Good evening, this is First Selectwoman Peggy Lyons with today’s weekly update.
I am pleased to announce that 68% of Madison’s total population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. This is a significant accomplishment for our town, and I am thankful for all our local volunteers, medical professionals, and Town staff who worked at vaccine clinics or assisted residents in getting their appointments scheduled. It’s truly been a community effort during this unprecedented vaccine roll-out. However, it is important that we remain mindful that the virus is still active in our community; Madison currently has 24 active COVID-19 cases. Please remember that children under the age of 16 are not able to be vaccinated at this time and therefore still very vulnerable to the virus. All of us have a responsibility, including vaccinated residents, to protect each other by continuing to wear a mask in public, maintain social distancing, and wash hands frequently.
The Town will resume its weekly clinic on Thursdays at the Town Campus Gym for the rest of April. Although there has been a temporary pause in Connecticut with the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, the state is committed to providing other vaccine alternatives in its place in order to maintain availability. If you are a Madison resident age 55 years and older, and are still having difficulty getting vaccinated, please contact the Senior Center at (203) 245–5627 for assistance. For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 vaccination locations throughout Connecticut, please visit ct.gov/covidvaccine.
A reminder that there are several dates to be aware of during the last week in April. The Town will be holding its Annual Green Up, Clean Up Day next Saturday, April 24th from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. To register your group to participate, please visit www.madisonct.org/volunteer, or call (203) 245-5602. Check in will be at Memorial Town Hall or Roberts Food Center in the North Madison Shopping Center. The Town will provide bags, gloves, and safety vests for children, and will have on-site dumpsters available for clean-up crews.
Also, the Town will be holding a virtual public hearing on Tuesday, April 27th at 7 p.m. to provide an overview of this year’s beach operations for the summer. Starting next week, residents can renew their beach parking stickers through the Town website at www.madisonct.org. All in-person sales will be open to the public at the Surf Club office starting May 3rd. Please note that stickers will not be required to park at Town beaches until Memorial Day weekend.
And finally, the Board of Finance will hold a second Budget Public Hearing on Wednesday, April 28th at 7:00 p.m. to review the recommended Budget for the 2021-2022 fiscal year. Following this Public Hearing, the Board of Finance will take action to recommend a final Budget for a public vote. This year’s Budget referendum will be held on Tuesday, May 18th. A reminder that the Governor signed an Executive Order recently that allowed for any eligible person to vote at a referendum by absentee ballot if they are unable to appear in-person due to COVID-19. More details on how to vote in-person or by absentee ballot for the Budget referendum next month is currently available on the Town Clerk’s website.
Stay safe and healthy Madison.
Peggy Lyons
First Selectwoman