The What: This Week in Southwest Connecticut

Monday, March 4

Hope you all had a great first few days of March. Budget season is in full swing across southwest Connecticut and we’ll have a more in-depth look at budgets across the region for you next week, but check out the meetings happening in each community this week to see how you can get involved in the budget process.

Also this week, there will be some updates to some of our recently reported pieces:

• The Stamford Board of Representatives will meet on Monday, March 4 at 8 p.m. and give the final vote of approval that allows the city to accept a microtransit grant from the state. See how microtransit, a newer form of public transit, is expanding across southwest Connecticut. 
• The Norwalk Arts and Culture Commission will meet on Tuesday, March 5 at 6 p.m. and vote on what should happen with “The Vines” sculpture. Learn more about the history of the piece. 
• The Norwalk Planning and Zoning Commission will continue its public hearing on Phase 1 of the North Seven project on Wednesday, March 6 at 6 p.m. Learn more about this project and a part of larger plans for the region around the Merritt 7 train station.
• The Westport Board of Finance will meet on Wednesday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m. and vote on allocating $186,590 for a comprehensive beach resiliency study. Learn more about the work communities around southwest Connecticut are doing around resiliency. 

And ICYMI last week, we tried a slightly new format for some video reporting as we took you on the ground to the area around the Merritt 7 train station. Let us know your thoughts!

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

Stamford

On Wednesday, March 6 at 7 p.m., Mayor Caroline Simmons will present her proposed 2024-2025 budget at a Joint Board of Finance/Board of Representatives Fiscal Committee meeting. 

The Planning Board will review a request on Monday, March 4 at 8:45 a.m. from the administration to spend $500,000 for a needs assessment study to look into building a new public safety complex at 805 Bedford Street, a city-owned property. 

Other meetings this week include: 

• Monday, March 4: Board of Representatives at 8 p.m. | Police Commission at 5 p.m.| Zoning Board at 6:30 p.m. 
• Tuesday, March 5: Board of Education Workshop at 6:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 6: Parks and Recreation Commission at 7 p.m.

Norwalk

The Common Council will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, March 5 at 7:30 p.m. to set the cap for the 2024-2025 budget. 

On Wednesday, March 6, the Planning and Zoning Commission will continue its public hearing on Phase 1 of the North Seven project at 6 p.m. Learn more about the area around the Merritt 7 train station, which the North Seven development is a part of, or see what the plans look like for Phase 1. 

Other meetings this week include: 

• Monday, March 4: Board of Estimate and Taxation at 5:30 p.m. | Bike/Walk Commission at 6 p.m.
• Tuesday, March 5: Arts and Culture Commission at 6 p.m. | Public Works Committee of the Common Council Special Meeting at 6 p.m. | Board of Education Workshop at 7 p.m 
• Wednesday, March 6: Land Use & Building Management Committee of the Common Council at 7 p.m. | Fair Rent Commission at 7:30 p.m.
• Thursday, March 7: Economic and Community Development Committee of the Common Council at 6 p.m.| Mayor’s Water Quality Committee at 6 p.m. | Shellfish Commission at 7:15 p.m. | Department of Transportation Public Meeting at 7 p.m.

Fairfield

On Monday, March 4, the Board of Selectmen will meet at 4 p.m. and vote on its recommended budget, which then goes to the Board of Finance. 

The Board of Finance is hosting its first public budget session on Wednesday, March 6  at 7:30 p.m. 

Other meetings this week include: 

• Monday, March 4: Fairfield CARES Leadership at 8 a.m. 
• Tuesday, March 5: Board of Education Policy Committee at 5 p.m. | Board of Finance at 7:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 6: Board of Education Finance Committee at 5 p.m. | Inland Wetlands Agency at 7 p.m.
• Thursday, March 7: Economic Development Commission at 8:30 a.m. | Zoning Board of Appeals at 3 p.m.
• Saturday, March 9: Affordable Housing Committee at 10 a.m. 

Greenwich

The Transportation Committee of the Representative Town Meeting will meet on Tuesday, March 5 at 7:30 p.m. and receive an update on the I-95 Greenwich Planning and Environment Linkages study, as well as the Greenwich Safe Streets for All traffic safety action plan.

Other meetings this week include: 

• Monday, March 4: Public Works Committee at 7 p.m. | Representative Town Meeting Committees: Education Committee at 7:30 p.m. | Finance Committee at 7:30 p.m. | Legislative & Rules Committee at 7:30 p.m. | Land Use Committee at 7:45 p.m. 
• Tuesday, March 5: First Selectman’s Youth Commission at 7 p.m. | Planning & Zoning Commission at 4 p.m. | Representative Town Meeting 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.
• Wednesday, March 6: Affordable Housing Trust Board and Advisory Council at 3 p.m. | Greenwich High School Vestibule Committee at 8 a.m.
• Thursday, March 7: Board of Estimate and Taxation at 6:30 p.m. | Conservation Commission at 7 p.m. | FS Sustainability Committee at 11 a.m. 

Darien

The Board of Finance will receive and discuss the proposed Board of Selectmen and Board of Education budgets at its meeting on Tuesday, March 5 at 7:30 p.m. 

Other meetings this week include: 

• Monday, March 4: RTM Rules Committee at 7:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, March 5: Sewer Commision at 4:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 6: HHR Building Committee at 6 p.m. | Environmental Protection Commission at 7 p.m. | RTM Park and Recreation Committee at 7:30 p.m.
• Thursday, March 7: RTM Planning, Zoning, & Housing Committee at 7:30 p.m. | RTM Public Works at 7:30 p.m. 

Westport

On Wednesday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m., the Board of Finance will receive budget presentations  from First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker and  Superintendent Thomas Scarice for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. In addition, the board will review a request to spend $186,590 on a comprehensive beach resiliency planning study.

Other meetings this week include: 

• Monday, March 4: Planning and Zoning Commission at 7 p.m. | Zoning Board of Appeals at 6 p.m.
• Tuesday, March 5: Historic District Commission Bridges Study Subcommittee at 6 p.m. | Representative Town Meeting at 7:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 6: Board of Selectwomen at 3 p.m. | Housing Authority at 6 p.m. | Shellfish Commission at 6:30 p.m. | Flood and Erosion Control Board at 7:30 p.m.
• Thursday, March 7: TEAM Westport at 10 a.m. | Public SIte and Building Commission at 4 p.m. | Board of Education at 7 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