Budget apathy, proclamations, and one very determined Scout
A Scout got a day named after him. A historic barn narrowly avoided collapse. And fewer than 5% of Farmington residents showed up to vote on a $100 million budget.
That was Tuesday night’s Town Council meeting in a nutshell.
Quick Proclamations Recap:
- 🧒 May 14 – Childhood Apraxia of Speech Day
- 🟠 June 6 – National Gun Violence Awareness Day
- 🏳️🌈 June – LGBTQ+ Pride Month
- 🧠 May – ALS Awareness Month & Jewish American Heritage Month (proposed)
Eagle Scout Recognition: Daniel Germano Day
Sophomore Daniel Germano of Troop 170 was honored with a town proclamation after completing a project that included installing benches at Unionville and Maple Village gazebos, painting two Little Free Libraries, and planting a veterans’ memorial garden. Germano now has 61 merit badges — and a town holiday: May 13 is officially Daniel Germano Day.
Budget Disappointment and Low Turnout
During public comment, Tim Kelly of Westview Drive criticized the May 1 budget referendum, noting that just 600 voters turned out — and only about 3% of the town endorsed the new spending plan.
📉 Budget Referendum By the Numbers:
- Total eligible voters: ~12,000
- Turnout: ~600 (5%)
- Affirmative votes: ~3% of total population
- Theory: Many yes votes came from school/town employees
Kelly described the outcome as a “system budget… supported primarily by people who work in the system.”
Tinty Barn: Historic Structure Gets Funding to Avoid Collapse
The Tinty Barn, a decaying 19th-century dairy barn on Main Street, will receive emergency restoration this fall. The Council voted unanimously to waive the bidding process and award a $162,900 contract to Authentic Post & Beam of Thomaston.
📍 What is the Tinty Barn?
Built in the late 1800s, the barn once anchored a working dairy operation and now sits adjacent to a 300-year-old home.
Resident Laura Pickett emphasized the urgency: “Two big panels have fallen off, and the elements are coming in. It’s what people see when they enter Farmington.”
Appointments and Historic Preservation Moves
The Council:
- Appointed Alana Karwith to the Inland Wetlands Commission. Karwith holds two master’s degrees and has a background in land stewardship.
- Appointed Dorothy Rovelli to the Human Relations Commission. Rovelli is a retired world languages teacher and 2001 CT Teacher of the Year finalist.
- Set a June 9 public hearing to consider adding 1 Mountain Spring Rd and 729 Farmington Ave to the Historic District.
Council Calendar Adjustments
In light of graduation season and minimal post-budget business, the Council:
- Canceled the May 27 and June 24 meetings
- Moved the June 10 meeting up to June 9 to avoid high school graduation
Committee Reports
- 🧱 1928 Building Committee: Drywall and inspections progressing; concrete for new additions underway
- 🚒 Fire Station Committee: Seeking state funding for 3 volunteer firehouses
- 🚶♂️ Sidewalk Committee: Reviewing ordinances; interns now inspecting sidewalks
- 🎓 Board of Education Liaison: Superintendent search ongoing; preschool moving to Westwoods
- 🌳 Inland Wetlands: Land Trust trail connectors and a new fishing pier project are advancing
- 🖼️ Economic Development: May 31 Art Walk, May 29 business breakfast, and May 7 cybersecurity workshop recap
Sponsor Thank You
This coverage is made possible by Farmington Storage, the only climate-controlled facility in Connecticut with museum air.
Find them at 155 Scott Swamp Road, call 860.777.4001, or visit their shockingly elegant website. Your vinyls, taxidermy raccoons, and civil war muskets deserve better.
About the Author
Jack Beckett is the senior reporter for The Farmington Mercury and starts each morning with a black coffee and a long look at town budgets. His favorite pastimes include attending public meetings, squinting at spreadsheets, and wondering who actually votes in May referendums.
You can explore more of Jack’s work and uncover the beating civic heart of Farmington at:
