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The What

The What: Back to School, Superintendent Search in Bridgeport, Speed Camera Update in Fairfield, and more

The What is your look around southwest Connecticut for the week of August 24.

The What: Back to School, Superintendent Search in Bridgeport, Speed Camera Update in Fairfield, and more
I'm clinging to the fact that there's still summer for a few more weeks, but with back to school here, it feels like fall is arriving too. (Photo by Kelly Prinz)

Monday, August 24

Happy Monday! We, like a lot of families, enjoyed the last “unofficial” week of summer—there’s still a few more weeks on the calendar though!—and so this newsletter is a little light. Hope everyone has a great back to school this week and we’ll have a look at school construction across the region next week so stay tuned. Here’s a look at what’s happening around the region this week.

Highlights 

This section gives a brief overview of the key items in the newsletter.

  • Speed cameras are launching in September in Stamford and this week, the Fairfield Representative Town Meeting will vote on a resolution to confirm its use of speed cameras. Explore our deep dive on this topic or check out our video. 
  • The Bridgeport Board of Education is officially launching its superintendent search and planning to have a “stakeholder engagement week,” starting on August 31 to help lay out the goals for the position. 
  • The Greenwich Board of Selectmen is reviewing a request to prohibit parking along part of East Putnam Avenue in Cos Cob and to increase the fees for parking permits in town. 

Spotlight

This section features our main reporting each week.

We wanted to use this space this week to highlight a few of our recent pieces, many of which are still in the news. 

Speed Cameras

As mentioned above, Stamford is launching its speed camera program in school zones this fall, while Fairfield—which has faced a lot of backlash for its program—is looking for the Representative Town Meeting to reaffirm the program. Explore our piece examining why towns are turning to speed cameras and what the concerns are. You can also check out our video.

Manresa Wilds

Turning a decommissioned power plant into a public park and event space could be transformational for Norwalk—and the region as whole—but the proposed plans have received some pushback in front of the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission. The hearing was continued once again until Sept. 2. Explore what could happen at Manresa Island and why some residents say it’s too much for the area. You can also watch our video. 

Transit-Oriented Development

Across the region, new developments are under construction around many of our train stations. A new report from the Regional Plan Association identified 19 areas around the state (including 6 in our area) as “near-term” opportunities to create transit-oriented communities as Connecticut continues to develop new strategies to address its housing challenges. See what this could mean for your community or watch our video. 

This Week at a Glance

This section includes a list of meetings, events, and programming happening around southwest Connecticut each week.

Bridgeport

Featured Meeting: The Board of Education will meet on Monday, August 24 at 6:30 p.m. and hear an update on its progress related to the state’s intervention in the district. The board also officially launched its superintendent search and plans to have a “stakeholder engagement week,” starting on August 31 to help lay out the goals for the position. 

Stamford

Featured Meetings: The Legislative & Rules Committee will meet on Tuesday, August 25 at 7 p.m. and hold public hearings on ordinances that would change how people are appointed to local boards and commissions. The first is on an ordinance to repeal the city’s Appointments Commission and the second is one that would establish reporting requirements from the mayor’s office about applicants and appointees to boards and commission. Also on Tuesday, August 25, the Board of Education will meet on Tuesday, August 25 at 7 p.m. and vote on appointing a new chief financial officer. 

Norwalk

Featured Meeting: The Housing Authority will meet on Monday, August 24 at 5:30 p.m. and discuss and potentially vote on selecting an architect for the Leroy Downs, senior housing complex at 26 Monroe Street.

  • Monday, August 24: Housing Authority at 5:30 p.m. 
  • Tuesday, August 25: Zoning Citation Hearings at 3 p.m. | Conservation Commission at 6 p.m. | Urban Forestry Commission at 6 p.m.
  • Wednesday, August 26: Harbor Management Commission at 6 p.m. | Parking Authority at 6 p.m.
  • Thursday, August 27: Public Safety and General Government Committee at 7 p.m.

Fairfield

Featured Meetings: The Representative Town Meeting will meet on Monday, August 24 at 8 p.m. to discuss and potentially vote on two resolutions involving speed cameras. The first is to reaffirm the speed camera program program and the second is to form a committee related to oversight of the program. On Tuesday, August 25, the Board of Education will meet at 7 p.m. and hear an update on the district’s cell phone ban and its technology plan. 

Greenwich

Featured Meeting: The Board of Selectmen will meet on Thursday, August 27 at 10:30 a.m. to review a request to prohibit parking along part of East Putnam Avenue in Cos Cob and to vote on increasing the fees for parking permits in town. 

Darien

 Featured Meeting: The Board of Education will meet on Tuesday, August 25 at 7:30 p.m. and hear a summer recap presentation on topics like curriculum and instruction and enrollment.

  • Tuesday, August 25: Board of Education at 7:30 p.m.
  • Thursday, August 27: Great Island Parking Design Committee at 4 p.m. | Police Commission at 4 p.m. | Advisory Sidewalk Committee at 7 p.m.

Westport

Featured Meeting: No featured meeting this week.

Stay in touch!

As we continue to grow and evolve, please join us! You can do that by:

Please note: All of these agendas and information here are current as of Sunday night. Meeting times and agendas may get adjusted throughout the week.

Have a great week,

Kelly Prinz

Founder, Reporter at Coastal Connecticut Times

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