Cheshire Council Greenlights major Green Energy Grants and Tackles Infrastructure Issues
- Staff
- Jul 13
- 4 min read
CHESHIRE, CT — The Cheshire Town Council held a packed and consequential meeting on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. Led by Mayor Peter J. Talbot, the council navigated a busy agenda that highlighted local achievements, green-lighted millions in school energy grants, addressed pressing town maintenance issues, and heard emotional testimony from the public.
Honoring a Community Pillar
The meeting kicked off with a special certificate of recognition awarded to Reverend Jeffrey V. Romans, who is departing after 12 years of faithful service as the pastor of St. Bridget of Sweden Parish and School.
Mayor Talbot commended Father Romans for his extensive civic and charitable leadership, which includes serving on the boards of Hope for Our Neighbors, Inc. and the Cheshire Community Food Pantry, Inc.
In a warm exchange, Talbot joked about the upcoming St. Bridget golf tournament:
"I know that there are 24 foursomes participating... that now have a chance to actually win it."
Father Romans, laughing, replied that he "might be back for that," before offering his blessings and looking forward to future visits.
Proclamations of Unity and Celebration
Mayor Talbot read three distinct proclamations marking significant events for the month of June:
Pride Month (June 2026): Upholding the dignity, intrinsic value, and protection of all residents regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.
Flag Day (June 14, 2026): Recognizing the flag as our national symbol of unity, freedom, and patriotism.
Juneteenth (June 19, 2026): Celebrating the historic day in 1865 when enslaved Americans in Galveston, Texas, finally received word of their freedom.
Public Comment: Climate, Homicide, and the Nation's 250th
The public comment section brought forward distinct voices from different corners of the community:
Ecological Forestry and Development
Joanna Giddings (503 Oakridge Drive), speaking as a science teacher and resident, addressed the impact of development on stormwater management. Noting that a mature tree can absorb up to 40,000 gallons of water per year, she urged the council to require developers to maintain a minimum canopy of native mature trees (recommending a target like 5 to 10 mature trees per acre) and use rain gardens with water-loving shrubs to mitigate worsening neighborhood flooding.
Justice for Shane Anthony DeJong
Attorney Ken Kesta (representing BBB Attorneys) delivered a sobering appeal on behalf of the family of Shane Anthony DeJong. Mr. DeJong was the victim of a homicide on October 5, 2023, at 21101 Plank Road in Cheshire.
Attorney Kesta pressed for answers regarding why there has been no prosecution after two and a half years, noting that a Connecticut Superior Court found probable cause for wrongful death, body tampering, and intentional emotional distress in a civil suit filed against Natasha Vad and Talon Vadage Buckout. He formally requested the Cheshire Police Department to "investigate the investigation" to find out what gaps are stalling the state prosecutor's office.
The "Patriot Promenade" 250th Celebration
On a lighter note, Ray Bennett (840 North Brooksville) and Diane Calibro of the 250th Anniversary Steering Committee excited attendees with plans for the upcoming celebration on July 4th at Bartlem Park. Festivities will include a "Patriot Promenade" featuring historical signers on town light poles, games, a horse rider delivering the Declaration of Independence, and the highly anticipated opening of a 50-year-old time capsule.
School Energy Upgrades: $33.5 Million Plan Authorized
The most substantial business of the night involved the approval of six individual resolutions authorizing school construction grant applications to the State Department of Administrative Services.
The measures, presented by School District Representative Mr. Masiana, represent a sweeping $33.5 million energy performance contract. Crucially, because the state reimburses eligible projects at 50%, Cheshire expects to claw back $16.6 million in grant funding, making the entire initiative self-funded through energy savings, federal solar tax credits ($4 million), and utility incentives.
The six approved projects include:
Resolution | Project Location | Project Scope | Approved Funding |
060926-3A | Doolittle Elementary | Window Replacement (Single-pane upgrades) | $1,588,988 |
060926-3B | Highland Elementary | HVAC & Energy Management Systems | $354,434 |
060926-3C | Doolittle Elementary | Full Air Conditioning & HVAC Installation | $9,396,822 |
060926-3D | Cheshire High School | HVAC Upgrades | $1,030,828 |
060926-3E | Dodd Middle School | HVAC Upgrades | $814,549 |
060926-3F | Humiston School | HVAC Upgrades | $666,414 |
Municipal Operations and Infrastructure Upgrades
Fire Hydrant Maintenance
The council approved a new job description for a Fire Hydrant Maintainer/Firefighter (Resolution 060926-4). Councilor Walsh passionately spoke on this issue, bringing to light that Cheshire’s 1,300 fire hydrants had gone without routine maintenance for 30 years. A test of 40 hydrants in November revealed that six failed and seven needed immediate repairs. The new full-time role is designed to systematically bring local hydrants back into NFPA and OSHA safety compliance.
Wastewater Treatment and Composting
The council also approved a Wastewater Treatment Plant Maintenance Manager job description (Resolution 060926-5) to leverage the advanced skillset of the plant's current electrician, Greg Caldwell.
Additionally, $16,365 was reallocated to the Board of Education to continue the highly successful school composting program at Dodd Middle School and elementary schools. The program will save money next year by sending food scraps to Blue Earth in Southington and halting the costly out-of-state transport of compostable lunch trays.
Business Incentives and Tax Policies
In a bid to remain competitive with surrounding municipalities, the council approved an updated Tax Incentive Policy (Resolution 060926-6), effective through June 30, 2029.
The policy scales tax abatements to attract commercial investment:
Under $3M in improvements: Abatement increased from 50% to 60%; duration extended to 5 years.
$3M to $5M in improvements: Abatement increased to 60%; duration extended to 8 years.
$5M+ in improvements: Establishes a brand-new tier reserving the right to negotiate customized, high-value incentives.
Assistant Town Manager Martelli noted that this gives the Economic Development Commission vital leverage, especially with one of the town's largest employers recently announcing its closure.
Sports and Community Briefs
Championship Bound: Mayor Talbot proudly shared that the Cheshire High School Rams Softball Team advanced to the Class LL Finals after a grueling, 12-inning 1-0 victory over Darien. The team is currently ranked #1 in Connecticut and #25 nationally.
Library Success: Councilor Mankey reported excellent community feedback regarding the library's newly completed system transition.
The meeting adjourned to Executive Session to discuss proposals for a 10-acre state-conveyed parcel adjacent to the Cheshire Correctional Institution.
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