Happy New Year! The holiday
season has once again flown by.
I want to thank all those who
helped light up our Town over

Christmas by-
participating

in the Mayor’s

Merry Plym-
outh Contest.

And once
again, thank

you to the Ter-
ryville Lion’s

Club for part-
nering with us to make it hap-
pen. Congratulations to our win-
ners: First Place: 42 Burnham St.

Second Place: 24 Scott Road and
Third Place: 5 Cedar St.
Small Wonders was once
again a success this year, serving
123 children from 53 families in
Town. Thank you to Ann Marie
Rheault and Janice Madore for

their efforts to keep this vital pro-
gram running, as well as the many

volunteers who helped along the
way.
One thing about living in a

small town — our local organiza-
tions work really hard to try and

create as many opportunities as
possible for families and kids to
enjoy themselves. This month, I
attended the Winter Wonderland
Literacy Night put on by
The Family Resource Center,

Learning Center, Terryville Li-
brary and the Plymouth Board of

Ed. It was great to see so many
children getting excited about
Thanks to Local Organizations, Volunteers
for Helping Make Life Better for Our Citizens

reading and the different pro
grams offered here. I also got to

see how our local kids are learn-
ing about fire safety at the Plym-
outh Fire Marshal’s Annual CT

Fire Prevention Poster Contest
Awards Ceremony. The winners
this year for 4th graders were
Owen Pelletier, who won first
place, Holden Elsdon in second
place and Landon Evanoski in
third. For 5th grade, first place

went to Maeverie Muldong, sec-
ond to Harleen Kaur and third to-
Kaylin Kovacs.

We’ve already done so much
this year, but it’s hard to believe
we’re already through January.

Many of you might not real-
ize how much planning goes into

a new year. As you read this, de-
partment heads have been hard at

work crafting their requests for
their 2024 budgets. It seems to
become a harder task each year,
with needs continuing to expand
for everyone. And what you are
all feeling as a result of inflation,
we are feeling here as well.
I know many have had to make
cuts and really question every
dollar you are spending, and the
Town of Plymouth must do the
same this budget season. The rise
in energy costs and inflation must
be budgeted for and as such, some
tough decisions will have to be
made on how to best allocate the

resources we do have. I encour-
age you to attend budget meet-
ings this year for both the Board

of Education and the Board of
Finance. If you have suggestions
where we can save money, please
do not hesitate to send them to

my office and/or the Board of Fi-
nance. After all, it is your money.

Speaking of money, for those

who financially qualify, Plym-
outh will once again be hosting

the VITA Free Income Tax Return
Preparation Service beginning on

Jan. 25. Please call Human Ser-
vices at 860-585-4028 for an ap-
pointment.

As we start the year, we say
goodbye to Erica Cabiya, our

Town Clerk. My sincerest grati-
tude goes to her for all the work

she’s done at this office. We are
sad to see her go as she accepts a
new role as Bristol’s Town Clerk,
but we know why they hired her!
She will be deeply missed here.
She will be helping us out part

time and resigning in the near fu-
ture once a replacement can be

found. Note that this is an elected
position, as such the Republican
Town Committee will nominate
a replacement that will need to

be approved by the Town Coun-
cil. This candidate will then serve

until November’s 2023 election
when the Town can then elect the
permanent person in this role.
I’d also like to send a thank

you to Rich Trudeau, who has re-
tired as Director of Technology

for the BOE and the Town. He has

dedicated many years to Plym-
outh, and I wish him a happy and

healthy retirement. The BOE and

the Town are reviewing our op-
tions for this position as we look

to ensure our tech systems stay up
to date.
I’d also like to shoutout our
Parks and Recreation Director,
Maureen Cappetto, who has been
in this role now for seven months.
She’s done a great job creating
exciting events for both kids and
adults in Town. Most recently,
I’ve been hearing good feedback
on our basketball program, which
has been in collaboration with
Thomaston Parks and Recreation,

a partnership we hope will con-
tinue.

This department has also
launched a 55-plus club called
“Terryville Classics.” It is only a
$5 annual membership with many
exciting events and trips on the
horizon. They hosted their first
event at the American Legion in

December where members en-
joyed good food, great music and

a lot of fun. Get more details or
sign up at Plymouthtownrec.com.
Before I end my note, I just
want to say congratulations to

Scott’s Funeral Home, who re-
cently was awarded the Small

Business of the Year Award from

the Central CT Chamber of Com-
merce. Very well deserved to a

wonderful family who works
very hard in this Town.
I hope you’ve all enjoyed this
uncommon weather we’ve had so
far this winter. But I do hear that
snow is coming!
Stay warm and stay healthy,
— Mayor Kilduff