The Orange Board of Selectmen met for a special session Wednesday night, rescheduled a week in advance due to scheduling conflicts. Here's what the meeting covered.
Announcements:
- First Selectman Jim Zeoli urged the board and others in attendance to vigorously support the Volunteer Firemen's Carnival, starting Thursday night. "The Orange Firemens' Carnival is the cheapest fire insurance that an Orange resident could have," Zeoli said.
- Next Wednesday, August 8, Boogie Chillun will perform at the Orange Fairgrounds as part of the Summer Concert Series. Zeoli said Derek Graham and his band "really get the group up and moving ... I'm sure it'll be a blast."
- Vision Government Solutions is currently conducting revaluation studies on properties in Orange, and are knocking on doors in the community to assess home values. "If someone knocks on your door, you don't have to let them in," said Zeoli, "and they can do an outside review." Vision employees carry two forms of photo ID and have been instructed to provide them if requested during home assessments.
Zeoli noted that Vision's revaluation estimates are more accurate if employees are allowed inside homes, allowing for more accurate appraisal of interior changes like renovation or remodeling. According to the contract Orange signed with Vision Government Services in May, Orange's computer-assisted mass appraisal system is also being converted to the one used by Vision. - Zeoli noted the passing of Ralph Carloni, founder of Orange National Bank, who died July 24. "Anyone who knew him knew he was a really terrific guy," he said.
Votes:
- Road closure for the 9th annual Farm Hill Road Block Party was approved for September 8, 2012.
- Selectmen voted to award a contract to T.M. Wright Excavating for the repair of the culvert on Hall Drive near Lambert Road. The culvert was damaged during Hurricane Irene last year, but FEMA funds did not cover the full cost of repair. T.M. Wright was the lowest bidder after a public bidding process. The $51,287 contract includes a wooden guardrail for the culvert.
- Selectmen voted to approve a contract that would lease town land behind Go Green Fitness Center to the business, allowing it to expand its parking lot. The lease would include a donation to Orange Little League, which plays near the center and sometimes uses parking spaces. "Their clients have done well, their customer base has expanded, and they require more parking," said Zeoli.
