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05/06/2015 03:44 PMThe former police station, now the Town Hall Annex, is being used for numerous town needs including meeting space, town offices, and a community kitchen. Next on its list of uses: town crier.
The town is preparing to install a new digital sign in front of the Annex on Route 1. The sign, expected to be operational by the middle of June, will relay information on town events, meetings, and other information to residents.
“We’ve been trying to do something like this for quite a while,” said First Selectman Willie Fritz. “It’s been a matter of where and getting Zoning to agree to it.”
Due to the current sign regulations, the town had to get a zoning variance to place the sign in front of the Annex. The town then needed approval for the project from the Board of Selectmen and approval of the $25,000 cost from the Board of Finance.
Both approvals are in the books, and a deposit of $6,500 on the digital information sign was sent in. Fritz noted that the deposit money was from the town’s 350th anniversary celebration and was earmarked for this project.
Fritz enlisted the help of the Economic Development Commission (EDC) when it came to choosing a sign and the design for the surround of the sign. Fritz then met with EDC Chairman John Allen, Public Works Director Pete Neff, and the town’s IT specialist to review the design.
The conduits for the electricity and the data have already been run to the site where the sign will be installed. Once the custom sign is delivered, Public Works and the IT department will install it.
Once the sign is up and running, Fritz not only plans to use it to keep residents informed of town happenings, but as it is powered by a generator, it can also be used in case of a local emergency.
“God forbid [if] we have to set up a shelter or have another emergency situation, we will be able to communicate messages on the sign,” said Fritz.