Beacon Falls meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Beacon Falls approves $43,960 in budget transfers, appoints Betkoski to water board

Beacon Falls approved $43,960.29 in mid-year budget transfers at a special town meeting on Aug. 10, moving funds to sludge processing and public works overtime. The Board of Selectmen also appointed Jack Betkoski to the Aquarion Water Authority Board and forwarded several reports to the Board of Finance.

Budget transfers

The special town meeting, held by the Board of Selectmen, passed two transfers:

• $27,000 from contingency to sludge processing (14-1)
• $16,960.29 from highway maintainer wages to public works overtime (15-1)

Both votes passed with one abstention each.

Board of Selectmen

At its regular meeting the same day, the board approved budget transfers and forwarded them to the Board of Finance (all ayes). It also:

• Appointed Jack Betkoski to the Aquarion Water Authority Board (2-0-1)
• Approved minutes from the July 13 and July 22 meetings (all ayes)
• Approved the Resident Trooper, Public Works, Fire Department, Finance Manager, and Town Treasurer reports (all ayes)

The board discussed a potential data center but clarified that no application is currently pending.

Other decisions

Zoning Board of Appeals (Aug. 13): Accepted application ZBA-062526-PL as submitted and set a public hearing for Sept. 10 at 7:30 p.m. in the Town Hall Assembly Room. Approved minutes from March 12 (all ayes).

Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission (Aug. 12): Approved a permit for a retaining wall and site grading at 67 Fairfield Place (all ayes). Discussed a possible cease-and-correct order for 251-253 South Main Street but took no action. Added a fee schedule review to next month's agenda.

Water Pollution Control Authority (Aug. 18): Approved WWTP monthly reports for June and July 2026 (6-0). Discussed stormwater overflow and flooding at the plant, identifying a manhole as a concern, but took no formal action. Also reviewed a legal clarification confirming its authority over sewer projects without a vote.

Water Commission (Aug. 10): Approved minutes from July 13 (all ayes). No other business.

Cancellations and agenda-only items

The Board of Finance meeting scheduled for Aug. 11 was cancelled. The Conservation Commission cancelled its Aug. 13 meeting. The Parks & Recreation Commission met Aug. 17 with an agenda covering summer camp safety, park projects, and recycling bins; minutes are not yet published. The Planning & Zoning Commission met Aug. 20 with agenda items including a proposed zoning overhaul for Hopp Brook Estates and a transit-oriented development overlay from Gold Coast Homes, LLC; public hearings are scheduled for Sept. 17. No votes were reported.

Coming up

The Economic Development Commission meets Aug. 24. The agenda includes updates on Main Street, Haynes Development, Schoolhouse renovation, and a proposed sign design for Pinebrook Industrial Park. The Zoning Board of Appeals holds a public hearing Sept. 10 at 7:30 p.m. in the Town Hall Assembly Room.

Beacon Falls approves $43,960 in budget transfers, appoints Aquarion board member

The Beacon Falls Board of Selectmen, meeting in a special town meeting on Aug. 10, approved two mid-year budget transfers totaling $43,960.29. The transfers move funds from contingency and highway maintainer wages to cover sludge processing and public works overtime costs. In a separate regular meeting the same day, the board appointed Jack Betkoski to the Aquarion Water Authority Board.

Budget transfers approved at special town meeting

The special town meeting, held Aug. 10, approved two transfers:

• $27,000 from Contingency to Sludge Processing (14-1)
• $16,960.29 from Highway Maintainer Wages to Public Works Overtime (15-1)

Both votes passed with one abstention each. The transfers address mid-year spending needs in those accounts.

Board of Selectmen regular meeting

At its regular meeting on Aug. 10, the Board of Selectmen approved budget transfers and forwarded them to the Board of Finance (all ayes). The board also:

• Appointed Jack Betkoski to the Aquarion Water Authority Board (2-0-1)
• Approved minutes from the July 13 and July 22 meetings (all ayes)
• Approved the Resident Trooper, Public Works, Fire Department, Finance Manager, and Town Treasurer reports (all ayes)

Board members discussed a potential data center but clarified that no application is currently pending. No other substantive decisions were made.

Other recent meetings

Water Commission (Aug. 10): Approved minutes from the July 13 meeting (all ayes). No other business was discussed; the meeting adjourned at 8:01 PM.

Zoning Board of Appeals (Aug. 13): Accepted application ZBA-062526-PL as submitted and forwarded it to a public hearing. The hearing is set for Sept. 10, 2026, at 7:30 PM in the Town Hall Assembly Room (all ayes). The board also approved minutes from the March 12 meeting.

Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission (Aug. 12): The commission met to review pending applications, including a stormwater drainage modification at 161 Lasky Road and a retaining wall and site grading at 67 Fairfield Place. Minutes have not yet been published, so no decisions are reported.

Cancelled meetings: The Board of Finance meeting scheduled for Aug. 11 and the Conservation Commission meeting scheduled for Aug. 13 were both cancelled.

Coming up

• **Parks & Recreation Commission** – Aug. 17: Review of summer camp safety, park maintenance, and capital projects including Matthies Parking Lot paving.
• **Water Pollution Control Authority** – Aug. 18: Water Treatment Plant Upgrade Project, North Main Street inspections, and bill payments.
• **Planning & Zoning Commission** – Aug. 20: Public hearings scheduled for Sept. 17 on a zoning amendment for Hopp Brook Estates and a transit-oriented development overlay from Gold Coast Homes, LLC. The commission will also discuss application fees and a housing project review.

Beacon Falls Board of Finance approves $209,329.80 in budget transfers, sets new police private duty rates

The Beacon Falls Board of Finance approved $209,329.80 in FY2026 budget transfers and set new FY2027 police private duty rates at a July 22 special meeting. The board also approved $15,000 in FY2027 transfers and cancelled its August regular meeting. All votes were unanimous.

Board of Finance

The board approved 47 budget transfers across FY2026 and FY2027, including wage adjustments and line-item shifts. Two transfers exceed the $20,000 threshold and will go before voters at a Special Town Meeting on August 10: a $27,000 transfer from contingency to sludge processing for mid-year cost increases, and a $16,960.29 transfer from highway maintainers wages to public works overtime for winter coverage.

The board also set FY2027 police private duty rates at $86.00 per hour for non-profit and school organizations, $123.00 per hour for external weekday work, and $164.00 per hour for weekend and holiday work. All three rates passed on a unanimous vote.

Additionally, the board approved two transfers tied to budget formula errors: $10,000 from contingency to a new community policing line and $5,000 from contingency to a new trips and mini bus events line.

Board of Selectmen

The Board of Selectmen held a special meeting July 22 to discuss the police private duty rates and review the FY2026 budget transfers. The agenda included a proposal to set a Town Meeting date for the two transfers requiring voter approval. Official minutes from this meeting have not yet been published.

Economic Development Commission

The Economic Development Commission approved downtown "Welcome to Beacon Falls" signage for Route 8 North and South at its July 27 meeting. The vote was unanimous. The commission also reviewed bids for signs and discussed design specifications for a future Industrial Park sign, though no action on the Industrial Park sign was recorded.

Parks & Recreation Commission

The Parks & Recreation Commission met July 20 and approved minutes from its June 23 special meeting on a 6-0 vote. No other substantive decisions were recorded.

Water Pollution Control Authority

The Water Pollution Control Authority's July 21 monthly meeting was canceled because the meeting was not properly noticed. No agenda items were discussed or decided.

Coming up

• **August 10 — Board of Selectmen Special Town Meeting:** Voters will decide on the $27,000 transfer to sludge processing and the $16,960.29 transfer to public works overtime. Both exceed the $20,000 threshold requiring a townwide vote.
• **August 11 — Board of Finance:** The regular monthly meeting has been cancelled.

Beacon Falls Selectmen Approve Road Bid, Budget Transfers; Several Boards Cancel July Meetings

The Beacon Falls Board of Selectmen approved a street paving bid, budget transfers, and a series of municipal appointments at its July 13 meeting, while several other town boards cancelled their July sessions for lack of business or quorum.

Board of Selectmen: Road Bid, Budget Transfers, Appointments

The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously on its most consequential items. It awarded the Maple, Century, and Division Street bid to M. Rondano Inc. (all ayes) and approved 2026-2027 budget transfers (all ayes) and revised 2025-2026 budget transfers (all ayes). The Board also approved 2025 and 2026 EMPG grant resolutions (all ayes) and approved $235.12 in tax refunds (all ayes).

On personnel matters, the Board accepted Donald Ferretti's resignation from the Parks and Recreation Commission (all ayes). Appointments and re-appointments included:

• Joseph Estephan appointed to the Water Pollution Control Authority (all ayes)
• Laura DeGeorge re-appointed to the Parks and Recreation Commission (all ayes)
• Peter Monti re-appointed to the Parks and Recreation Commission (all ayes)
• Art Daigle re-appointed as Municipal Agent for the Elderly (all ayes)
• Art Daigle re-appointed as Senior Center Director (all ayes)
• Michael Krenesky re-appointed as Town Historian (2 ayes, 1 abstention)

Water Commission

The Water Commission met July 14 and unanimously approved the June 8, 2026 meeting minutes. A motion to adjourn passed unanimously. No other business was conducted.

Board of Finance: Road Projects, Police Duty Rates on Agenda

The Board of Finance met July 14 to discuss budget transfers for FY2026 and FY2027 and receive updates on road and wastewater treatment plant projects. Road projects listed on the agenda included West Road (STEAP), Main Street (LOTCIP & Water), and Century, Maple, and Division (STEAP bid award). The Board was also scheduled to review police private duty rates for FY2027, receive a wastewater treatment plant update and CDS request, discuss speed enforcement cameras, and consider cancellation of its August 2026 monthly meeting. Minutes were not yet published.

Planning & Zoning Commission: Excavation Permits, Fees on Agenda

The Planning & Zoning Commission met July 16 to discuss pending applications and old business. Items listed included an excavation, grading, and special exception request for 9 Haviland Dr and 48, 54, and 60 Lancaster Dr; land use and PZC application fees; Beacon Falls' housing project; an amendment to zoning condition approval for Hopp Brook Estates; and an excavation and grading permit for 40 Lancaster (PZC-03192026-EG). Minutes were not yet published.

July Meeting Cancellations

Four town bodies cancelled their July meetings:

• Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission (July 8) — cancelled due to lack of quorum
• Conservation Commission (July 9) — cancelled; no items discussed or decided
• Zoning Board of Appeals (July 9) — cancelled; no business conducted
• Safety Committee (July 15) — cancelled; no agenda items discussed

Coming Up

Parks & Recreation Commission — July 20, 2026. The commission is scheduled to discuss the FY27 budget, the Matthies Parking Lot paving and guardrail capital project, a Parks and Recreation Coordinator position, DEEP Trails Grant information, and a review of a Facilities Use Application.

Beacon Falls commissions cancel July meetings; Planning & Zoning to weigh excavation permits next week

Three Beacon Falls boards cancelled their regular July meetings, leaving no new town business decided over the past two weeks. The next scheduled session with substantive agenda items is the Planning & Zoning Commission on July 16, which may vote on excavation and grading requests on Lancaster Drive and Haviland Drive.

Recent meetings: all cancelled

The Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission cancelled its regular monthly meeting on July 8, 2026, due to a lack of quorum. No items were discussed or decided.

The Conservation Commission cancelled its regular monthly meeting scheduled for July 9, 2026. No items were discussed or decided.

The Zoning Board of Appeals cancelled its regular monthly meeting scheduled for July 9, 2026. No business was conducted.

Minutes have not yet been published for the Conservation Commission or Zoning Board of Appeals cancellations; the Inland Wetlands cancellation is recorded in official minutes.

Coming up: Planning & Zoning Commission, July 16

The Planning & Zoning Commission is scheduled to meet on Thursday, July 16, 2026. The agenda lists pending applications and old business, including several land-use items that may come to a vote:

• Excavation, Grading & Special Exception for 9 Haviland Dr, 48, 54, & 60 Lancaster Dr.
• Land Use & PZC Application Fees.
• Beacon Falls' Housing Project.
• Amendment to Zoning Condition Approval for Hopp Brook Estates.
• Excavation & Grading Permit for 40 Lancaster (PZC-03192026-EG).

The commission may vote on the excavation, grading, and special exception request for 9 Haviland Dr and 48, 54, and 60 Lancaster Dr, according to the posted agenda. No vote tallies or dollar figures are available ahead of the meeting.

Coming up: Safety Committee, July 15

The Safety Committee has cancelled its regular meeting scheduled for Wednesday, July 15, 2026. No agenda items will be discussed.

Coming up

• **Safety Committee** — Wednesday, July 15, 2026: cancelled.
• **Planning & Zoning Commission** — Thursday, July 16, 2026: scheduled to discuss excavation permits, application fees, the Beacon Falls Housing Project, and a Hopp Brook Estates zoning amendment. Residents interested in land use along Lancaster Drive and Haviland Drive may want to attend.

Beacon Falls roundup: Rimmon Schoolhouse renovation approved; library cards funded; wetlands commission to review 94-unit Hopp Brook project

The Economic Development Commission unanimously approved starting the Rimmon Schoolhouse renovation project, the most consequential decision in Beacon Falls' recent meetings, clearing the way for work to begin after lead and asbestos reviews found no major issues.

Economic Development Commission — June 22

The commission voted unanimously to greenlight the Rimmon Schoolhouse renovation project. Members also unanimously approved a committee-designed logo for the schoolhouse and authorized ordering 40 plaques for local businesses. Planning continues for the Sip and Stroll event scheduled for September 12th.

Library Board of Trustees — June 23

The Board authorized $522.40 in Library Board funds to purchase 785 physical library cards, citing budget constraints in the materials line item. The vote was All Ayes. The board also approved its meeting agenda (All Ayes) and approved previous meeting minutes (3 Ayes, 2 Abstentions). Members reviewed May service statistics and updates related to the town's 250th anniversary events.

Parks & Recreation Commission — June 23

Minutes have not yet been published for this meeting; the following items were listed on the agenda only. Discussion topics included state of Connecticut municipal summer camp legislation, removal of "Residents Only" and firearms restrictions at Matthies Park, the FY27 budget, Matthies Park parking lot paving and guardrail as a 2026 capital project, and a bottle filler installation at Pent Road. No decisions are confirmed from this meeting in the available record.

Coming up

Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission — July 8: The commission will review and discuss numerous pending permit applications, including Permit SW-2026-041 for a 94-unit project at Hopp Brook. Other items include permits for 30 Lorraine Drive/Charles Edwards Estate (A-2022-333, SW-2022-332), 43 Buckingham Drive/Posick (A-2025-342), 40 Lancaster Drive excavation and stormwater management (SW-2026-042), and 9 Haviland and 48, 54, 60 Lancaster Drive (SW-2026-043). The agenda also covers approval of previous minutes, public comment, and enforcement officer reports.

Conservation Commission — July 9: Cancelled. No items will be discussed or decided.

Zoning Board of Appeals — July 9: Cancelled. No business will be conducted.

Rimmon Schoolhouse Renovation Advances; Library Buys 785 Cards

The Economic Development Commission has given the go-ahead to start renovation of the Rimmon Schoolhouse, and the Library Board of Trustees approved spending $522.40 to purchase hundreds of new library cards, according to minutes of recent Beacon Falls meetings. The Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission will next meet to review more than 20 permit applications, including a proposed 94-unit residential project at Hopp Brook.

Schoolhouse Project Moves Forward

At its June 22 meeting, the Economic Development Commission voted unanimously to greenlight the start of the Rimmon Schoolhouse renovation. The decision followed lead and asbestos reviews that found no major issues in the building. The commission also unanimously approved a committee-designed logo for the project and authorized an order of 40 plaques that will go to local businesses. Planning continues for the Sip and Stroll event, scheduled for Sept. 12.

Library Cards Funded

On June 23, the Library Board of Trustees voted all ayes to spend $522.40 from Board funds on 785 physical library cards. The purchase was needed because of budget constraints in the materials line item, according to the motion. The board also reviewed May service statistics and received updates on events marking the town’s 250th anniversary. The meeting agenda was approved with all ayes; minutes of the previous meeting carried on a vote of 3 ayes and 2 abstentions.

Coming Up

The Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission will meet on July 8 to consider more than 20 pending permits. Among the applications listed on the agenda are permit SW-2026-041 for the Hopp Brook 94‑unit development, permit A-2022‑333/SW-2022‑332 for the Charles Edwards Estate at 30 Lorraine Drive, A‑2025‑342 for 43 Buckingham Drive, SW‑2026‑042 for excavation, grading and stormwater management at 40 Lancaster Drive, and SW‑2026‑043 covering 9 Haviland and 48, 54 and 60 Lancaster Drive. The Conservation Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals have each canceled their July 9 meetings; no business will be conducted on those dates.