Bernie Dennler

Social Services When the police relocation is complete, I plan to utilize funds generously donated by the Estate of Stephen Bendas to the Colchester Food Bank to build out a new food pantry at Town Hall in that space. This would give expanded space for the food bank and provide more privacy for social services clients with a dedicated side entrance. Infrastructure / Transportation Construction on the Lebanon Ave airline trail improvements and sidewalk upgrades to Mill Street is expected to occur in 2026, funded by grants that I secured this year. Infrastructure / Transportation The Board of Selectmen is currently awaiting a plan set from our engineers that would renovate this building to have an upgraded veteran’s hall for use by the American Legion and VFW - and for Colchester Police to relocate from their crammed space in Town Hall. Infrastructure / Transportation This project is expected to be fully funded with ARPA and other on-hand funds, giving an updated, safer Youth Center for Colchester students at no cost to taxpayers. Infrastructure / Transportation Renovation of the fields at Bacon Academy and replacement of tennis courts and pickleball courts at the Recreation Complex. A building committee and project scope was approved in January 2025 based on the findings of the 2024 Recreation Needs Committee. A project referendum is anticipated for late 2025. Infrastructure / Transportation I am also working on a number of other grant applications and opportunities to improve the sidewalk network. In my next term, I aim to secure funding to create an ADA-accessible route from schools to the downtown on Norwich Ave by replacing sections in disrepair and filling gaps in the existing network. Infrastructure / Transportation Construction on Norton Park is underway now. Thanks to new grants from DEEP and DECD, this project will be completed at no cost to taxpayers. Legislation In 2027, Colchester will be due for its 10-year revision to the Town Charter. If re-elected, I will work with the Board of Selectmen to form a bipartisan Charter Revision Commission in early 2026 to develop common sense solutions to strengthen the Charter and avoid some of the chaos and instability we saw in recent years.