News

Police Department News

Deondre Pierce has recently been promoted to the rank of Sergeant on following the retirement of Sergeant Duane Manville. Chief Grillo is pleased with Sergeant Pierce’s quick adaption to his new leadership role. Sergeant John Jaskolka has retired last week after 20 years of dedicated service. On behalf of the Town, I want to thank him for his years of services and wish him well in his future endeavors. With Sergeant Jaskolka's retirement, Officer Bailey Cook has been promoted to Sergeant. Congratulations to all.

Congratulations are also in order for another big milestone for our independent Southbury Police Department. On Thursday, November 12, 2026, the Southbury Police Department will be formally presented with an award from the State of Connecticut Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) Council for achieving Tier 3 Accreditation status. Reaching Tier 3 indicates that the Southbury Police Department operates under the gold standard of modern law enforcement accountability, operational transparency, and service quality. Tier 3 requires significant work to achieve. Thank you to all of our dedicated police officers, everyone who works with them, and to Chief Grillo for his outstanding leadership.

Spring Hill Farm Preserve Grand Opening

(Southbury Land Trust photos)

On October 24th, I attended the Grand Opening of the Southbury Land Trust’s Spring Hill Farm Preserve located at 453 Old Woodbury Road. The event was very well planned out. There was an introduction to the history of the area by our Town Historian John Dwyer, hikes, scavenger hunts, kid’s games and cider and donuts. The Grand Opening was a culmination of hard work performed by members of the land trust, eagle scouts and other dedicated volunteers.

Southbury America 250th Commission

October 30th concluded the Southbury America 250th celebrations. I had the pleasure of attending the unveiling of the restored gravestone of our very first First Selectman, Shadrack Osborn, read the proclamation and learned more about the man’s contributions to the birth of our nation. Afterward I spent the evening at the Shadrack Osborn trivia night at The Tavern in Heritage Hotel. This was a well-attended event with the teams of David and Gosia Liedlich and Cathy De Carli and Joe Ruggiero trading the top spot throughout the event. In the end it was team Liedlich that prevailed. Click to see more photos from the event.

I want to thank the Southbury America 250th Commission for providing meaningful, historical contributions all year long. There were several historically minded discussions, an extra special Memorial Day ceremony, the informative walk in the footsteps of Rochambeau in partnership with the Southbury Land Trust, readings of the Declaration of Independence and an added historic touch to the Southbury Celebration. The Commission offered great experiences in addition to restoring Shadrach Osborn's headstone and placing a new monument for Southbury Revolutionary War heroes at the Veterans Memorial Green.

Veterans Day

Veterans Day is tomorrow. Please feel free to visit our Veterans Memorial Green. It’s a beautiful space to contemplate and to honor the residents of Southbury who served our country - especially on Veterans Day.

Veteran Wellness and Suicide Prevention Fundraiser

On November 1st, I joined the Tribury Rotary Club and the Rotary Network for Empowering Women for a fundraiser at Julio's Wood fire Pizza and Grill supporting Suicide prevention for our military veterans in Connecticut. All proceeds were dedicated to a Connecticut veteran organization that aids in suicide prevention education, PTSD support, depression and sleep deprivation resources along with overall wellness for veterans. It was a great night for a great cause. Please, if you know anyone suffering from mental health issues, reach out to get help. Many people suffer with mental health issues that can be treated and the negative stigma associated with mental health needs to be eliminated. There are many avenues to treat these, unfortunately, all too common needs.

Southbury Land Trust

The Southbury Land Trust is responsible for the preservation of some of our most beautiful locations and they are always looking for volunteers to help maintain these areas. The Land Trust's mission is to preserve natural spaces for the benefit of Southbury residents. We are fortunate to have a great group of dedicated, concerned citizens that always welcome additional volunteers. If you would like to volunteer, please reach out to them. There are a number of scheduled maintenance projects in the near future. I was fortunate to have some time this past weekend to help clear some downed trees at the Koon preserve in South Britain and the weather was fantastic!

Southbury Fall Fest

Our Parks and Recreation department went above and beyond with their second Fall Fest. A week of fun fall activities culminated in two showings of Toy Story 5 - one outdoors and one indoors in a sensory-friendly environment. Some of the fun included a trick-or-treat costume parade, pumpkin carving, and scarecrow building. Thanks to Meghan Lennon, Parks and Recreation Director, Tara McCauley, Recreation Supervisor, and Sara Panaccio, Recreation Coordinator. Click to see more photos from the events.

Southbury Public Library Laptop ConneCT Program

Through state ARPA funding, the Southbury Library has received laptops for the Laptop ConneCT program. Residents who participate in the state programs Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicare or HUSKY, Connecticut Energy Assistance or Low-Income Home Energy Assistance and are 18 years old and older can apply for access to a library-provided laptop. Find out more and apply on the Town website.

Election Day

Early voting and Election Day have ended. It's a busy time culminating in a very long day for everybody involved. A big shout out to the Registrars of Voters and the Town Clerk’s office. It's a lot of work to plan it all, do the regular training, keep up to speed on requirements, and get ready to do it all again! And a heartfelt thank you to all the poll workers and moderators whose dedication makes American elections possible.

Town Improvements

The Old Town Hall Museum has recently seen significant upgrades. The building has been painted, and repairs have been made to the ADA ramp and railings. Additionally, the rotted fence has been replaced. All of the work was performed to the Historic Building Commission's guidelines.

The South Britain Library, another historic building in Town, also needed paint and repairs to the front stairs which has been completed.

Heritage Village has seen improvements to the sidewalk along North Poverty Road. The Department of Public Works crew did an outstanding job improving a number of areas of the sidewalk and, additionally, replaced the old wood guard rails along North Poverty Road with metal guard rails.

The Transfer Station traffic change has been in place for a few weeks now. New lines have been painted to help everyone navigate the change. Nothing but positive reports thus far. The Transfer Station crew find it easier and safer to do their work without worrying about the extra traffic. The parking change allows more people to use it at the same time. As with all parking areas, please watch for traffic when parking and pulling out.

Community House Barn bathrooms and kitchenette repairs are well underway. A Town-resource for the public, closed in 2018, is finally going to be back in service adding convenience and more sanitary facilities for our residents.

People have been asking about cameras in our parks ever since the vandalism in Ballantine Park and Settlers Park in November 2025. The park cameras experienced an unfortunate delay due to inventory shortage. The equipment has arrived and it is being installed. The security camera installation in the parks is nearly complete.

Season of Giving

As we approach the winter holidays and the New Year, it's a good time to think of others and help when we can.

The Senior Center Holiday Cheer Drive is underway. The program identifies older residents who may be in need of extra holiday cheer. You can donate complete baskets or individual items to put in them. Our Senior Center employees, with Senior Services Director Andrea Corcoran at the helm, coordinate each basket to be donated with each member in mind. You can also send a check payable to the Town of Southbury, noting it is for Holiday Cheer in the memo line. You can find more information on the Town website.

Southbury Helping Hands (formerly the Southbury Needy Fund) is dedicated to helping Southbury residents navigate temporary financial hardships due to unforeseen circumstances. Co-Directors Kathleen Hennessy and Jennifer Masi work closely with Southbury’s Director of Social Services Mary Silverman, who refers residents in need of assistance. Southbury Helping Hands relies on the generosity of individuals, community organizations, and local small businesses whose donations allow them to provide year-round support to neighbors facing difficult times. You can learn more and donate at southburyhelpinghands.org.

Town Events

I am pleased to announce the Town of Southbury is sponsoring a Red Cross blood drive at Heritage Hotel from 1 to 6 pm on November 19. You can find more information and how to schedule your appointment on our website.

Dispose of your household hazardous waste and paint at the Ansonia Transfer Station on November 14 from 9 am to 2 pm. To learn what is accepted, visit the Southbury Town website.

Work for Southbury

Southbury has open positions for Assistant Mechanic, Certified Police Officer, Emergency Dispatch Operator, and Part-Time Animal Control Assistant. Visit Town website to find out more and apply. Southbury is a great place to live and work.

Suggestions

Hearing directly from the public helps us serve our community better. We recently began to post reminders on social media for upcoming Board of Selectman meetings and a link to where you can find agendas. This was a great suggestion made by a community member that we are now implementing. I appreciate the opportunity to serve our community. Please feel free to contact me to discuss your ideas for improvements or to discuss any concerns you may have.