A public hearing is being held in New Milford tonight about a proposed tax deferral ordinance revision.  It's for abatement of assessment increases.  The property must be outside the village center and used for manufacturing or distribution, or retail, restaurant or mixed use building in the village center district, or one of the following businesses: IT, digital media, health care, biotechnology or clean energy business.  The property must be a qualified brownfield. 

There is a standard offer currently in the ordinance, and the proposal is to change the language so that in all cases, the New Milford Town Council will be able to set the abatement level and the duration based on qualifying factors.  Those factors are also outlined in the current ordinance language.

The public hearing is at 7pm in Town Hall, and will be followed by the Town Council regular meeting.

The New Milford Town Council is taking up a number items tonight.  One is how to pay for the replacement of the Schaghticoke Middle School roof.  The issue goes back almost a year when it was found that the insulation in the roof was wet and could lead to decay.  PCBs were found in caulking around a skylight, and determined not to be an issue until disturbed through construction. 

The New Milford Board of Education voted earlier this year to pass the item to the Town Council. 

A new ordinance about trees will also be discussed by the Tree Warden.  The original proposal would create a $250 per day fine for property owners who don't remove trees in town right-of-ways that have been deemed a danger.  The ordinance was proposed because the Emerald Ash Borer beetle is now being found in New Milford.  It's a foreign pest that attacks native trees.  The tree warden told the council last month that the age of trees, new pests and the severity of weather events has created the perfect storm for the declining health of large trees. 

Some New Milford Town Council members expressed concern with the fines at the last meeting and tabled the issue to tonight. 

The meeting is set for 7:30 in Town Hall.