Welcome, June! There’s so much to celebrate this month—from the end of the school year and high school graduation to the official start of summer and our 4th Annual Suffield Summer Fair, happening June 13, 14, and 15. Don’t miss the fantastic fireworks display on Saturday night—be sure to mark your calendars as we kick off the season in style!
Meanwhile, we’re also focused on important business here at Town Hall, with a Town Meeting planned for late June. The exact date and time will be announced soon. Items up for consideration and approval include:
- Approval to accept the cemetery property on Mountain Road:
The West Suffield Cemetery Association will be dissolving and no longer be able to care for the cemetery. By State statutes, the Town is required to take on the care and maintenance of the cemetery. A few years ago, the Town had already established an account that generates annual interest to pay for the maintenance of this property. The Board of Selectmen (BOS) approved at their 5/21 meeting. Thank you to the West Suffield Cemetery Association members who have done an excellent job of managing and operating the property! - Approval to transfer the Phelps Road Cemetery to the Mountain Burying Ground Association
The Town currently owns the Phelps Road Cemetery that consists of .65 acres. Mountain Road Burying Ground Association owns the property adjacent to it and has always maintained the property. They recently gauged the interest of the Town to transfer the property for this reason and insurance purposes. The Board of Selectmen approved at their 3/19 meeting. - Right to Farm Ordinance
As a Town of Farms, it feels only fitting that we approve this ordinance to further support our agriculture community. The State currently has laws establishing protection of certain farming operations from nuisance lawsuits when done properly. Like other farming communities in the State, acceptance of this would simply reaffirm Suffield’s support and value to the agriculture community by reaffirming State laws through a local ordinance. The Board of Selectmen approved at their 4/9 meeting. - Sale of Property on 1148 South Street
Almost two years ago, the Town approved the sale of this property to a developer whose plans did not come to fruition. Recently, a developer along with his investors has made an offer to build an indoor ice hockey training center. The offer is similar to the last accepted offer for $515,000 for the 10.7 acre lot. The Board of Selectman approved at their 5/6 meeting. - Lease of Landfill to Verogy Solar
In 2022, the Town issued a request for proposals to utilize unused space at the landfill for solar energy projects. We received multiple bids and proceeded with allowing selected developers to create detailed plans and seek the necessary approvals from Eversource. Now, more than two years later, one of the developers—Verogy—has secured those approvals and is ready to move forward. Verogy will develop approximately six acres for solar use and pay the Town $65,000 per year over a 20-year term, with the option for three additional five-year extensions. The Board of Selectmen approved the agreement at their February 5 meeting. Lease renewals of Town-owned property went to Nowak and Bielonko Farms (separate motions).
The Town routinely leases open space properties to local farmers for agricultural use. Two of these leases are set to expire and will require Town Meeting approval for a five-year extension. The properties in question include 10 acres within the Stratton Farms open space and the Malec Farms subdivision. The Board of Selectmen approved the lease extensions at their April 9 meeting.
More detailed documents will be available on the Town website as the June meeting date approaches. I hope to see you there – and as always, my door is always open.