The What: This Week in Southwest Connecticut

The What is your look around southwest Connecticut for the week of February 21.

The What: This Week in Southwest Connecticut
Is it just us or is February flying by? (Photo by Kelly Prinz)

Tuesday, February 21

Happy Tuesday! We’ve covered a lot of traffic issues that have been impacting our region, and today we decided to go behind the scenes with a local traffic official in Norwalk to learn more about how signals, signs, and roadways are managed. Meet Amy Taber, Norwalk’s traffic maintenance supervisor.

Taber has recently been recognized for her work nationally. She was invited by the International Municipal Signal Association (IMSA) to be a part of a team that creates the curriculum for their training programs.  

Amy Taber, the traffic maintenance supervisor in Norwalk (Photo by Kelly Prinz)

“To really have our peers recognize the work that is being done, and particularly recognize Amy’s leadership as a supervisor in the traffic world was a huge compliment to her work, and a huge compliment to the city in general,” Jim Travers, the head of the city’s Transportation, Mobility, and Parking department said.

He also said that Taber is one of few women working in this type of role as well.

“I’ve been doing this for a long time, and I don’t know of any other women in this field in Connecticut,” Travers said.

Learn more.

A look inside the new exhibit at The Norwalk Art Space. (Photo by Kelly Prinz)

This past week was also the unveiling of a new exhibit at The Norwalk Art Space. Alternative Realities, curated by Norwalk artist Susan Hardesty and featuring the work of 15 artists all from the region, aims to showcase different people’s stories, visions, and realities.

“The 15 artists selected have imagined, invented, and created their reality, an alternative reality to ours,” Hardesty wrote, describing her exhibit.

Learn more.

Let’s see what else is happening this week.

Stamford

The Board of Education is hosting a special meeting on Thursday, February 23 at 7 p.m. to hear public comment on the proposed 2023-24 budget and then vote on advancing it to the Board of Finance. The proposed budget includes $313.8 million to be raised in tax revenue and $51.6 million to come from state and federal grants.

Learn more about the budget process.

This past week, the platform between tracks 3 and 5 officially closed for the next few months for rehabilitation and upgrades to the elevators and escalators. The platform will be closed until mid-May and has slightly altered the train schedule at the station, with certain trains not stopping at Stamford for the next few months. The overall project aims to upgrade five elevators and 17 escalators at the station for safety and performance reasons.  

  • On the New Haven line, heading toward New York: Train 1431, which departs South Norwalk around 7:46 a.m. and arrives in Grand Central at 9:02 a.m. will not stop in Stamford. Train 1539, which departs in New Haven at 7:55 a.m. and arrives in Grand Central  will also not stop in Stamford.
  • On the Danbury line, heading toward New York: Train 1811, which leaves Danbury at 5:26 a.m. and arrives in Grand Central at 7:34 a.m., and Train 1837, which leaves Danbury at 7:28 a.m. and arrive in Grand Central at 9:40 a.m., will not stop in Stamford.
  • On the New Haven line, heading toward New Haven: Train 1306, which leaves Grand Central at 5:56 a.m.; Train 1308, which leaves Grand Central at 6:36 a.m.; and Train 1310, which leaves Grand Central at 7:41 a.m., will all stop in Greenwich and not continue on to Stamford. Train 1548, which leaves Grand Central at 4:42 p.m., will not stop in Stamford, and will make its first stop in Bridgeport. Train 1470, which leaves Grand Central at 6:12 p.m., will pass Stamford and make its first stop in South Norwalk.
  • Four trains bound for Danbury will not stop in Stamford—Train 1812, which leaves Grand Central at 8:02 a.m.; Train 1838, which leaves Grand Central at 3:04 p.m.; Train 1848, which leaves Grand Central at 5:07 p.m.; and Train 1868, which leaves Grand Central at 6:17 p.m.

Here’s a look at the full new schedule.

Other meetings this week include:

Norwalk

The Finance and Claims Committee of the Common Council will hold a public hearing and special meeting on Thursday, February 23 at 6:30 p.m. Residents can weigh in on the proposed 2023-24 operating budget, before the committee votes to recommend a budget cap to the full council. The proposed operating budget is $424.4 million, of which $197.8 million covers city expenses and $226.6 million would go toward the Board of Education

Learn more about the budget process.

Other meetings this week include:

Fairfield

First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick will present her budget at the Board of Selectmen Public Hearing 1 on Wednesday, February 22 at 10 a.m. The board will also hold another review/public hearing on the proposed budget on Friday, February 24 at 11 a.m.

On Thursday, February 23, there will be a Town Hall Meeting on Penfield Pavilion at 6 p.m. at the Fairfield Ludlowe High School Auditorium. The meeting will include officials from the town, as well as representatives from FEMA and Congressman Himes' office. The pavilion was rebuilt after Hurricane Sandy knocked it down, but it was rebuilt not in compliance with FEMA standards. The department issued notices of violations against the structure. Unless those are resolved, both residents and the Town itself, who have insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program, are at risk of losing the discounted rate. It would jeopardize federal funding opportunities for the town. The violations occurred under the previous town administration, and Kupchick has said that she and her administration are “committed to resolving the Notices of Violations with all the regulatory agencies.”

“It is incredibly frustrating that the actions of a few individuals in the prior administration are costing the Town tens of millions of taxpayer dollars,” Kupchick wrote in a statement.

The meeting aims to give residents a chance to ask questions about the process and how the town can resolve this issue.

Other meetings this week include:

Greenwich

On Wednesday, February 22 at 4 p.m., the Planning & Zoning Commission will hear from Desegregate CT, a regional advocacy group that aims to support affordable housing and development in the state, on a state-level proposal the group is backing called “Work Live Ride.” The proposal aims “to assist the State and local municipalities in building more homes near their public transportation.”

Other meetings this week include:

Darien

There are just two meetings in Darien this week, both on Tuesday, February 21. The Darien Police Commission will meet at 4 p.m. and the Invasives Remediation Working Group of the Darien Parks and Recreation Commission will meet at 7 p.m.

Westport

The Representative Town Meeting Transit Committee will meet on Wednesday, February 22 at 6 p.m. to discuss the proposed budgets for the Westport Transit District and railroad parking plan for fiscal year 2023- 24. The committee will also discuss next steps for the Town's recently released traffic and safety report.

Other meetings this week include:

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.

Thank you for reading!

If you are interested in being a part of our reporting or just want to share your thoughts, please reach out at coastalconnecticuttimes@gmail.com.

Have a great week,

Kelly Prinz

Founder, Reporter at Coastal Connecticut Times