Town of Canaan/Falls Village Board of Selectmen Meeting
2/9/26, 6 PM
Present: First Selectman David Barger, and Selectmen Christopher Kinsella and Judy Jacobs
Minutes were approved from a Jan. 12 regular meeting (with amendments), as well as special meetings on Jan. 20, Jan. 28, and Feb. 4.
There were two written communications reviewed during the meeting: a letter from Guy Rovezzi after his retirement from Northwest CT Community Foundation, thanking the Board of Selectmen for their letter, as well as a letter from the Planning & Zoning Commission regarding the administering agency for matters related to affordable housing. Barger will consult with the Town Attorney and the Litchfield County Center for Housing Opportunity.
In the First Selectman’s report, Barger said that work continues on the Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) Grant. Regarding winter roadway conditions, Department of Public Works Manager Tim Downs reported the town has adequate salt and sand supplies. Barger also said a special meeting will be scheduled once all departmental proposed spending plans are submitted about the Town Proposed Spending Plan. “There’s no sense in setting anything now until we have them all collected,” Barger noted.
While discussing an extension of funds for the Cobble Road Culvert, Barger reported that funds have been extended for another year. The town has $400,000 in matching funds, project costs have risen from the initial $734,400 to $1,164,700. Barger said there will be a joint public meeting in mid-March at the firehouse between the Boards of Finance and Selectmen, as well as the Infrastructure Committee, with a presentation from Cardinal Engineering, regarding all bridges, apart from Cobble Road, which is already in motion. The Board also discussed the sequencing of additional work, including the Hollenbeck River “big bridge.”
In a Selectman’s update, Jacobs noted that coordination for Maple Syrup Weekend is underway, which includes visiting “all the different sugar shacks.” It will take place March 21 and 22. “We’ve got quite a few in Falls Village,” she said. A festival with maple syrup products is being planned for April.
The Board voted to appoint Mark Gozonsky as the Falls Village Representative on the Housatonic River Commission for the term Feb. 9 to Feb. 8, 2029. “I’d be honored,” Gozonsky wrote to Barger ahead of the appointment. Colter Rule was appointed the Alternate Representative for the remainder of the term through Sept. 7, 2028.
The Board accepted the resignation of Louis Timolat as the Town of Canaan Representative on the Torrington Area Health District (TAHD) Board of Directors, effective April 23. The Board then appointed Eli Horowitz, who was recommended by Timolat, as the TAHD Representative. “Thank you for your service,” Barger said to Timolat, noting his two decades of service.
A public hearing was set for Friday, Feb. 27, at 6 p.m. regarding a lease for a yoga studio at 107 Main Street. “We want to have our new tenant in as soon as possible,” Barger said.
