This week managers reviewed how to schedule meetings and share calendars in Microsoft Office. We instituted an electronic calendar for requesting time off, allowing staff to see who is in the building on any given day. Department managers scheduled time to discuss their budgets with the Board of Selectman and representatives from the Board of Finance. This public working session will be held in my office due to lack of meeting space, so call-in will not be available. These meetings are for discussion purposes only - no votes will be taken.

Board and Commission applications are due by Monday, January 8^th.  If your term is up for renewal, please note you DO need to resubmit an application as we want current contact information. Board chairs will be contacted next week to discuss their recommendations for appointments.   

The Board of Selectmen meeting on January 16^th will hopefully be our first hybrid meeting.  Other boards and committees will be offering the same virtual option to their in-person meetings in the following months. Please be patient with us as we know there will be quirks that will need to be worked out.

This morning, Public Works Director Ed Adanti and I met at the Cross Lane underpass to discuss a multi-task project between Amtrak and the town. The storm drains on either side of the underpass need to be reworked and a pipe under the road will need to be replaced. Our town engineers are working on a plan. Amtrak will use this opportunity to work on their infrastructure under the road, repoint the side walls, relocate stonework to its original placement, and paint the bridge. This work will not take place until later in the spring.  We will keep you updated.

Various State of CT organizations are asking for stakeholder input on plans that are being developed. Please explore the links if you are interested in participating.  

• The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) is leading the development of the state’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Priority Climate Action Plan and would like your feedback. There is a second opportunity to give input regarding what water quality topics are important to you for the Water Quality Action Plan.
• The Capitol Region and Lower CT River Valley Councils of Governments are creating a regional climate action plan and would appreciate your input for this very important topic.
• The Sierra Club is hosting a public forum on Sunday, January 14^th at 2:30pm at the Old Saybrook Library covering the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and it's rebates. 

We welcome our new Tax Assistant, Tom Correia, who started this week and remind you we have an opening in the Assessor's office.  

If you are in town hall or walking by, please stop in to see our snowman display. Some town hall employees shared a snowman or two to decorate and turn the stairwell into a snowy scene. I hope this didn't have anything to do with the upcoming forecast!

 All the Best,

First Selectwoman Martha Shoemaker