Suffield Volunteer Ambulance Association Organization

Do you know how many volunteers we have at the Suffield Volunteer Ambulance Association (SVAA)? If you guessed 92, you would be correct. Sounds like a lot, but there’s always room for more. Volunteers are comprised of EMT’s, advanced EMT’s, paramedics and administrative support. In addition to the volunteers, there are three full-time employees, which include an Office Manager, a Paramedic, and the Ambulance Chief, Art Groux.

Mental Health First Aid Training Completed

On March 29, the Wheeler Clinic completed a second session of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training to Suffield Police and first responders from the region. A previous training session had occurred on March 6. Both trainings were conducted in the Amiel P. Zak Community and Training Room at Suffield Police headquarters. As of March 29, over ninety percent (90%) of the staff of the Suffield Police Department have received this training, provided free of cost. This includes police officers, public safety dispatchers, uniformed Animal Control Officers, and civilian administrative staff.

Suffield Police Conversations

This event is being held with funding from an Enhancement Grant from the Connecticut State Department of Education, Division of Family and Student Support Services Bureau of Health/Nutrition, Family Services and Adult Education, and contributions from the Greater Suffield Interfaith Council and with the partnership of the following organizations: Town of Suffield Youth Services and Police Departments, Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), North Central Regional Mental Health Board (NCRMHB), National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Connecticut, Cross Street AME Zion Church, Advocacy Unlimited, Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR), and the Connecticut Alliance to Benefit Law Enforcement (CABLE).

Meet Our New Police Intern

The town of Suffield is full of friendly people and excellent police officers, and our new police intern enjoys working here. Noor Zaben, a student at Central Connecticut State University has joined the Suffield Police force as an intern hoping to become a dispatcher. Zaben’s college major is in Criminology. The Criminal Justice field really interested her, leading her to the decision to becoming a part of a police team. As a dispatcher, Noor must respond to emergency and non-emergency calls for assistance, giving the fire department and police units an address if necessary.

Senior Center News

Every May, the Administration on Aging, part of the Administration for Community Living, leads our nation’s observance of Older American’s Month. The 2019 theme, Engage at Every Age, emphasizes that you are never too old (or young) to take part in activities that can enrich your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It also celebrates the many ways in which older adults make a difference in our communities. Participating in activities that promote mental and physical wellness, offering your wisdom and experience to the next generation, seeking the mentorship of someone with more life experience than you are just a few examples of what being engaged can mean. No matter where you are in your life, there is no better time than now to start!

Proposed Budget Going to Vote

As of this writing, the Board of Finance is in the process of reviewing various department budgets and capital requests in order to propose the FY 2018/19 budget for the Town Meeting on May 8. A public hearing was held on April 25, and the budget proposal outlined below may include changes as a result of that meeting and outside factors such as adjustments to state aid that we have seen in the past. What was presented at the public hearing is an operating budget of $58,009,479, which represented an increase of $2.3M over 2017/18. Due to the use of $2M from the Fund Balance and other changes in revenues, the budget represents an estimated tax increase of 0.86%. State aid, including payments from the Airport Authority, represents $12.2M which is a decrease from the $14.4M we received just two years ago.

Memorial Day Parade Details

The Memorial Day ceremony and parade will be held on Memorial Day, Monday, May 28, beginning with the parade at 9 a.m. The parade will form at 8:45 a.m. on Ffyler Place and march up Mountain Road to Main Street to the Veteran’s Memorial. A Memorial Day program will take place at Veteran’s Memorial immediately following the parade to honor our fallen heroes. The Officer of the Day is Lieutenant Colonel William E. Moryto, USMC. Music will be performed by Joseph Migliore and the Suffield High School band as well as the Suffield Middle School band led by Amy Wilson and Corey Killian. All Suffield veterans are welcome to participate in the parade in uniform if possible.

Revaluation Update

The State mandated Revaluation of all real estate is in full swing. The Town has partnered with Vision Government Solutions (Vision) for this project. A revaluation is undertaken every five years to secure a more equitable distribution of the tax burden and to bring the assessment level up to date. State Statutes also require that properties are fully inspected once in every ten assessment years. In many situations, a completed data mailer signed by the owner can count as an inspection.