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Wednesday, July 22, 2026
Farmington, CT|Independent Local News
The Farmington Mercury

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Farmington Town Council

Coverage (20 articles)

Farmington Seats a Building Committee for a $30 Million Fire Station Overhaul

Jack Beckett·

Farmington's newly seated Fire Station Building Committee held its first meeting Friday, taking control of a Town Council-scoped plan to build two new fire stations and renovate the historic Village firehouse for a total of $30 million to $35 million. The catch: none of it happens without a town referendum the committee is aiming to put on a 2027 ballot.

Farmington Approves the Meadow Road Sidewalk After Two Years of Debate

Jack Beckett·

The Farmington Town Council voted unanimously to build a sidewalk along Meadow Road, approving the revised Option 2 alignment after two years of hearings, a deferral, and a redesign. The fight was never whether to build it, but which side of the road it belongs on.

Farmington Zoning Commission Unanimously Rejects the 237-Home Riverfront Enclave

Jack Beckett·

Farmington's Town Plan and Zoning Commission unanimously rejected all four applications behind the Enclave at the Farmington River, the 237-home development proposed along the river between Farmington and Unionville. The vote, after a five-hour hearing and a unanimous negative recommendation from the Town Council, ended a nearly four-year effort and killed the largest residential proposal the town has weighed in years.

Farmington Council Extends Town Manager's Contract to 2030, Adds $15,000 Bonus

Jack Beckett·

Farmington's Town Council reviewed Town Manager Kathleen Blonski behind closed doors on June 23, then returned to open session and unanimously extended her contract through June 30, 2030, raised her salary 3 percent, and awarded her a $15,000 bonus. The deliberation was private; the decision, as state law requires, was public.

Farmington Town Council Comes Out Against the Truck Stop

Jack Beckett·

Farmington's Town Council issued two unanimous negative referrals June 9, opposing the Noble Energy truck stop at 8261 Fienemann Road and a separate National Land Holdings residential project, even though the binding decisions still belong to the planning and wetlands boards.

Tim Kelly's Next Fire-Station Question: How Old Is the Volunteer Force?

Jack Beckett·

At the May 26 Farmington Town Council meeting, Westview resident Tim Kelly asked the council for an inventory of the town's current volunteer-firefighter ranks by decade — twenties, thirties, forties, fifties, sixties — before the new Fire Station Building Committee carries the $30-to-$35 million overhaul further. Kelly tied the demographic question to his unstudied May 12 consolidation alternative. The council didn't respond on the floor.

Tinty Park Stays a Park: Legal Opinion Closes Farmington's Cemetery Question

Jack Beckett·

A legal opinion delivered to the Farmington Town Council on May 26 concludes that using the Don Tinty parcel for cemetery purposes would violate the 2004 deed covenant, and that the town has no legal obligation to provide burial grounds. Chair Brian F. X. Connolly delivered the news in a statement that came after Patti Boye-Williams moved to amend the agenda to add it. Two of the Nadia's Way neighbors who packed the May 12 meeting returned to thank the council. The opinion will appear in the June 9 manager's report.

Motorcyclist Killed in Meadow Road Crash; Silverado Driver Charged With DUI

Jack Beckett·

A motorcyclist died Monday afternoon after a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck struck a motorcycle and a school bus from behind on Meadow Road in Farmington. Police arrested the Silverado's driver, Gary Berube, 63, on a charge of driving under the influence and are holding him on $500,000 bond.

Farmington Council Sets May 26 Discussion, June 9 Vote on Meadow Road Sidewalk

Jack Beckett·

Town Manager Kathleen Blonski told the Farmington Town Council on May 12 that the Meadow Road sidewalk project will return as an agenda item at the council's May 26 meeting, with a potential vote at the June 9 meeting. The council is committed to building the project this year regardless of which of two design options it picks — the original south-side-throughout design or the split design that crosses to the north side west of Wakefield Lane.

Farmington Sets Mill Rate at 27.36

Jack Beckett·

The Town Council voted unanimously to set the property tax rate at 27.36 mills for fiscal year 2026–27 and to divide an unexpected $1.7 million state aid grant — half for current taxpayers, half in reserve for a revaluation year the council is watching with caution.

A Cemetery Proposal for Don Tinty Park Resurfaces in Farmington

Jack Beckett·

A 2004 deed gave Donald Tinty Family Park to Farmington as a public park. On May 12, the Town Council took up — and a dozen residents came to oppose — whether part of it should become the town's next cemetery. The council's direction: a legal opinion on the deed before any work on the ground.

Farmington Advances a $30–35 Million Fire-Station Overhaul

Jack Beckett·

The Farmington Town Council voted unanimously on May 12 to advance a $30-to-$35-million plan to replace two of the town's three volunteer fire stations and renovate the third, seating a new building committee to carry it toward a referendum. The only sustained dissent came from the public comment podium, where resident Tim Kelly argued the town never seriously studied consolidating to two stations.

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