The What: This Week in Southwest Connecticut

The What is your look around southwest Connecticut for the week of Monday, April 24.

The What: This Week in Southwest Connecticut
Shout out to all the amazing community members we met this week at Earth Day and at the Business Socialistas Networking Event! Welcome to Coastal Connecticut Times. (Photo by Kelly Prinz)

Monday, April 24

Happy Monday! Last week, we reported on proposed legislation to dissolve the Norwalk Transit District. This week, the Norwalk legislators who introduced the proposal said they were “putting it on hold” and would “keep an eye” on the district to see if it improved over the next year or so.

“After numerous conversations with representatives of the Norwalk Transit District, we will be putting a hold on our proposed legislation to dissolve the Norwalk Transit District and merge the services into the operations of the Connecticut Department of Transportation,” a joint statement from the legislators reads. “These discussions have resulted in a number of promised changes which we believe, if implemented, will result in better services for the residents who rely on our local public transportation.”

Learn more about the situation or go behind the scenes of the transit district with us.

This past weekend was Earth Day and we were so happy to be a part of Norwalk’s celebration. Check out our highlights from the day or see what else is happening around the region this week as Earth Month comes to a close.

We also explored the newest exhibition at The Norwalk Art Space, The Meaning of Us. Get an inside look at the exhibit, which runs from now until June 1.

Let’s see what else is happening around the region.

Stamford

The Board of Finance is hosting a special meeting on Wednesday, April 26 at 7 p.m. to discuss the school district’s long-term facilities plan and how the city will be paying for the school construction projects.

This week is also the last week of budget presentations and deliberations for the Board of Representatives’ Fiscal Committee, which will be meeting on Monday, April 24 at 5:30 p.m. and Wednesday, April 26 at 5:30 p.m. The budget will then go to the full Board of Representatives in early May for a final vote.

Other meetings this week include:

Norwalk

The city is beginning to host meetings across Norwalk to highlight proposed changes to the zoning amendments to get public feedback and thoughts.

“We will begin a series of meetings within each of Norwalk’s voting districts, in conjunction with the elected Common Council members for your districts,” a statement from the city reads. “We will also work through designated neighborhood groups on additional meetings.”

The first meeting will be this week, on Wednesday, April 26 at 6:30 p.m., is a Proposed Regulations Update: District D Meeting.

Other meetings this week include:

Fairfield

The Representative Town Meeting Legislation and Administration Committee will meet on Wednesday, April 26 at 7:30 p.m. to discuss two ordinances in the city—establishing a fair rent commission through ordinance and making amendments to the town’s noise ordinance.

Other meetings this week include:

Greenwich

The Board of Health will be meeting on Monday, April 24 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss gas-powered leaf blowers and whether or not they should be limited in the city. First Selectman Fred Camillo wrote in a statement that he would support limiting the use of them to the “shoulder seasons of the spring and fall.”

“I am a lifelong resident of our Town and I value the clean air and healthy way of life that Greenwich has always been known for,” Camillo said. “By restricting the use of gas-powered leaf blowers during the summer we will not only improve our air quality but give residents some much-needed relief from constant noise and pollutants.”

He also noted that he’s recently gotten rid of his own gas-powered leaf blower.

“[I] replaced it with an electric one because as a two-time cancer survivor myself I am more aware than ever of the environment we live in and what we can do to reduce the dangers that cause afflictions like cancer,” Camillo said.

On Friday, April 28, at 12 p.m., there will be a Stand Against Racism Event at the YWCA in Greenwich.

“We are proud to host this event and make clear that hate and bigotry have no place here in Greenwich,” Camillo wrote. “I will be delivering a proclamation and there will be remarks from Bobbi Riddick from the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness as well as the presentation of Racial and Gender Justice Scholarships.”

Other meetings this week include:

Darien

The town is looking for applications for people interested in serving on a Great Island Advisory Committee.

“Planning needs to start now for the work that must begin immediately after the acquisition closes in May,” a statement from the town reads. “This work will include, but is not limited to, widening access roads, establishing initial parking areas, determining property hours, and creating required signage. Also important will be remediation of certain environmental issues, management and control of existing improvements, and provision of sanitary facilities…The Board is establishing this committee now to ensure proper oversight of the immediate post-acquisition tasks.”

Other meetings this week include:

Westport

The town is hosting a Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Public Update Session on Thursday, April 27 at 7 p.m. The purpose of this meeting is to “update the public on progress on the Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Summary Report, as well as to allow additional discussion and input from residents about traffic and safety concerns they may have in their neighborhoods,” according to a statement from the town.

On Monday, April 24 at 7 p.m., the Planning and Zoning Commission will meet and have a pre-application discussion with representatives from BluePoint Wellness Westport LLC about potentially “converting their medical dispensary facility into a hybrid cannabis retail” location.

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