Thomaston is one of 43 towns served by the Western CT Coalition (WCTC), a Regional Behavioral Health Action Organization dedicated to improving mental health, reducing substance misuse, and connecting residents with community resources. WCTC is now inviting adult residents to take a brief, anonymous survey to help shape prevention and support services across our region.
**Why it matters:** Survey responses help regional and community organizations like WCTC better understand adult health trends, community strengths, emerging issues, and prevention needs in western Connecticut. Your input directly informs the programs and resources that serve Thomaston and neighboring towns.
**What to know:** - Open to adults **18 and older** - Takes about **14 minutes** to complete - **Anonymous** — you can skip any question you'd rather not answer - Survey closes **October 1, 2026**
This project was made possible with funding from multiple contracts with the CT Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. Questions or concerns can be directed to WCTC at admin@wctcoalition.org.
We encourage Thomaston residents to take a few minutes to share their voice — your input helps ensure community members' experiences and priorities are reflected in WCTC's work across the region.
*Learn more about the Western CT Coalition at wctcoalition.org.*
The Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG) is inviting residents, students, and visitors to help define the region’s identity through a regional photo contest supporting the development of the Naugatuck Valley Regional Plan of Conservation and Development (NVRPOCD). The plan is a long-range document that guides growth, preservation, and community priorities over the coming years.
The contest seeks photographs that capture the people, places, and experiences that define life in the Naugatuck Valley Planning Region. Submissions may reflect Architecture, Arts & Culture, Community and Places of Belonging, Environment, Entertainment & Leisure, Public Events, and/or Transportation across the region. Selected images will be used to visually support the NVCOG’s long-term planning efforts and to illustrate the themes and priorities reflected in the NVRPOCD.
Submissions are open now through 11:59 p.m. on June 30, 2026. Participants may submit up to three digital photographs through an online submission form at https://arcg.is/1G5OSr2. The contest is open to adults aged 18 or older, as well as high school students in grades 9 through 12 who have parent or guardian permission.
One winning photo will be selected from each of NVCOG’s 19 municipalities: Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethlehem, Bristol, Cheshire, Derby, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Oxford, Plymouth, Prospect, Seymour, Shelton, Southbury, Thomaston, Waterbury, Waterton, Wolcott, and Woodbury. Winners will receive a $25 gift card to a local establishment in the town where the photo was taken. Selected images may also be featured on the NVCOG website, social media platforms, and in future official planning publications.
Full contest rules, submission guidelines, and required photo release forms, including forms for high school student participants and any identifiable individuals appearing in submitted photos, are available at https://nvcogct.gov/project/photo-contest/.
Eighteen Month Moratorium on acceptance or approval of any application for new sewer connections or increases in permitted flows from existing connections excepting certain users within the sewer service area.
The Thomaston passport program is open to all Thomaston residents, neighbors and visitors. The program begins July 4th and ends on September 3rd with drop box locations at the Thomaston Town Hall Land Use Office and Thomaston Public Library. Varying levels of prizes totaling over $500 will be announced on September 13th.
Postcards are available at all 44 participating locations, and there is no cost or obligation to participate, simply visit the location to get your card stamped. Be sure to put your name and contact information on the card so we can contact you if you are a prize winner.
The Town of Thomaston and Connecticut State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), invite residents to learn about a proposed National Register of Historic Places nomination for the downtown. National Register listing is an honorary status, which celebrates places with important local history. Downtown Thomaston has a wealth of historic resources, worthy of recognition. The historic community spaces, businesses, mill housing, and mill complexes all contribute to the Town’s identity and unique character.
Jenny Scofield, National Register Coordinator for SHPO, and Renee Tribert of Preservation Connecticut will provide an overview of the National Register program and benefits of designation.
The electors and those persons eligible to vote in town meetings of the Town of Thomaston, Connecticut, are hereby WARNED AND NOTIFIED that a Special Town Meeting will be held in the Town Hall, in the Lena Morton Gallery, 158 Main Street, Thomaston, Connecticut, on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. for the following purposes:
ITEM 1. As recommended by the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Finance, to approve a Municipal Solid Waste and Recyclable Materials Collection Agreement with CWPM LLC of Plainville, Connecticut for a term of five (5) years beginning July 1, 2026 at the annual cost as specified therein to be appropriated by the town in the annual budget for each fiscal year for said purpose; and to authorize the Board of Selectmen and the First Selectman to enter into said agreement and takes all steps necessary or convenient for said purpose.
ITEM 2. Pursuant to Chapter 247, Article IV “Tax Incentive Program,” Sec. 247-12 and Sec. 247-13 of the Code of the Town of Thomaston, as recommended by the Economic Development Commission and the Board of Selectmen, to consider and act on a tax abatement agreement with Four Seasons LLC, for 82 South Main Street, for a term of five (5) years beginning in 2026 and to authorize the First Selectman and Board of Selectmen to execute all documents necessary or convenient for said purpose.
ITEM 3. As recommended by the WPCA Commission, the Board of Finance and the Board of Selectmen, to authorize the First Selectman and Board of Selectmen to combine of the positions of Highway Superintendent and WPCA Superintendent as one position, and to authorize the First Selectman and Board of Selectmen to execute all documents and take all steps necessary or convenient for said purpose, on the condition that said positions may be re-established as separate positions in the future if determined to be necessary by the First Selectman, Board of Selectmen and Board of Finance.
ITEM 4. As recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission pursuant to CGS Sec.8-24, the town of Thomaston acting pursuant to CGS Sec.13a-48, hereby accepts Grove Heights as public street as the same now exists for a distance of 225 feet westerly from its intersection with Grove Street as shown on a proposed plan of Grove Manor Apartments dated May 19, 1983 on file with the Town Clerk, meaning and intending to confirm its prior acceptance through common law dedication, public use and maintenance.
ITEM 5. As recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission pursuant to CGS Sec.8-24, the town of Thomaston acting pursuant to CGS Sec.13a-48, hereby accepts Terrace Road as public street as the same now exists for a distance 155 feet easterly from its intersection with Tracy Street, meaning and intending to confirm its prior acceptance through common law dedication, public use and maintenance.
Copies of the resolutions and relevant documents are on file and available for inspection at the Office of the Town Clerk.
Dated at Thomaston, Connecticut this 4th day of June 2026.
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
______________________________ Richard Sileo, First Selectman
______________________________ Michael Burr, Selectman
The Tax Office will be CLOSED Tuesday, June 30, 2026 for Year-End Processing.
All other Town Hall offices will be open for regular business. However, they are unable to accept any tax payments.
If you have back due taxes and would like to have your payment posted on June 30, 2026, you may go to the Post Office and mail your payment, but please be aware of the new USPS POSTMARK RULE and request to have your envelope hand-cancelled at the counter.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Payments for the 2025 Grand List Year can be made, beginning on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, the following ways:
Notice is hereby given to the taxpayers of the Town of Thomaston that the first installment of Real Estate, Personal Property and Motor Vehicle tax bills on the Grand List of October 1, 2025, are due and payable July 1, 2026.
The last day to pay these taxes to avoid penalty interest is August 3, 2026. Per State Statute 12-145, interest of 1.5% per month payable from the due date, with a minimum charge of $2.00, will be applied to all delinquent bills. The interest rate applies per month or fraction of each month until paid.
Pay in Person: Town Hall Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday 8:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Thursday Closed on Friday
Pay by Mail: Tax Collector 158 Main Street Thomaston, CT 06787 Please be advised of the USPS Postmark Rule Change CLICK HERE
Pay Online: Town of Thomaston WebsiteCLICK HERE We accept credit/debit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Paypal, Venmo, and EFT (processing fees apply).
Pay at Thomaston Savings Bank (TSB): Thomaston locations only: 203 Main Street or 508 South Main Steet TSB will only accept payment for the current bill during the collection month only. Please bring your original bill when paying at a TSB location.
The Dept. of Housing requires us to complete this report and post it to the Housing Authority's website or the Town's website. Please click below to view the report.
The Naugatuck Valley Corridor Economic Development District (NVC EDD), in partnership with the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG), has released the draft 2026-2031 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for public review and comment.
About this Strategy
The CEDS serves as the region’s economic development roadmap and identifies priorities, strategies, and implementation actions intended to strengthen the regional economy, support job growth, improve infrastructure and transportation systems, encourage workforce and housing initiatives, revitalize downtowns and industrial properties, and enhance long-term economic resilience.
How to Participate
The draft CEDS is available on the NVC EDD page of the NVCOG website for a 30-day public comment period beginning May 12, 2026 and ending June 11, 2026.
Members of the public, partner organizations, businesses, municipalities, and stakeholders are encouraged to review the document and submit comments, recommendations, or suggested revisions.
The Thomaston Police Department is seeking qualified POSTC Certified Police Officer candidates for vacant Full-Time and Part-Time Police Officer positions. Salary and benefits determined by Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in effect thru June 30, 2028. Lateral Transfers begin at Grade B and increase to Grade A after 2 years. Current Grade B Salary 7/1/26 thru 6/30/27 $80,028. Apply online at PoliceApp.com
Thomaston Police Department is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
The Town of Thomaston will be holding a public hearing to discuss the annual town budget for FY 2026-2027 on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at 6:30 PM in the Thomaston Center School auditorium, 1 Thomas Avenue, Thomaston, CT. Copies of the full text of the budget are available for inspection at the Office of the Town Clerk and town website www.thomastonct.gov
Website and email address change. Please update your browser bookmarks & Contact email addresses.
The Town of Thomaston will switch from its current “.org” web address to a domain ending in “.gov,” the most common practice of official government websites. The town’s use of a .org address was unusual among governments, and the change to .gov will bring a number of benefits in security and credibility.
There are several advantages to a .gov account:
Enhanced Security – .gov domains are reserved for verified government entities, reducing the risk of fraud and phishing attacks.
Greater Public Trust – Residents can be confident they are using an official town website for government resources and services.
Improved Searchability – .gov websites are prioritized in search engine results, making it easier for residents to find important information.
Stronger Email Security – Official town government email addresses will now use @thomastonct.gov, improving protection against phishing and spoofing.
The transition will take place on March 3, 2026, and the new address for the town’s home page will be thomastonct.gov. For a brief transition period, the old address will work, but residents should prepare for the deactivation of the old address.
Please update your browser bookmarks & Contact email addresses.
New Monthly Income Limits - Effective March 1, 2026
To view or print a larger copy of the image below, please click HERE or click the PDF document listed under resources on the right side of your screen.
Firstly, I would like to thank our amazing first responders, including our Public Works crew and those first responders from the surrounding towns that have been working all night to put the fire out and secure the site.
Thankfully, no one was injured.
There are no words to describe the feelings of sadness and loss that we are all feeling. We lost several businesses that make up the fabric of Thomaston and help to define Thomaston’s downtown. However, there is one that is the singular icon for our town and that’s Patti’s Place. This pain will take time to pass. Please send your prayers to Patty and Mike.
Please know that you will smell smoke in the area for some time. If smoke is an irritant for you, please avoid the area or stay inside.
Thank you to all those that have already rallied together to support our community. There will be more work to be done.
CWPM did not send trucks out yesterday, Monday, January 26th due to the amount of snowfall. They will begin picking up today (Tuesday) and do their best to have all the routes caught up to not be a day off. As they have asked us to do, we are alerting all residents that are serviced Tues- Friday know that they should be there on their normal day.
PLEASE BE ADVISED of the USPS POSTMARK RULE CHANGE and how it could affect the timely receipt of your tax payments.
According to the new rule, postmarks generally reflect the date that a mail piece is first processed by USPS automated sorting equipment, which could be one or more days after mailing.
For example, even if you drop your payment in a USPS mailbox on the last day to make a payment without interest, it will be considered late because the postmark will be applied one or more days later.
To avoid this delay in USPS postmarking, you are encouraged to go to the Post Office and request a hand canceled postmark at the counter.
The Thomaston Public Library is excited to share a community survey to gather your input about the Library itself as well as its programs, events, and offerings. Please fill it out so we can make 2026 and beyond even better!
There will be no trash/recycling collection on Thursday, November 27th (Thanksgiving Day). Collection will be one day off with Thursday's pick on Friday and Friday's pickup on Saturday.
Light Up Thomaston Celebration First Saturday after Thanksgiving (November 29th) 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (parade begins at 5:30 p.m.) It's a night of FREE family fun. Come join us.
THE REVALUATION IS NOW COMPLETED FOR OCTOBER 1, 2025. YOU WILL BE RECEIVING A NEW ASSESSMENT LETTER IN THE MAIL SHORTLY. PLEASE DO NOT CALCULATE YOUR ASSESSMENT BY THE CURRENT MILL RATE. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE REVALUATION PLEASE CLICK HERE
We’ve had lots of progress over the past month. Here are a few highlights of our progress.
Demographic Study
As a key part of the Feasibility, we hired a demographer (CropperGIS) to build a population model to forecast what our school population will be over the coming 10 years. The complete report can by found here. The most important findings are as follows.
The resident total fertility rate for Thomaston Public Schools over the life of the forecasts is below the replacement level. (1.18 vs. the replacement level of 2.1). This is a key finding that support our declining population of school aged children.
Most in-migration to the district will occur in the 0-4- and 22-39-year-old age groups.
The local 18-22-year-old population continues to leave the district, moving out to college. Another migration outflow is in the 75+ age groups, as empty-nester housing turnover continues to be a driver of migration flow.
The primary factor causing the district’s enrollment to decrease over the next 10 years is the low fertility not sufficiently supplanted by in-migration.
Changes in year-to-year enrollment over the next ten years will primarily be due to varying size of cohorts entering, moving through, and leaving the school system.
The median age of the district’s population will increase from 45.1 in 2020 to 45.7 in 2035.
The rate, magnitude, and price of existing homes will continue to be the major factor affecting the amount of population and enrollment change.
Total district enrollment is forecasted to decrease by 88 students, or -10.8%, between 2024-25 and 2029-30. Total enrollment is forecasted to then decrease by 52 students further, or -7.2%, from 2029-30 to 2034-35.
A more comprehensive synopsis of the analysis completed my DRA (our vendor guiding the overall study) can be found here.
Town Surveys
The project team created four surveys to gather feedback on the suitability of the current school infrastructure. The surveys were anonymous; answers cannot be traced back to the respondent. The survey was hosted by a third-party, not be the Town or Thomaston Public Schools. There was one survey for each type of stakeholder. They are as follows.
Teacher & Staff
Parent & Guardian
Students
Residents & Business
A comprehensive synopsis of the analysis completed my DRA is as follows.
Online surveys were conducted concurrently and engaged four different constituent groups. Surveys were geared towards Parents & Guardians, Teachers & Staff, Residents & Businesses, and Students in grades 3 through 12. Surveys were anonymous and restricted to one answer per URL. The open period for participating was September 12 to October 20, 2025; students could respond through October 22nd.
Response rates were very good, with 72 from teachers & staff, 129 from residents & businesses, 65 from parents & guardians, and 143 from students.
The respondents to the survey for parents showed 71% of the respondents have lived in Town for 11 or more years, with 35% having been in Town for more than 20 years.
For residents the result was 77% stating they have lived in Town for 11 or more years, with fully 70% having been in Town for more than 20 years.
This level of longevity indicates that responses will be based on knowledge and experience of the town over a considerable period of time.
Parents & Guardians reported having children in all grades except the transitional program. Distribution amongst grades ranged from 3% in Grade 3 to 10% in Grade 11.
Given the range of grades in Thomaston High School it is not surprising to see that 51% of parents and guardians report their student(s) attends the high school. Blackrock Elementary had 24% while Thomaston Center School at 22%, 1% responded as ‘Out of District’.
This distribution across the entire grade range provides insight into all aspects of the District’s facilities and programs.
Those attending out of District schools responded with Waterbury Arts Magnet (2), Lakeview High School (1), District 15 (2), and Oliver Wolcott Technical High School (2).
The Waterbury Arts, Wolcott Technical High School, and Lakeview High School each offer focused curriculums not offered in Thomaston as well as facilities oriented strongly toward teaching that particular subject matter.
Familiarity with the Thomaston Public Schools was 8.25 out of 10 for residents/businesses. This level of familiarity helps to bolster the validity of the other responses within the surveys.
Familiarity with the District’s facilities ranged from 7.4 to 8.17 out of 10 for parents/guardians and residents/businesses, respectively.
That said, the residents/businesses respondents feel the Thomaston Public School System ranks only at 5.08 out of 10 as an attraction for families or businesses to move into town. This is actually slightly higher than the response to how the District is perceived by residents and non-residents, which totaled 4.82 out of 10; this same question returned a 5.58 out of 10 when answered by parents/guardians.
The overall conclusion derived from the results is that the majority of respondents feel they know the buildings and grounds well and that the facilities do not reflect well on the Town or District.
Most teachers responded that the spaces in which they work support their efforts.
Students responded with less support for the condition of the facilities.
Looking to the future the direction should be to anticipate a shift in teaching modalities to one more computer based, to a curriculum that embraces evolving work paradigms, and to enhance the perception of the facilities and programs to those who live in town as well as prospective residents.
Community Workshop
We held our first community workshop on October 23rd. We had a great turnout. We greatly appreciate everyone that attended and took part in our workshop sessions. We have recap of the workshop herealong with the following key areas of interest.
REDUCE – Members of the three breakout sessions identified this as an area for additional discussion. (Noted in all three breakout sessions).
SHARE – Meeting participants asked for further exploration of shared services as a means to develop a more efficient District. (Noted in 2 of 3 breakout sessions).
REGIONALIZE – Members of the three breakout sessions identified regionalization as something that may have a great impact on the District. Some clarified that this impact may be both highly positive, as well as highly negative. (Noted in all three breakout sessions).
These areas of interest will be focused on as the team continues the study effort and prepares for Community Meeting 2 | Options and Alternatives.
During the workshop we review the Facilities Assessment & Master Plan that was completed in July of 2024. This report details all of the repairs that are required over the coming 20 years. This report is what prompted the need for the Feasibility Study. Several of the workshop attendees asked to review the Facilities Assessment & Master Plan. This document can be found at the link below.
The Central CT Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a Business After Hours Event at Clocktown Brewing Company on Thursday, September 25, 2025. Chamber Members can reserve a spot at the event by registering here.
The town is holding a series of summer events to celebrate their 150th anniversary, they recently worked with NVCOG to update their Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD), they completed their 3rd annual CMSC Main Street Management Assessment, AND they implemented their Main Street Accelerator project resulting from their 2024 Cohort team work.
Our next Spotlight on Main will include networking time, presentations from local officials and a guided walking tour. The event kicks off with networking at Clocktown Brewery, located in a section of the former Seth Thomas Clock Factory.
Thomaston Economic Development Commission will lead a presentation that provides insights on volunteer engagement, discuss what’s driving the positive change in downtown and some of the challenges they are up against.
Event Schedule
This event is rain or shine.
3:00 Networking & Check-In
3:30 Presentation from Thomaston EDC
4:00 Walking Tour of Downtown
5:00 Networking Reception
During our walking tour, we’ll see the branded elements that are helping to shape Thomaston’s unique sense of place. We’ll visit the Railroad Museum of New England and hear how partnering with regional businesses activated an underutilized rail line and created a destination. We’ll walk the future site of the Greenway connecting Watertown and Torrington and hear how the revitalized green space has brought together the community.
As always, our Spotlight is focused on highlighting best practices in downtown management. Join us on September 4th to hear how a dedicated EDC has leveraged CMSC resources to bring vibrancy to their downtown!
Waterbury, CT – The Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG) invites residents to participate in a series of public meetings on September 9, 10, and 11 to review designs for nine culvert and drainage projects across the region. NVCOG has been working with local governments in Ansonia, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Oxford, Seymour, Shelton, Thomaston, Waterbury, and Wolcott to design upgrades for failing culverts & drainage systems that cause flooding. These hybrid meetings will offer participation options for community members to attend in-person or virtually on Zoom. NVCOG will share the preliminary designs that have been developed based on site visits, hydrologic studies, and public input from meetings in December 2024.
These projects are part of the NVCOG’s efforts under the State Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s Climate Resilience Fund, which seeks to create a pipeline of shovel-ready projects eligible for federal implementation grants. Working with member municipalities, the NVCOG prioritized sites at risk of flooding as identified in the Multijurisdictional Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan.
The nine project sites include culverts and drainage areas across the region. NVCOG has worked with Luchs, a local engineering firm, to study these areas, design preliminary solutions, and identify federal funding sources for implementation. Additionally, NVCOG partnered with the environmental nonprofit Save the Sound to conduct aquatic organism passage assessments, ensuring that the improved road-stream crossings work for wildlife as well as people.
You can use the links below to open the Elm Street presentation and the two alternative plans that were presented at the recent informational meeting back on August 14th.
The Registrar's office will be open on Friday, August 22 from 2:30PM until 4:30PM for in-person registration of voters to be eligible to vote in the September 9 Republican Primary. This is also the cut-off date for mail-in registration by noon. Active Republican voters are eligible to vote early or on Primary Day. Early Voting as well as the Republican Primary will be held in the Senior Center on the first floor of Town Hall.
Early Voting Days and times are as follows:
Tuesday, 9/2 8AM until 8PM
Wednesday, 9/3 10AM until 6PM
Thursday , 9/4 8AM until 8PM
Friday, 9/5 10AM until 6PM
Saturday, 9/6 10AM until 6PM
Sunday, 9/7 10AM until 6PM
Republican Primary Day is Tuesday, September 9 6AM until 8PM
UPDATE: August 20, 2025: The Town Hall Clay Street entrance is now open.
Until further notice, the Town Hall Clay Street Entrance is closed for repairs.
The Town Hall Offices are open during regular business hours and can be accessed from either the Main Street entrance or the back parking lot entrance.
There will be NO trash/recycling pickup on Monday, May 26th in observance of Memorial Day. Trash/Recycling pickup will be one day off all week (i.e. Monday's collection will now be Tuesday and so on). Pickup will be Tuesday - Saturday.
Beginning on July 14, 2025, the Thomaston Town Hall will offer extended hours Monday through Thursday and be closed on Fridays. New Hours: Effective July 14, 2025:
DUE TO UNFORSEEN CIRCUMSTANCES, THERE WILL BE NO SENIOR MINIBUS SERVICE DURING THE WEEK OF MAY 12TH. BUS SERVICE WILL RESUME AS NORMAL WEEK OF MAY 19TH. SORRY FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE.
Please click on the link on the right side of the page to see the Warning of Annual Budget Meeting and Referendum, the Budget Presentation (REVISED) and the 2025-2026 Budget Information.
