katie pg 8 7-11-24
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Katie's positive energy remains
as benefit and an inspiration
PUTNAM --- Dance is a universal language, one that crosses all boundaries. Kathleen “Katie” Elizabeth Jackson had a gift for communicating with dance that she shared with those around her.
After her death in 2015 in a tragic automobile accident, her parents, Daniel and Sandra Jackson, looked for ways to ensure that Katie’s positive energy would continue to benefit and inspire others.
After establishing a scholarship in Katie’s memory with the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut they approached the Putnam Public Library with an idea to benefit the library and keep her memory and spirit alive.
Children’s Librarian Tina Aubin and Library Director Priscilla Colwell worked with the Jacksons to purchase two children’s rocking chairs and beautiful picture books for the library’s collection.
Katie enjoyed being in Miss Tina’s first preschool story time in 1998, and used the library throughout her young life.
“Her generosity will continue to make people smile and she will be remembered,” said Colwell.
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police pg 8 7-11-24
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The following charges were listed in the Putnam Police Department logs. The people charged are innocent until proven guilty in court. The Town Crier will publish dispositions of cases at the request of the accused. The dispositions must be accompanied by the proper documentation. The Putnam Police Department confidential Tip Line is 860-963-0000.
June 26
Noah R. Hollmann, 25, Woodstock Avenue, Putnam; second-degree failure to appear (2 counts), failure to pay or plead.
June 28
Corinne Charbonneau, 37, River Drive, Thompson; third-degree criminal trespass.
July 2
Jorden Hidalgo-Benoit, 19, Sabin Street, Putnam; evading responsibility, reckless driving, first-degree reckless endangerment, engaging in pursuit, failure to travel right, passing in a no-passing zone, unsafe backing.
Caillou Morin, 21, homeless, Putnam; operating an unregistered motor vehicle, operating without a license, operating with insufficient insurance.
July 5
Stephanie Appelt, 38, homeless, possession of narcotics, possession of paraphernalia.
David Faford, 68, homeless; possession of narcotics, possession of paraphernalia, possession of a dangerous weapon in a motor vehicle.
July 6
Chantavone Souriyamath, 52, Franklin Street, Danielson; failure to stop at a sign, operating under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
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toyota pg 1 7-18-24
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Toyota build underway
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
EAST PUTNAM — Tangible progress is evident at the site of the future Toyota dealership on Rt. 44.
Footings and foundations and concrete support posts are being poured where the showroom/offices will be toward the front of the parcel.
In addition, storm water structures/systems are going in.
In order to safeguard the wetlands toward the rear of the parcel, a complicated system is going in. There are large pipes, storm water structures where the pipes intersect, and a system that will control and filter storm water.
Regulations require that the first 1.3 inches of water (including runoff from the parking lots, etc.) is captured. Town land use official Bruce Fitzback said generally that first flush of water contains the most pollutants. The structures hold the captured water and allow it to slowly infiltrate into the ground — filtering it much like a rain garden.
If there is more than 1.3 inches of rain, the additional water will bypass by pipe.
Fitzback said he is impressed with the caliber of land use work being done. He said with a level site such as this one, one silt fence is required. CM&B construction of Beverly, Mass., has two silt fences and a coir coil to protect the site.
Last July, in its lengthy plans approved by the Inland Wetlands Commission the McGee Automotive Family, Toyota of Hanover (Mass.), and owner of the land, Sean & Michael Putnam LLC, said: “The site improvements will include a parking lot for customers and for vehicle display. The parking lot will have a storm water management system to treat and mitigate storm water prior to outflow towards the wetlands area. There will be two plunge pool type outlet areas adjacent to the wetlands
In the application McGee Toyota said “no disturbance to wetlands, but work is along 400 feet of wetland edge.” The affected number of acres breakdown includes “site improvement area (upland to wetlands) is 4.19 acres. Site improvement area within 100 feet of wetlands equals 0.96 acres and direct impact to wetlands is zero acres.”
In March 2022 Sean and Michael Putnam, LLC purchased the 12-acre parcel just east of the Putnam Parkade. The sale price was $1.335 million, according to town clerk records. In August 2022 Sean and Michael Putnam LLC purchased a 1.1 acre parcel adjacent to the 12-acre parcel for $725,000. The additional parcel gives the developers enough useable land for the dealership. The 12-acre property has a good deal of wetlands.
Construction started around the beginning of April. The construction of the “mega store” is estimated to take a year from the start. McGee Toyota in Dudley will move into this property.
Foundation and footings
Storm water system. Linda Lemmon photos.
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Eyesore pg 1 9-18-24
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captions, from top:
Former Bradley Beef site
Former Metal Mast site. Linda Lemmon photos.
And eyesores coming down
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — Eyesores are coming down. Within the last couple weeks, the former home of Bradley Beef on School Street was demolished, as was the former Metal Mast on Providence Street.
Mayor Barney Seney said the town had written to the owners of the former Bradley Beef building requesting it be demolished as it as it was unsafe. The owners, 284 School Street LLC of Oxford, Mass., did not remove the building and so, Seney said the town acted within the state statutes and had the building razed. The work was done by Mancini Demolition of Rhode Island and what remains is all the debris leveled off in the footprint of the building.
In addition to covering the cost of the demolition, the town will also cover the cost of putting a safety fence around the site. It is up to the owners, he said, to have the debris removed — debris that contains asbestos.
The cost to the town is $15,000 for the demolition work and around $7,000 for the fence. The exact amount awaits the invoice from Killingly Fence Co.
Once the final figure is determined, a lien will be put against the property in that amount. Whenever the property is sold, that lien will have to be repaid to the town.
A short ride away, on Providence Street, the owners of the former Metal Mast had that site leveled. Seney said the owner, ICB Enterprise Initiative LLC of Woodstock, had the site cleared at the town’s request.
The next site in the town’s sights is the long-ago burned building on High Street. Requests for the demolition of that unsafe site were unheeded so the town is gearing up to have it demolished. It will be a similar scenario as with the School Street property.
On a brighter note, Seney said the town is still working with the bank that owns the chock-a-block full property on Woodstock Avenue. The town anticipates that the bank will have a dumpster and a crew to clear out the unsafe property, possibly this week.
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