and Staff,
Brookfield Public Schools will be open on a REGULAR SCHEDULE Wednesday, May 23, 2018.
After multiple meetings with Brookfield's Incident Commander, Chief of Police, Public Works Director, All Star Transportation and other Town Officials, several bus stop adjustments have been made as crews complete the restoration of our infrastructure while difficult road conditions remain in several areas of town.
Students not attending school due to continued effects of living in compromised areas of town (those without power, uninhabitable homes, and/or major road accessibility issues will be excused from school). Each school will handle attendance matters on an individual basis to accommodate those families that continue to be affected.
The following bus route changes are in effect for several compromised areas of town for the next three days; May 23rd, 24th and 25th, 2018. Remember: Friday May 25th remains a PLC Day/ early dismissal.
Arrive at these temporary stops at the normal pick up and drop off time. Please call All-Star Transportation at (203) 775-1545 if you have any transportation questions.
- Deer Run, Flax Hill, Wood Creek and Mist Hill main drive area
- go to Candlewood Inn Parking Lot / Ensure that your child has a ride to and from this bus stop. If a student does not have a ride from the bus stop for the afternoon; the driver will bring your child back to school
- South Lake Shore, Long View, Berkshire
- go to Candlewood Shores Ball Field/ Ensure that your child has a ride to and from this bus stop. If a student does not have a ride from the bus stop for the afternoon; the driver will bring your child back to school.
- Kellogg from Bayview through Arrowhead, Hickory, Laurel
- go to Candlewood Lake Fire Department / Ensure that your child has a ride to and from this bus stop. If a student does not have a ride from the bus stop for the afternoon; the driver will bring your child back to school
- White Pine - go to intersection of Cedar & White Pine
- Dorset - go to intersection of Dorset & Obtuse North
- Hillside Circle - go to intersection of Hillside Circle & Hillside Court
- Old Turnpike - go to intersection of Old Turnpike & Evergreen
- Juniper - go to intersection of Juniper & Crestview
- Stonybrook - go to intersection of Stonybrook & W. Whisconier
- Meadow Dr. - go to intersection of Meadow & Coach
- Thompson Farm - go to intersection Thompson Farm & Beechtree
- Tower between Ox Dr. and Greenridge - go to intersection of Ox Dr. & Tower
- Tower between Whitetail & Tower Rd Extension - go to intersection of Tower Rd & Tower Rd Extension
It is incumbent on parents to use caution and arrange for appropriate time when driving your children to school. We encourage carpooling as we anticipate that school arrival and dismissal times will have increased traffic volume. There will be a police presence at each school during these times to help alleviate traffic issues.
Please remember that utility crews will be on the roads throughout the next several days rebuilding our infrastructure.
Thank you for your understanding and patience as we rally together to make the best of a very difficult time in Brookfield.
Brookfield Strong!
Dr. John Barile
Superintendent
FROM THE BROOKFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT:
We would like to remind people that any downed wires that were dead in the days following the storm, may become re-energized during repair efforts. Now, is the time to be EXTRA safe and avoid downed wires!
Additionally, the Still River Greenway (SRG) is closed and should not be used until crews can enter, clear the path and evaluate trees along the trail for safety.
FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT:
Due to the uprooting and/or falling of many trees/tree limbs and flooding associated with the storm as well as the potential for vehicular traffic over septic systems associated with storm response, there is a concern regarding damage to septic systems that may include:
1. Damaged septic leaching fields and/or septic drywells and associated pipe that may cause systems to bleed septage/sewage to the surface and/or back-ups of sewage into the home.
2. Flooding of septic leaching fields and/or septic drywells that may cause systems to bleed septage/sewage to the surface and/or back-ups of sewage into the home.
3. Damaged septic tanks and/or septic pump chambers that may have compromised the integrity and/or function of these subsurface vessels.
CAUTION! Tree and branch/brush clean-up and removal: Presently, items 1 & 3 above are of particular concern if residents have tree removal equipment entering their lots that might drive on top of any portions of their septic systems. Tree clean-up and removal workers should be well-informed of the locations of septic tanks, septic pump chambers and septic leaching fields before driving across properties.
Residents should take some time to inspect the areas where their septic tanks, pump chambers (note: not all septic systems have pump chambers) and leaching fields are buried on their properties to look for signs of bleed-out such as soft wet patches and odor. Septage from significant bleeds will appear black in color and odor is usually strongest after significant dosing has occurred following laundry and showering. If you suspect that you have septage bleeding to the surface be sure to stay away from it until repairs can be effected. Mark the area as necessary to be avoided. Any sewage back-ups into the home should be cleaned using personal protection (rubber gloves) and disinfectants such as bleach solutions.
FINALLY, if your power is out for an extended period of time AND you have a SEPTIC PUMP CHAMBER AND you are able to use water there is a chance that after some time your pump chamber may overflow. If this occurs contact a septic pumping vendor and have the pump chamber pumped clean. This will provide more time to continue discharging to your septic system.
If you have any questions or concerns, call the Brookfield Health Department at 203-775-7315.
STORM RECOVERY:
All building and/or structural damage questions should be directed to the Building Department, 203-775-7305. Building Officials are currently going to the heavily affected areas assessing damages.
At the current time, each resident is responsible for clearing their own property. Please do not drag brush to the street as it can interfere with our utility crews who have to reconnect power. The Board of Selectmen and Board of Finance will meet to discuss a town-wide debris removal program, but we do not yet have a final solution. We will inform you as more information becomes available.
The Town Brush Yard, located between Town Hall and the Fire Department, is open for residents to drop off brush. The yard can take only brush, not logs. The emergency schedule is seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Town Brush Yard is for Brookfield residential use only - no contractors allowed.
Please check the town's website, and the Brookfield Police Department Facebook page regularly for ongoing updates and information regarding restoration and recovery efforts.