Government/Town

FECS Kicks Off “Keep Me Safe”

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At a morning unveiling ceremony on February 20, the Foundation for Exceptional Children of Suffield (FECS) and the Suffield Police Department kicked off a valuable new community initiative. The newly refurbished meeting room at SPD was packed with enthusiastic supporters to celebrate Project Keep Me Safe. The project’s community awareness efforts, special training programs and carefully designed new identification cards will help police and other responders communicate with individuals who have special needs. The focus is on those with autism spectrum disorder, but others helped could include those with deafness, and perhaps Alzheimer’s. With the training and the ID cards, a potentially difficult encounter can become a comfortable and efficiently concluded situation.

Government/Town

Know Your Probate Court

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This article is intended to help residents of Bloomfield, Windsor Locks, East Granby and Suffield who live in the Tobacco Valley Probate Court district become more informed about our probate court system. Our Chief Clerk Laurie Roberts is one of the most experienced in the state; she is available to assist you. Laurie is supported by three other staff: Clerk Louis Taylor, and Assistant Clerks Pam Griffin and Erin Keena. Together they work to answer procedural questions from the public, process petitions, schedule hearings, coordinate with other referring courts, prepare notices and decrees, calendar required reports, organize each case file, input data into the central computer system, undertake initial reviews of financial reports and tax returns and keep the Judge updated on all files. It is a tremendous responsibility that is assigned to our staff.

Government/Town

What is the Undesignated Fund Balance?

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The undesignated fund balance is sometimes referred to as the Town’s “Rainy Day Fund.” It represents the amount of the Town’s general revenues in excess of expenses since the town’s inception almost 350 years ago. The undesignated fund balance goes up or down every year based on the difference between the annual revenues and expenses. Revenues include property taxes as well as other sources of revenue such as state aid and user fees. Expenses are not only the annual operating expenses of the schools, police, fire and other departments, but also our debt service and capital spending. For the past fiscal year, the Town ran a deficit of $624K, which reduced the undesignated fund balance.

Government/Town

Assessor Reminder

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The Assessor would like to remind elderly and disabled homeowners that the filing period for the state and local benefit program will end on Tuesday, May 15. Any current recipient of the benefits who has received a letter from the Assessor’s office must reapply no later than May 15 in order to continue to receive the benefit. New applicants must also file an application by that date. This year’s maximum income allowed is $35,300 if single and $43,000 if married. Proof of income for 2017 is needed.

Government/Town

Household Hazardous Waste Day Canceled

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The Household Hazardous Waste Day originally scheduled for April 14, 2018 has been cancelled. The Town is planning to hold hazardous waste collection days every other year going forward. This will net a savings of $18,000 from the annual landfill operating budget. Town residents have some alternative disposal options for items that are frequently dropped off at hazardous waste day. All types of fluorescent lightbulbs can be brought to the Town landfill at 2715 Mountain Road any Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The landfill also collects used batteries.

Government/Town

Amiel P. Zak Community Room Opens at SPD

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On May 12, 2017, the Suffield Police Department was proud to be a recipient of an Amiel P. Zak Public Service Fund grant. The grant award of $20,000 was allocated to create and enhance the community and training room. We recognized that, at the time to present, viable community spaces to bring town residents and town services were extremely limited. In support of the efforts of the Town of Suffield and the Suffield Police Department to conduct increased outreach to residents, community members, and members of civic organizations, this generous funding was applied to upgrade the technology and facilities. The Police Department strives to interact and bring in the community in keeping with the founder of modern day policing, Sir Robert Peel’s principle that “Police, at all times, should maintain a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and the public are the police…” These enhancements also provided for a professional training environment for Suffield’s police officers and staff.

Parks and Rec

Spring is in the Air!

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After a long winter of being cooped up inside, now is the time to get outdoors and burn off some energy. Learn a new sport this spring and register for golf or tennis lessons for both youth and adults! Pre-schoolers can interact in the popular Family Fitness Fun class where mom, dad or caregiver can get fit with their child. There are still spaces available in the Body Makeover and Sculpt and Slim exercise classes that will keep you healthy and toned and begin in early April. Calling all Cheerleaders!