The What: Governor’s Budget Impacts in SW CT; Storm Effects; Budget Season Heats Up; and more

Monday, February 9

Happy Monday! I hope you all are staying safe and warm with these crazy cold temperatures. And I hope you all enjoyed the Super Bowl! One note, next week’s newsletter will be coming on Tuesday with the President’s Day newsletter, but before we get to next week, let’s see what’s going on this week.  

Highlights 

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

• This past week Governor Ned Lamont gave his State of the State address to kick off the legislative session. We’re exploring some of the proposals that could affect our region. 
• It’s a busy week in Norwalk for the budget, with the Board of Estimate & Taxation and City Council receiving presentations, while the Finance & Claims Committee is hosting a public hearing.
• The Stamford Board of Finance will vote on authorizing funding for Westhill High School. Learn more about school construction happening in Stamford and around the region.

Spotlight

This section features our main reporting each week.

Now that the 2026 legislative session has officially started and Governor Ned Lamont has delivered his State of the State address, we wanted to highlight some of the ideas, proposals, and actions that could affect southwest Connecticut. 

These include: 

• Additional funding for schools particularly free breakfast
• Banning phones in schools
• A continued push for transit-oriented development
• Limited funding for transit.

Learn more about how each of these could affect southwest Connecticut.

We’ve covered many of these topics as well. Check out our All Aboard series to learn more about transit-oriented development and transit in our region. 

This Week at a Glance

This section aims to highlight the most important meetings and news taking place each week.

• In Bridgeport, the Board of Education will meet on Monday, February 9 at 6:30 p.m. and discuss and potentially vote on the budget. 
• In Stamford, the Board of Finance will meet on Thursday, February 12 at 7 p.m. and will vote on authorizing funding for Westhill High School, as well as providing additional funding for snow removal efforts. 
• In Norwalk, it’s all about the budget this week. The city will present its proposed budget to the Board of Estimate & Taxation on Monday, February 9 at 6:30 p.m. followed by the City Council on Tuesday, February 10 at 6:30 p.m. while the Finance & Claims Committee is hosting a public hearing on the proposed budget on Thursday, February 12 at 6:30 p.m.
• Also in Norwalk, the Bike/Walk Commission is meeting on Monday, February 9 at 6 p.m. and will be discussing sidewalk snow removal and winter walking safety.
• In Darien, there are three budget review meetings for the Board of Selectmen: one on Monday, February 9 at 7 p.m.; on Tuesday, February 10 at 7 p.m.; and on Wednesday, February 11 at 7 p.m.
• In Westport, the Board of Finance will continue reviewing the budget at its meeting on Monday, February 9 at 6 p.m.

Plan Your Week

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

Bridgeport

• Monday, February 9: Board of Education at 6:30 p.m. | Budget and Appropriations Committee at 6 p.m. 
• Wednesday, February 11: Education & Social Services Committee at 6 p.m.

Stamford

• Monday, February 9: Steering Committee at 7 p.m. | Zoning Board at 6:30 p.m. 
• Tuesday, February 10: Planning Board at 6:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, February 11: Board of Representatives at 6:30 p.m. 
• Thursday, February 12: Board of Finance at 7 p.m. 

Norwalk

• Monday, February 9: Bike/Walk Commission at 6 p.m. | Board of Estimate & Taxation at 6:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, February 10: Conservation Commission at 6 p.m. | Special Meeting of the City Council at 6:30 p.m. | City Council at 7:30 p.m. 
• Wednesday, February 11: Ad Hoc Sustainability and Resilience Committee at 6 p.m. | Planning and Zoning Commission at 6 p.m. | Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs at 7 p.m. | Finance Committee of the Board of Education at 6 p.m. 
• Thursday, February 12: Finance & Claims Public Hearing on the 2026/2027 Operating Budget at 6:30 p.m. | Finance & Claims Committee at 7 p.m. | Library Board of Directors at 7 p.m.

Fairfield

• Monday, February 9: Library Board of Trustees at 7 p.m. | Solid Waste and Recycling Commission at 7 p.m. | Board of Health at 7:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, February 10: Dwight School Building Committee at 2 p.m. | Board of Education Special at 5 p.m. | Town Plan and Zoning Commission at 6:30 p.m. | Board of Education at 7 p.m.
• Wednesday, February 11: Fairfield County Regional Dispatch Center at 1 p.m. | Police Commission at 4:30 p.m. | Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority at 6:30 p.m. | Affordable Housing Committee at 7 p.m. | Shellfish Commission at 7 p.m.
• Thursday, February 12: Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee at 6:30 p.m. | Fair Rent Commission at 7 p.m.

Greenwich

• Monday, February 9: Energy Management Advisory Committee at 3 p.m. 
• Tuesday, February 10: Board of Selectmen Special Meeting at 2 p.m. | FS Diversity Advisory Committee at 12 p.m. | FS Operations Planning Committee at 11:30 a.m. | Shellfish Commission at 5:30 p.m. 
• Thursday, February 12: Board of Selectmen at 10:30 a.m. 

Darien

• Monday, February 9: Board of Selectmen & Budget Review at 7 p.m. | RTM Rules Committee at 7:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, February 10: Monuments & Ceremonies Commission at 3:30 p.m. | Housing Authority - Special Meeting at 6:30 p.m. | Board of Selectmen Budget Review at 7 p.m. | Board of Finance at 7:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, February 11: Beautification Commission at 9 a.m. | Advisory Committee on Sustainability at 12:15 p.m. | Blight Review Board at 5:30 p.m. | Board of Selectmen Budget Review at 7 p.m. | RTM - Finance and Budget at 7:30 p.m. | Zoning Board of Appeals at 7:30 p.m.
• Thursday, February 12: Police Commission Special Meeting at 4 p.m. | RTM Planning, Zoning & Housing Committee at 7 p.m. | RTM Public Works at 7:30 p.m. | RTM TGS&A at 7:30 p.m. 

Westport

• Monday, February 9: Commission for Senior Services at 10 a.m. | Planning and Zoning Commission at 6 p.m. | Board of Finance Budget Meeting at 6 p.m. 
• Tuesday, February 10: Maintenance Study Committee at 8 a.m. | Westport Arts Advisory Committee at 12 p.m. | Long Lots School Building Committee at 6 p.m.
• Wednesday, February 11: Board of Selectmen at 9 a.m. | WestPAC at 12 p.m. | Conservation Commission at 7 p.m. 
• Thursday, February 12: Downtown Planning Implementation Committee at 8:30 a.m. 

Stay in touch!

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

• Sharing this weekly newsletter with a friend!
• Following us on YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok.
• Sharing our site with your friends, family, coworkers, and more.
• Reaching out to say hi or send in story tips at coastalconnecticuttimes@gmail.com.

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