Selectmen plan SWSA town meeting on Friday

SALISBURY — The Board of Selectmen reviewed the request of the Salisbury Winter Sports Association (SWSA) for financial support at the regular monthly meeting Monday, March 1.

First Selectman Curtis Rand described last Friday’s informational meeting on the subject as “uplifting.� (For more on this story, turn to page A1.) An overflow crowd at Town Hall was unanimously supportive of SWSA’s request for assistance in rebuilding the ski jump facility on Satre Hill. The upgrades will allow the town to host the 2011 Junior Olympics ski jumping and Nordic combined events.

“There wasn’t a single negative comment,� said Rand. “And it covered the entire spectrum of the community.�

The selectmen adopted a resolution stating that while SWSA is a private organization, it performs a public function. (Rand noted SWSA’s work with students at Salisbury Central School as an example.)

The matter comes to a vote at a special town meeting Friday, March 5, 7:30 p.m. The call of the meeting specifies Town Hall as the venue; however, because of the size of the crowd last week, Rand said the meeting may be held at the Congregational Church’s meeting hall instead (use the side entrance on Library Street).

There will be two votes. One is a resolution to approve a special appropriation of up to $140,000 to provide credit support for SWSA. The appropriation will come from this year’s budget, from the land capital line, and will not entail a tax hike.

The second vote is on a resolution supporting making similar appropriations in future town budgets up to fiscal year 2014.

Rand said it was unlikely the town would have to make appropriations of $140,000 in years to come, citing SWSA’s fundraising efforts, which have collected at least $300,000 in donations and pledges (up from $160,000 early last month).

Selectman Jim Dresser gave a quick update on the activities of the various groups working on affordable housing issues.

“It’s been a great month,� he said, noting the work at the Salisbury Housing Trust site on Indian Cave Road, and plans to add six units at the Sarum Village low-income rental site.

He also mentioned the Northwestern Connecticut Planning Collaborative’s soon-to-be published guide to creating accessory apartments and the impending report of the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, which will be out in April.

And the selectmen appointed Wendy Hamilton to the Board of Assessment Appeals for an unfinished term and appointed Mike Fitting as fire marshal.

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