Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Finance And Admin topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Preston Board accepts CIF grant, repurposes CDBG funds for senior-center accessibility and activates veteran exemption option
Summary
At its June 24 meeting the Preston Board of Selectmen authorized acceptance of a Community Investment Fund grant, approved repurposing $45,000 in CDBG program income to remove architectural barriers at the Preston Senior Center, activated Connecticut General Statutes Section 12-81(83) for veteran tax exemptions (effective with the Oct. 1, 2026 grand list), and approved two tax refunds.
The Preston Board of Selectmen met on June 24, 2026, and unanimously approved a set of resolutions and motions that include accepting a state Community Investment Fund (CIF) grant, repurposing Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program income to address accessibility issues at the Preston Senior Center, and activating a statutory option to recalculating veteran tax exemptions.
Chair Sandra Allyn-Gauthier called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M. and the board approved the amended June 10, 2026 minutes after a spelling correction was noted for “Quinebaug.”
The board approved a revised resolution authorizing acceptance of the CIF 2030 Round 8 grant and authorizing execution of the Financial Assistance Agreement. Sandra Allyn-Gauthier said the resolution’s language had been updated to explicitly include acceptance of funds while maintaining the same authorization directive; Jerry Grabarek moved the approval and Ken Zachem seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
Members discussed the Connecticut Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and low recent demand for homeowner assistance. The board approved a resolution to repurpose $45,000 in available program income toward removing architectural barriers at the Preston Senior Center, specifically citing the need to update the center’s bathroom. The discussion noted an outstanding $327,000 in program income that will become available later and could fund further work. Ken Zachem moved the CDBG repurposing resolution; Jerry Grabarek seconded and the motion was carried unanimously.
The board also approved activating Connecticut General Statutes Section 12-81(83), which permits towns to use the median assessed valuation when recalculating veteran exemptions. The transcript records Preston’s median assessed valuation as $206,185; the board voted to allow the town assessor to recalculate veteran exemptions under the statute effective with the Grand List of October 1, 2026. Jerry Grabarek moved to activate the statute and Ken Zachem seconded; the motion carried unanimously.
As part of routine business, the board approved two tax refunds for Raymond S. Deptulski, Jr. in the amounts of $233.89 (2023 account 03-0051338) and $107.32 (2024 account 03-0051307). Jerry Grabarek moved approval and Ken Zachem seconded; both motions passed by unanimous vote.
The board reminded the public of an upcoming Town Meeting on June 25, 2026, and a referendum on July 9, 2026; Sandra Allyn-Gauthier and Ken Zachem indicated they would attend the Town Meeting, while Jerry Grabarek said he had a prior commitment. Fran Minor, Municipal Agent for the Elderly, offered thanks to the board for its ongoing support during the public-comment portion.
The meeting adjourned at 6:18 P.M.
What happens next: The CDBG repurposing and CIF acceptance are administrative actions that authorize staff to proceed with grant execution and planning; the veteran exemption change takes effect for the Grand List of Oct. 1, 2026. For specific implementation steps or funding timelines, staff or the town assessor will need to provide follow-up dates and budgets.
