WILTON — Selectmen recently agreed to add a handicapped parking space to the Wilton Stream municipal parking lot.

There are currently no spaces designated in the town lot behind Main Street buildings, Town Manager Rhonda Irish told the board. 

After a downtown tenant, Garrett Ehrisman, made a request for the space, Irish, along with police Chief Heidi Wilcox and Road Foreman John Welch, visited the lot and recommended a space near the walkway.

“The only handicapped parking is in front of KeyBank,” Ehrisman said.

Selectman Terry Brann asked if the town is required to do so, because it’s providing space for apartment tenants over the downtown buildings.

The space will not be specifically for Ehrisman, who said he understood that.

The board voted 4-1 to create the space with Brann casting the no vote.

In other business, the board established a 7 percent interest rate for bills owed to the town’s wastewater department.

Selectman Scott Taylor was elected chairman of the board with former Chairman Terry Brann as vice chairman.

Irish reported on town committees, including recycling. The town’s recycling efforts are up 37 percent for the first six months of this year.

“It’s a success,” she said of the switch to single-sort recycling. “The money saved is only about $4,000 but there’s less garbage … there’s a big difference in garbage and recycling.”

The downtown committee is considering adding an events calendar to Main Street to announce organizations’ public events. It would be similar to the one in Farmington near Center Bridge.

Irish suggested taking the estimated $500 cost from TIF funds or securing donations from organizations that would use it.

The cemetery committee is reviewing the condition of lots in the town’s 22 cemeteries, she said. It is also revising the price structure for lots based on a three-tier price system, one for residents, one for nonresident taxpayers and another for nonresidents.

The board appointed new members to town boards. Jeff Rowe and Dawn Brann were appointed to the Appeals Board. Jennie Bouchard-Young was appointed to the Finance Committee.

Following the resignation of Planning Board member Doug Hiltz, alternate member Maxine Collins was appointed a member on a vote of 3-2, with Brann and Taylor voting against. Lisa Small was named an alternate member on the board.

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