EAST WINDSOR, CT — First Selectman Jason Bowsza has issued his semimonthly update to constituents regarding the latest happenings in East Windsor.
The East Windsor Board of Selectmen and The Silverman Group have negotiated a tax abatement agreement for the development of two new industrial flex buildings on 22.20 acres on Route 5 in East Windsor. The agreement will provide stability to the project as it comes online.
The Silverman Group’s East Windsor Logistics Center will consist of two flex industrial buildings totaling 246,240 square feet. These buildings will feature 32′ ceilings, 95 dock doors and 8 drive in doors. This industrial park will include ample auto and trailer parking and excess trailer storage for prospective tenants.
The Town of East Windsor is thrilled to welcome The Silverman Group to town. This exciting project fits in perfectly with our Plan of Conservation and Development and East Windsor’s ideal location between New York City and Boston should be a good fit for them, as well. Our proximity to I-91, I-90, and I-84 makes sense for rapid distribution from a central location, and we look forward to partnering with The Silverman Group throughout this process and into the future, and I thank them for their collaborative approach launching this project.
Recently, a constituent named Ana Maria Rivera reached out to me to share her feelings about the lack of diversity on boards and commissions in town specifically, and a more general sense that our town has some work to do in promoting inclusion of our minority communities. There is a perception that our community isn’t as welcoming of minorities as we should be, especially since 23% of our population are minorities (as per CERC/AdvanceCT). Given recent events in other parts of the country, as well as concerns raised to us locally about inclusion, I was pleased to ask the Board of Selectmen to consider creating a Diversity Council to help break down some of these perceptions and foster a sense of inclusion throughout the whole community. Once Ana and I have a firm draft of a charge for the commission, we’ll bring it to the Board of Selectmen for their consideration, likely in two weeks.
Connecticut is hosting a Primary Election on August 11th, and access to absentee ballots has been expanded by executive order to lessen the number of people who may be exposed to COVID-19 by voting in person. Anyone registered in the Democratic Party or the Republican Party should have received an application for an absentee ballot. If voters enrolled in either of those parties have not received one and would like to vote absentee, please reach out to the Town Clerk’s Office at 860-292-8255. Once an application is returned to the Town Clerk, the actual absentee ballots will be mailed on or after July 21 to those voters requesting them.
On July 27th, the Town will recognize “Love is Kind” Day. To do that, a clothesline will be installed on the front lawn of Town Hall on Tuesday with cards depicting a random act of kindness that the taker will perform. In place of the card will be hung a purple laminated paper tee shirt with inspirational quotes and messages of love supporting the “Love is Kind” Day. The hope is to fill the entire clothesline with purple tee shirts by the end of the month. Selectman Muska can provide more information about the significance of the event.
July is Parks and Recreation Month, typically a time where there are lots of in-person activities taking place. Obviously, with the current circumstances we can’t do that. None the less, our Community Services Department is working on activities that families can do from home, as well as weekly drop-in activities by appointment on Thursdays. We also have some good news on in-person recreation. In conjunction with guidelines issued by the Department of Economic and Community Development, we have re-opened playgrounds and basketball courts. Playgrounds and basketball hoops have reopened.
Much funding received by the Town from both the state and federal government is based on our population. Because of that, and because of circumstances created by the pandemic, it is more important than ever to ensure that every person in East Windsor has been counted in the 2020 census. Residents can fill out the 2020 census safely from home by going through my2020census.gov. Our community gets resources based on census population counts the help pay for hospitals, emergency services, schools, roads and more. Please take the few minutes to fill out the census.
Finally, if you follow the Town of East Windsor Facebook page, you will notice that for most of the last month we have been displaying examples of student art submitted to us by faculty at East Windsor Middle School, with a new one posted each day. We still have a few more to share, but I wanted to make note of the amazing work that our students have been doing. Many of the pieces have been powerful and penetrating. We are fortunate to have such talented students and dedicated teachers.
Respectfully submitted,
Jason E. Bowsza
First Selectman
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This article originally appeared on the Windsor Locks-East Windsor Patch
