Building boomlet boosts town coffers

CORNWALL — A glut of recent new construction and building improvement projects will boost tax revenues eventually. But it is proving to be a nice short-term boon as well.

The building official’s office, which collects fees for each building permit issued and inspection made, has been busy, to the tune of a balance of about $10,000 in the fee account for the last two years.

The selectmen explained at their July 17 meeting that the building official collects 10 percent of the fees. The rest goes to the town, to be used at the discretion of the board.

The board voted to approve two funding requests.

The town’s combined fuel and food banks account, primarily funded with private donations, is down to about $500. Those services for local residents will get a boost with $5,000 from the permit fee fund.

Town Hall Players will receive a requested $750 to pay for its liability insurance.

The group recently incorporated (see story this page) and is anticipating this will be a one-time request. The other option would be for the group to come under the town’s insurance umbrella. While it was noted other local organizations, such as the land trust, child center and historical society, are protected under the town’s policy, board members wondered if the Town Hall Players would be covered outside of town — they performed in Winsted earlier this year — or even outside of Town Hall.

“We know they’re covered while they are in the building,� First Selectman Gordon Ridgway said. “Otherwise, we can’t be sure. It’s a great big gray area under the town umbrella. It would be cleaner to have them on their own.�

The board noted their support of the Town Hall Players, terming them an “unusual cultural phenomenon.�

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