The What: This Week in Southwest Connecticut

Monday, December 4

Happy Monday and happy first week of December! 

This is going to be the last newsletter of 2023. We’re going to take a few weeks to regroup and take some time away to be with our family and friends over the holidays. We have a couple of great projects in the works that we’re excited to share with you in 2024, including the next few stops in our All Aboard series.

But before we go, we wanted to wrap up the year with a few notable highlights: 

• We really increased our deep dive reporting this year, producing more than 25 pieces exploring everything from the impact of trees to air quality, from transit-related issues to affordable housing. See some of our best work from the year. 
• Because of that reporting, we’ve doubled our newsletter list to more than 200 subscribers over the past year. We’re going to be investing in some efforts to really grow our list next year, so please share with your friends!
• Our Instagram has seen incredible growth, with more than 770 people following us there—if you’re not already, be sure to check us out! Our video reporting, including on the Norwalk River Valley Trail and the Walk Bridge construction project has helped us gain a lot of visibility on that platform—and we repost a lot of things that are happening around southwest Connecticut. 
• Also, speaking of video, our TikTok channel has grown to 570 followers, and we’ve had a few hits including our reporting on I-95 construction that generated more than 34,000 views. 

Next year, we’re hoping to expand our deep dive, multimedia pieces and continue to invest in our social media efforts to grow our audience. We’d love to continue to hear from you so please feel free to reach out at coastalconnecticuttimes@gmail.com while we’re on a break and we’ll be back in your inbox on Tuesday, January 2.

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

Stamford

The Vision Zero Task Force will meet on Tuesday, December 5 at 9:30 a.m. and discuss the kick off for the city’s Vision Zero action plan. Learn more about the city’s Vision Zero efforts.

Also, on Tuesday, December 5 at 6:30 p.m., the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board will review multiple applications from organizations looking for funding from the trust to support affordable housing, including $12,500 for Neighborhood Housing Services Application for 11-15 Woodland Ave; and $750,000 for Charter Oak Communities Application for Oak Park Phase I.

Other meetings this week include:

• Monday, December 4: Board of Representatives at 8 p.m. | Harbor Management Commission Application Review Committee at 5:30 p.m. | Police Commission at 5 p.m. 

Norwalk

The Planning and Zoning Commission will host two public hearings—one on Tuesday, December 5 and one on Wednesday, December 6, both at 6 p.m. on the proposed rezoning of the entire city. Learn more about the hearings and how you can participate. 

The Land Use & Building Management Committee of the Common Council will meet on Wednesday, December 6 at 6 p.m. and vote on applying for a $1.2 million grant for the Norwalk Community Recreation Center project at 98 South Main Street. Learn more about the history of that site.

Other meetings this week include: 

• Monday, December 4: Bike / Walk Commission at 6 p.m. | Board of Estimate and Taxation at 6:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, December 5: Public Works Committee of the Common Council at 7 p.m.
• Wednesday, December 6: Fair Rent Commission at 7:30 p.m. 
• Thursday, December 7: Five Mile River Commission at 6 p.m. | Economic and Community Development Committee of the Common Council at 7 p.m. | Shellfish Commission at 7:15 p.m. 

Fairfield

The Board of Selectmen will meet on Monday, December 4 at 4 p.m. and will vote on a $190,000 grant from the Fairfield Police Department over two years to expand the Police Crisis in Teams (CIT) Behavioral Health Programs. The funding will go toward “proper resources, staffing, training, and equipment to meet the ever-increasing demands for behavioral health services, and to navigate cultural, financial, and communicative barriers that under-served communities face when attempting to access behavioral health services.” 

The Board of Education will meet on Thursday, December 7 at 7:30 p.m. for a discussion of facilities, finances, and programs.

Other meetings this week include:

• Monday, December 4: Fairfield Cares Community at 8:30 a.m. | Board of Library Trustees at 7 p.m. 
• Tuesday, December 5: Board of Finance at 7:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, December 6: Board of Education at 7:30 p.m. | Inland Wetlands Agency at 7 p.m.
• Thursday, December 7: Economic Development Commission at 8:30 a.m. | Greater Bridgeport Regional Solid Waste Interlocal Committee at 9 a.m. | Greater Bridgeport Regional Recycling Interlocal Committee at 10 a.m. | Zoning Board of Appeals at 3 p.m.
• Friday, December 8: HVAC Building Committee at 9:15 a.m. 

Greenwich

Two committees of the Representative Town Meeting—Legislative & Rules Committee and the Public Works Committee—will be meeting, both on Monday, December 4 at 7:30 p.m. to review an agreement between Greenwich and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection for funding for the planning and design of the Greenwich-Stamford multi-use path.

Other meetings this week include:

• Monday, December 4: Harbor Management Mooring Committee at 5 p.m. | Education Committee at 7:30 p.m. | Finance Committee at 7:30 p.m. | Land Use Committee at 7:45 p.m.
• Tuesday, December 5: Board of Estimate Budget Committee at 1 p.m. | Central Middle School Building Committee at 8 a.m. | Old Greenwich School Building Committee at 7 a.m. | Health & Human Services Committee at 7:30 p.m. | Parks & Recreation Committee at 7:30 p.m. | Transportation Committee at 7:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, December 6: Board of Parks and Recreation at 6:30 p.m.
• Thursday, December 7: Conservation Commission at 7 p.m. | Sustainability Committee at 11 a.m.

Darien

Three committees of the Representative Town Meeting will be discussing and approving the almost $800,000 purchase of a traffic circle that would allow more access to Great Island. The RTM Park and Recreation Committee will review at its meeting on Tuesday, December 5 at 7:30 p.m.; RTM Finance and Budget will review at its meeting on Wednesday, December 6 at 7:30 p.m.; and RTM Planning, Zoning, and Housing Committee will review at its meeting on Thursday, December 7 at 7:30 p.m.

Other meetings this week include:

• Tuesday, December 5: Sewer Commission at 4:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, December 6: Planning and Zoning Commission at 4 p.m. | Environmental Protection Commission at 7 p.m. |  Joint RTM Public Health and Safety and RTM Town Government Structure & Administration at 7:30 p.m. | RTM Public Works at 7:30 p.m.
• Thursday, December 7: Five Mile River Commission at 6 p.m.

Westport

There will be a Board of Education meeting on Thursday, December 7 at 7 p.m. featuring  preliminary budget discussions with the Board of Finance, RTM Education chair, and Finance Committee chair.

Other meetings this week include:

• Monday, December 4: Planning & Zoning Commission at 7 p.m.
• Tuesday, December 5: Representative Town Meeting at 7:30 p.m. 
• Wednesday, December 6: Shellfish Commission at 6:30 p.m. | Board of Finance at 7:30 p.m. |  Flood & Erosion Control Board at 7:30 p.m.
• Thursday, December 7: Greater Bridgeport Regional Solid Waste Interlocal Committee at 9 a.m. | Greater Bridgeport Regional Recycling Interlocal Committee at 10 a.m.
• Thursday, December 7: TEAM Westport at 10 a.m. | Youth Commission at 7:15 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 and see you in 2024!

Kelly Prinz

Founder, Reporter at Coastal Connecticut Times