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The What

The What: This Week in Southwest Connecticut

The What is your look around southwest Connecticut for the week of January 8.

The What: This Week in Southwest Connecticut
The beach looks a little different this week after the weekend's storm dropped a few inches on the region. (Photo by Kelly Prinz)

Monday, January 8

Happy Monday! Hope everyone enjoyed our first snowstorm of the season—and made it through safely. 

This week, in partnership with local news outlet NancyonNorwalk, we highlighted nearly $180 million in investments that the South Norwalk area has gotten since 2017. 

Much of that funding falls under two big ticket items:

  • The new South Norwalk Elementary School project, which, including the cost of the school and the associated infrastructure improvements in the area, is estimated at about $86 to $90 million
  • The redevelopment of Meadow Gardens, a 54-unit low income development owned by the Norwalk Housing Authority for $41 million

Jess Vonashek, the city’s director of economic and community development. highlighted the other investments made in the area for the Council’s Economic and Community Development Committee on January 4, which she said showed the variety of ways the city is investing in this area.

“It’s so exciting to build a deck like this that shows all of these investments and how they’re all working together,” she said.

Council member Darlene Young, who represents District B which includes South Norwalk, said that this type of investment is needed. 

“South Norwalk has been divested from for quite some time and we’re at a point where we’re making changes,” she said. “My belief is we’re making these changes now—the folks that have grown up here, they should be able to benefit from the changes that are happening now.” 

Learn more about the highlights for the South Norwalk region. 

ICYMI: Last week, we added our piece to the All Aboard series—a look in and around the Stamford Train Station. Check out that piece if you haven’t or watch our video.

Let’s see what else is happening this week. 

Stamford

The Board of Finance will meet on Thursday, January 11 at 7 p.m. and review a request for using $1.8 million in state grants to conduct roadway safety and infrastructure upgrades on Burdick Street, Upland Road, and Belltown Road. These include new sidewalks, new drainage services, new crosswalks, traffic calming measures, and upgraded lighting. The board will also review appropriating $2 million for paving-related items across the city including milling, overlay, reconstruction, associated fixes to public streets and associated subsurface replacements for drainage system. Learn more about why paving is such an important task for local governments. 

Other meetings this week include: 

Norwalk

On Tuesday, January 9, the Common Council will meet at 7:30 p.m. and vote on an agreement with the YMCA to gain access to funding for improvements to the community center at 98 South Main Street as well as funding a new South Norwalk Community Plan. 

Other meetings this week include: 

Fairfield

The Board of Education will meet on Tuesday, January 9 at 7 p.m. and hear a presentation of the Superintendent’s proposed 2024-2025 operating budget.

Also on Tuesday, January 9, the Board of Finance at 7:30 p.m. will review a request to spend an additional $1.4 million for the Penfield Pavilion project. Learn more about the history of the project. 

Other meetings this week include: 

Greenwich

On Thursday, January 11, the Board of Selectmen will meet at 10 a.m. and discuss a few items including: 

  • Considering a new noise ordinance for the community that would then go before the Representative Town Meeting 
  • Discussing new fees for the Department of Public Works

Other meetings this week include: 

  • Monday, January 8: Energy Management Advisory Committee at 3 p.m.  | FS Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities at 9:15 a.m. | RTM Committees: Education Committee at 7:30 p.m.; Finance Committee at 7:30 p.m.; Legislative & Rules Committee at 7:30 p.m.; Public Works Committee at 7:30 p.m.; Land Use Committee at 7:45 p.m.
  • Tuesday, January 9: Central Middle School Building Committee at 8 a.m. | Old Greenwich School Building Committee at 7 a.m. | Planning & Zoning Commission at 4 p.m. | RTM Committees: Health & Human Services Committee at 7:30 p.m.;  Parks & Recreation Committee at 7:30 p.m.; Town Services Committee at 7:30 p.m.; Transportation Committee at 7:30 p.m.

Darien

On Tuesday, January 9, the Board of Education will meet at 7 p.m. and have a follow-up discussion on the 2024-2025 proposed Board of Education budget; as well as hear an update on scientifically research-based interventions used in the district to provide extra support to students.

The RTM Education Committee will meet on Monday, January 8 at 7:30 p.m. and also discuss budgets—the superintendent’s 2024-2025 operating and capital budgets.

Westport

The RTM Long Range Planning Committee will discuss how climate change could affect Westport and its plans for the future at its meeting on Thursday, January 11 at 7:30 p.m. 

The Flood & Erosion Control Board will meet on Wednesday, January 10 at 7:30 p.m. and discuss some of its goals for this year, including: 

  • To develop and implement an education campaign to help inform the public about flood and erosion issues in Westport
  • To develop and implement a plan to educate the community on ways to help mitigate the impact of flooding and erosion on private and public properties
  • To advocate for supporting the town mitigation efforts by sharing the Board’s perspective with the Board of Finance, state legislative leaders, and DEEP officials. 

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

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