The What: This Week in Southwest Connecticut

Monday, May 8

Happy Monday! Welcome to all our new readers that we’ve met over the past few weeks at events across the region. We’re excited to keep meeting you and your friends at events throughout the summer.

We were at the celebration of trail progress in Norwalk, which highlighted recent additions and improvements made along the Norwalk River Valley Trail. Learn more about the newest parts of the trail.

This week, the Westport Representative Town Meeting voted to restore funding to the Westport Transit District, which supports the Wheels2U on-demand shuttle service that takes passengers to and from the train station and around town. The Westport Transit District contracts with the Norwalk Transit District for this service. Learn more about the decision to restore funding or go behind the scenes of the Norwalk Transit District.

Finally, May is mental health awareness month. Because of that, we wanted to re-up our series on mental health from last year which explored how the mental health crisis is affecting southwest Connecticut, how providers are working to address this issue, and how you can get involved in efforts to support mental health.

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

Stamford

There will be a special Board of Representatives Budget Meeting on Tuesday, May 9 at 8 p.m. where the board will vote on the operating and capital budgets for the upcoming year.  

Also this week, two boards—the Planning Board and the Board of Finance—will discuss and review plans for the new South School for kindergarten to eighth grade students. The Planning Board will meet on Tuesday, May 9 at 6:30 p.m. and the Board of Finance will meet on Thursday, May 11 at 7 p.m.

Other meetings this week include:

• Monday, May 8: Steering Committee at 7 p.m. | Zoning Board at 6:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, May 9: South End Neighborhood Revitalization Zone Initiative at 6:30 p.m.

Norwalk

The Common Council will meet on Tuesday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m. to vote on an agreement that would give a portion of 30 Monroe Street (the South Norwalk Train Station property) for the purpose of constructing a mixed-use development containing: commercial space; residential units; structured parking facility, with 60 spots dedicated for use by commuters of the South Norwalk Train Station; recreational area; and related improvements. Learn more about this proposed project and how it came to be in this article from NancyonNorwalk.

Other meetings this week include:

• Monday, May 8: Bike/Walk Commission at 6 p.m. | Commission on the Status of Women at 7 p.m.
• Tuesday, May 9: Conservation Commission/Inland Wetland Agency at 6 p.m.
• Wednesday, May 10: Ad Hoc Sustainability and Resilience Committee of the Common Council at 6 p.m. | Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs Committee of the Common Council at 7 p.m.
• Thursday, May 11: Finance and Claims Committee of the Common Council at 7 p.m. | Library Board of Directors at 7 p.m.

Fairfield

The Solid Waste & Recycling Commission will receive a status update on the town’s food waste program and on the glass pilot program at its meeting on Monday, May 8 at 7 p.m.

The Affordable Housing Committee will meet on Wednesday, May 10 at 7 p.m. and discuss next steps for the town’s affordable housing plan and receive an update on planned developments in the town.

Other meetings this week include:

• Monday, May 8: Board of Education Facilities Committee at 4 p.m. | Board of Health at 7:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, May 9: Water Pollution Control Authority at 4 p.m. | Fairfield Commission on disAbilities at 5 p.m. | Housing Authority at 6 p.m. | Town Plan & Zoning Commission 6:30 p.m. | Board of Education at 7:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, May 10: Police Commission at 4:30 p.m. | Inland Wetlands Agency Site Walk at 6 p.m. | Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority at 6:30 p.m. | Shellfish Commission at 7 p.m.
• Thursday, May 11: Fire Commission at 7 p.m. | Sustainable Fairfield Task Force at 7:15 p.m.

Greenwich

The Representative Town Meeting will vote on the proposed operating and capital budgets for the 2023-24 fiscal year at its meeting on Monday, May 8 at 7 p.m.

The town’s department of Public Works is hosting a Strickland Brook Drainage Area Public Meeting on Wednesday, May 10 at 5 p.m. to share an in-depth study and review of the Strickland Brook drainage area. Town officials said that “after exploring multiple alternatives, it is recommended that some residents living in the Strickland Brook drainage area implement nonstructural flood proofing methods to protect their property from flooding.” The purpose of this meeting is to review the study and provide residents with ways that they can implement these methods.

Other meetings this week include:

• Monday, May 8: Energy Management Advisory Committee at 4 p.m.
• Tuesday, May 9: Board of Estimate and Taxation Budget Committee at 1 p.m. | First Selectman's Diversity Advisory Committee at 12 p.m. | First Selectman’s Youth Commission Board at 7 p.m. | Planning & Zoning Commission at 4 p.m. | Shellfish Commission at 5:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, May 10: Operations Planning Committee at 11 a.m. | Planning and Zoning Board of Appeals Public Hearing at 7 p.m.
• Thursday, May 11: Board of Selectmen at 10 a.m. | Flood Erosion Control Board at 3 p.m.

Darien

The Representative Town Meeting will meet on Monday, May 8 at 8 p.m. to vote on the proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

On Thursday, May 11, the town will host a public meeting on the Darien Drainage Project at Salt Box Lane at 7 p.m. The town has completed a drainage study of the area including Seagate Road; Post Road, Salt Box Lane and surrounding areas. This meeting will include the results of the Salt Box Lane area drainage study.

Other meetings this week include:

• Monday, May 8: RTM–Public Health & Safety at 7 p.m. | Advisory Commission on Coastal Waters at 7:30 p.m. | RTM–Finance & Budget at 7:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, May 9: Monuments & Ceremonies Commission at 3:30 p.m. | Planning & Zoning Commission at 7:30 p.m. | Board of Education at 7:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, May 10: Operations Planning Committee at 8:30 a.m. | Advisory Committee on Sustainability at 12 p.m. | Blight Review Board at 5:30 p.m.
• Thursday, May 11: Human Services Commission at 8:30 a.m.

Westport

As a part of its budget approvals, the Westport Representative Town Meeting voted to restore funding to the Westport Transit District. Learn more about what this means for the community.

Other meetings this week include:

• Tuesday, May 9: Arts Advisory Committee at 12 p.m.
• Wednesday, May 10: Board of Selectwomen at 9 a.m. | WestPAC at 7 p.m.
• Thursday, May 11: Downtown Plan Implementation Committee at 8:30 a.m. | Civilian Review Panel at 10 a.m. | Public Site and Building Commission at 5 p.m. | Blight Prevention Board at 5:30 p.m.
  

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