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Selectmen approve land purchase referral, tax suspense list, donor gift and set 2026'27 mill rate
Summary
The East Haddam Board of Selectmen voted to refer a $15,000 open-space appropriation for a 10.262-acre parcel to town meeting, approved the tax collector's suspense list, accepted a $25,000 gift from Consumers' Union (to fund a town event and an LED sign), and set the fiscal 2026'27 mill rate at 28.67 mills representing a $43,841,297 budget.
The East Haddam Board of Selectmen approved a series of administrative actions including a referral to town meeting for an open-space acquisition, acceptance of a donor gift, approval of a tax suspense list and adoption of the town's mill rate for fiscal 2026'27.
Land acquisition referral: The board voted to refer to town meeting a resolution asking the town to appropriate $15,000 from open-space reserves to acquire a 10.262-acre parcel on the west side of South Sheepskin Hollow Road (assessor lot number 38). The proposal was described as improving trail connectivity and conserving brook frontage; board materials show about $67,000 remaining in the open-space reserve account. The referral will be presented to town meeting for final approval.
Tax suspense list: The board approved the tax collector's suspense list as presented in the packet. The tax collector explained that items on the suspense list are not forgiven but are currently not counted as collectible assets; the amount shown in the packet was accepted by the board.
Consumers' Union gift and LED sign: The board accepted a $25,000 gift from Consumers' Union, earmarked in the packet as $15,000 toward the town's USA 250 event and $10,000 toward a municipal office complex LED message board. Members debated the LED sign; one selectman called the sign unnecessary and raised light-pollution concerns, while others said a message board would help reach residents and event attendees. The motion to accept the gift and recommend town meeting carried, with at least one dissent recorded.
Mill rate and budget: The board established the mill rate for fiscal year 2026'27 at 28.67 mills, corresponding to a budget of $43,841,297, and the motion to adopt the rate passed. Board members emphasized that one-time state municipal and education aid (discussed earlier in the meeting) would be handled by increasing both revenues and expenditures rather than changing the mill rate.
What happens next: The land acquisition appropriation and acceptance of the gift were referred to town meeting for final action where voters will decide on appropriation questions; staff will provide additional documentation for the borrowing schedule once the audit is issued.
