Selectmen approve fee waivers for senior housing and fire department, appoint new tree warden

The Selectmen voted to waive town building fees for two local projects and appointed a new tree warden during their meeting.

The board approved a request from the Griswold Housing Authority to waive municipal building fees for an addition of about 20–29 senior housing units at 230 Taylor Hill Road (Cluggage Manor). Committee member (speaker 3) moved to waive the fees and Wayne (speaker 2) seconded; members voiced approval by voice vote. A town staff member in building/planning confirmed relevant documents were in the packet.

The Selectmen also approved a fee waiver for the Jewett City Fire Department to replace its HVAC unit. Building/planning staff reported waiving the town fee would amount to $83.04. Wayne moved to waive the fee; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

On a personnel matter added to the agenda, the board discussed tree warden succession after Paul Brickey’s term expired July 1. The board noted the tree warden position is a two-year term “according to statute” and nominated Todd Babbitt to fill the role; the nomination was seconded and approved by voice vote.

What this means: the fee waivers will reduce upfront local permitting costs for the two projects (the record did not specify further budget offsets), and the tree warden appointment fills a statutory local role that the board tied to a two-year term beginning July 1.

Board comments and context: a member expressed frustration earlier in the meeting about repeated DECD letters about brownfield funding eligibility, and staff said they would continue applying for grants. The motions on fees and the appointment were routine and passed without recorded roll-call tallies.

Next steps: staff will process the fee waivers with building/planning and record the appointment of the tree warden per statutory requirements.