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Belltown, Conn.Vol. I, No. 1
Founded 2026

The East Hampton ❦ Belltown, ConnecticutMercuryAlways Last... To Breaking News!

Late EditionThursday, Sept. 24, 2026
Sixteen minutes to read

Set from the Public RecordEleven meetings · Twenty-seven items · Sixteen minutes to readNames checked against the town roster

JB

Jack Beckett

Staff Writer

Staff writer for The Charlotte Mercury covering government, elections, public safety, and development across multiple publications. Beckett has filed more than 600 stories on local policy, crime, zoning, and civic accountability in Connecticut and the Carolinas.

27 Articles

Police Chief Dennis Woessner is retiring

His last day is Nov. 25

Jack Beckett·Sep 24, 2026

Police Chief Dennis Woessner is retiring: His last day is Nov. 25

Transfer station money runs out around January

Closing it is one of three options on the table

Jack Beckett·Sep 24, 2026

Transfer station money runs out around January: Closing it is one of three options on the table

Council strikes a paragraph about a resident from its minutes

One member votes no

Jack Beckett·Sep 24, 2026

Council strikes a paragraph about a resident from its minutes: One member votes no

A records request, 21 weeks and counting

A resident asks the council how long is too long

Jack Beckett·Sep 24, 2026

A records request, 21 weeks and counting: A resident asks the council how long is too long

$727,850

Borrowed over as long as 10 years for six purchases

Jack Beckett·Sep 24, 2026

$727,850: Borrowed over as long as 10 years for six purchases

Public hearing Oct. 13: the agriculture commission's youth seats

The change would drop three required youth members

Jack Beckett·Sep 24, 2026

Public hearing Oct. 13: the agriculture commission's youth seats: The change would drop three required youth members

The town's 10-year plan is out for comment

Comments close at the end of October

Jack Beckett·Sep 24, 2026

The town's 10-year plan is out for comment: Comments close at the end of October

Sewer bills are due Oct. 1

They go in the mail Sept. 29

Jack Beckett·Sep 24, 2026

Sewer bills are due Oct. 1: They go in the mail Sept. 29

Paving: Abbey Road and North Cone Road, not Childs Road

Childs Road needs drainage work first

Jack Beckett·Sep 24, 2026

Paving: Abbey Road and North Cone Road, not Childs Road: Childs Road needs drainage work first

An open seat on the Board of Education

Kenneth Barber has resigned

Jack Beckett·Sep 24, 2026

An open seat on the Board of Education: Kenneth Barber has resigned

$15 million to $20 million

What it would take to fix East Hampton's worst roads

Jack Beckett·Sep 24, 2026

$15 million to $20 million: What it would take to fix East Hampton's worst roads

$68,036

The school district's Title I grant, down from $127,105

Jack Beckett·Sep 24, 2026

$68,036: The school district's Title I grant, down from $127,105

Four school forums, one at each school

Tuesday evenings from Oct. 20 to Dec. 15

Jack Beckett·Sep 24, 2026

Four school forums, one at each school: Tuesday evenings from Oct. 20 to Dec. 15

Graduation is Friday, June 11, 2027

Set by the Board of Education on Sept. 14

Jack Beckett·Sep 24, 2026

Graduation is Friday, June 11, 2027: Set by the Board of Education on Sept. 14

Fourth try: voters approve the $39.55 million school budget

The same figure that failed Aug. 5 passed Aug. 26

Jack Beckett·Sep 24, 2026

Fourth try: voters approve the $39.55 million school budget: The same figure that failed Aug. 5 passed Aug. 26

789

Fewer people, more households: what the draft town plan found

Jack Beckett·Sep 24, 2026

789: Fewer people, more households: what the draft town plan found

Opioid settlement money buys a CPR machine for the ambulance

$15,444.25 for the device, $15,000 more for training

Jack Beckett·Sep 24, 2026

Opioid settlement money buys a CPR machine for the ambulance: $15,444.25 for the device, $15,000 more for training

$593,400 in unexpected revenue goes to capital projects

The council votes 5 to 1

Jack Beckett·Sep 24, 2026

$593,400 in unexpected revenue goes to capital projects: The council votes 5 to 1

Why the Town Council is your sewer board

And why that may change

Jack Beckett·Sep 24, 2026

Why the Town Council is your sewer board: And why that may change

Sewer rate stays at $605; grinder pump fee rises to $600, not $750

The council, sitting as the sewer authority, voted 6 to 1

Jack Beckett·Sep 24, 2026

Sewer rate stays at $605; grinder pump fee rises to $600, not $750: The council, sitting as the sewer authority, voted 6 to 1

What every middle school sport costs

The list was read into the record Aug. 10

Jack Beckett·Sep 24, 2026

What every middle school sport costs: The list was read into the record Aug. 10

$73,500

The state grant that brought Smart Start back

Jack Beckett·Sep 24, 2026

$73,500: The state grant that brought Smart Start back

Middle Haddam tennis court lot: not for sale

Any sale would take a town meeting

Jack Beckett·Sep 24, 2026

Middle Haddam tennis court lot: not for sale: Any sale would take a town meeting

Five houses, and not enough water

A resident asks the town to keep the lot for a fire tank

Jack Beckett·Sep 24, 2026

Five houses, and not enough water: A resident asks the town to keep the lot for a fire tank

215 of 564

Affordable units the town has, against what it would need

Jack Beckett·Sep 24, 2026

215 of 564: Affordable units the town has, against what it would need

Homestead tax exemption is off the table

The council decides it is not worth pursuing

Jack Beckett·Sep 24, 2026

Homestead tax exemption is off the table: The council decides it is not worth pursuing

Two to nine units, no hearing: state housing rules adopted

Planning and Zoning votes 6 to 0

Jack Beckett·Sep 24, 2026

Two to nine units, no hearing: state housing rules adopted: Planning and Zoning votes 6 to 0

Stories by Jack Beckett | The East Hampton Mercury