August 2nd marks my first year in office and I wanted to let you know that I really love being your First Selectwoman. I’m grateful to serve the town, and I thank all of you for voting me in this past November to do this important work. I am especially grateful to the dedicated town staff, as well as my fellow Weston residents, volunteers and colleagues on the elected Boards and Commissions, and to Town Administrator Jonathan Luiz, for all your help and numerous contributions. My goal is for the business of the Town to move forward in the creative, progress-oriented, transparent, and financially prudent way that Weston deserves.

As echoed in my first remarks in office, Weston is at in inflection point, facing new challenges and changes. Weston has faced challenges before. As we have done time and time again, we will rise to the occasion calling upon our best asset – one another. So, I ask you my neighbors to join me in facing the future head-on as we embark on another year of changes together, with a shared belief in the greatness of our town.

But first, here is a snapshot of what we’ve done and are poised to complete:

1. Building Community:

We created Town Hall Happenings as a way to update residents and bring us together to illuminate the process of my office’s activities. Today is our 51st THH and we have sent out a Town Hall Happening every week except for the week between Christmas and New Year. Link to previous Town Hall Happenings here: https://www.westonct.gov/about-us/advanced-components/list-detail-pages/news-list

In response to more than 2 ½ years of canceled events and gatherings, we changed gears and focused on providing safe in person events resulting in twice as many outdoor programs. Some memorable events include the Weston Fine Arts Festival, Family 4th of July Celebration, Juneteenth Celebration, Vietnam & Korean Veterans recognition programs with Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz and Veterans Affairs Commissioner Thomas Saadi, the return of Weston Memorial Day Festivities, Weston Memorial Day 5k Road Race, Gun Violence Prevention Call to Action, Vigil for Ukraine, Police Engagement Program (PEP), Veterans Day, National Domestic Violence Awareness Month Event with the Domestic Violence Crisis Center, Weston Founders Day, The Weston Flea, and Explore Valley Forge. This is just a partial list of town events.

This year, notable proclamations honored Jose Feliciano, the Daniel E. Offutt III Charitable Trust and Dick Orenstein, Harriet Tubman and others. We also shed light on Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Pollinator Pathway, and Gun Violence Awareness.

We approved Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) training for the community and staff for this year. Notably we funded $70,000 in DEI programming for the Library, training, and outreach for the next two years through an allocation from the town’s ARPA grant.

We also reconstituted the Weston Community Coalition to support the youth community. The group is comprised of public safety officials, school officials, ADAP representatives, faith based community leadership, Social Services and Town Leadership, meeting quarterly.

2. Infrastructure:

We have finished, are poised to complete, and have begun numerous projects this year supporting the town’s infrastructure and facilities. This includes expanded road paving, bridge work, sidewalk development, water maintenance, and building improvements. We have been fortunate that so many projects have been funded all or in part with private, state and federal grants (which also enables us to begin new projects sooner).

Roads: This summer, we will repave the rest of Farrell Rd, Tannery Rd South, Trails End, Merry Lane, Lords Highway, and Davis Hill Road. Last fall, we repaved parts of Steep Hill Road, Godfrey Road West, Lords Highway East, Marshall Lane, Langer Lane, Farrell Road, Good Hill Road Ext. and Tobacco Road. We also performed needed erosion remediation work on Newtown Turnpike and Valley Forge Road. In all, we invested nearly 2 million dollars into repairing our deteriorating roads. Next year, we will augment our usual road paving budget with $500,000 of grant funding from the American Recovery Plan Act. In addition, we are planning for the repaving of Lyons Plain and the reconstruction of a significant portion of Valley Forge Road. The work on these two roads would be covered by approximately 80% from a Connecticut grant called the Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program (LOTCIP).

We are also moving forward with several Pedestrian Safety Projects that are part of the Town's Master Plan to improve the safety, accessibility and recreational opportunities for pedestrians in and around the Town Center. A visual of these projects is available on pages 19-20 of the Town’s Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD), which is available for download here

Below is an update on each of the Pedestrian Safety Projects:

The Town accepted a state-funded project for pedestrian improvements on Weston Road. Two Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons have been installed that alert vehicles when pedestrians are crossing Weston Road. This project was paid for entirely by the state.

The Community Connectivity Sidewalk Project continues to move forward after the State of Connecticut approved adjusted plans. We recorded a critical easement, tree work has commenced, and we are coordinating with utility companies for the relocation of poles and other communication infrastructure that need to be moved. Once the utility companies provide a timeline for completion, we will be able to estimate a completion date. The State has allocated $400,000 in grant funding for this construction project.

The estimated $2.2 million dollar Transportation Alternatives Sidewalk Improvement Project, which would be 80% funded with federal grant money, calls for sidewalks to be designed and constructed from the Norfield Congregational Church to Old Hyde Road, and from Old Hyde Road to the intersection near Lords Highway. The project would also include 1,200 linear feet of 12' wide multi-use trail which would provide additional pedestrian, bicycle and emergency access on a strip of Town land that exists between Old Hyde Road and the high school. An additional pedestrian recreational amenity would be the creation of 850 linear feet of 5' wide bituminous concrete sidewalk connecting School Road and the rear of the Norfield Church property providing access to a higher elevation and overlook area with scenic views of the Town Center. The Connecticut DOT has approved Weston’s selection of an engineering firm that has begun performing survey work on this project.

Last year, we received a commitment to fund letter from the State of Connecticut for a Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program (LOTCIP) grant for Intersection and Pedestrian Safety Improvements. This project includes a dedicated turning lane from Weston Road to School Road, more sidewalks on Norfield Road, and sidewalks connecting School Road next to Revson Field to Lords Highway and to Old Hyde Road. We are now working on the project design.

Bridges:

The new Cavalry Road Bridge is open to traffic! The winning bid for construction was $2.5 million. Approximately 80% is reimbursed with federal funds. The remaining 20% is a shared cost between Weston and Westport. We understand that residents have concerns about the bridge. Staffs from both Weston and Westport have collated the concerns that were communicated to us in person, via email, by phone and via a Zoom meeting. The project team is looking into aesthetic enhancements and guide rail adjustments. Stay tuned for more information.

We are designing the replacement of the Bridge on Michael’s Way. Estimated costs are $3 million, with approximately 80% of eligible costs reimbursed by the federal government. We also are in the process of designing a bridge project on River Road and a bridge project on Davis Hill Road. Estimated combined costs for these bridges are $3.2 million, with 80% of eligible expenses paid for by the federal government.

Public Safety:

The Town hired a consultant to evaluate our aged Land Mobile Radio System and recommend next steps. The consultant has finished analyzing the communications systems that currently support Police, Fire, EMS, the School District, Public Works and Animal Control. Next week, he will share his findings with elected officials, and help Weston set a course for major communication system improvements. The Weston Board of Selectmen and Board of Finance have been saving for this project for years. We also applied for a federal grant to help offset costs.

The Fire Department has started the procurement process for a new Fire Rescue 5 replacement truck using funds allocated from the town’s ARPA grant.

The Town is meeting with representatives from the Wood Hill Road neighborhood with the objective of reaching a consensus on the construction of an emergency access way that will link Wood Hill Road to School Road. An engineer has begun drafting a plan that will ultimately be reviewed by the Board of Selectmen and be referred to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a report.

Facilities:

The Town of Weston has completed interior and exterior renovations to its Communications Center, which provides 911 dispatching for Weston Police, Fire, EMS, Animal Control and Public Works. The Renovated Dispatch Center gives our critical 911 dispatchers a clean, neat, organized and modern work area that it literally occupies 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.

This past year we completed several projects at the Weston Public Library. Half the building was re-roofed, the Children’s Room was renovated, a garden was planted, lockers for book pickup were installed, and multi-device charging stations for handheld devices were added.

Improvements were made to the Onion Barn. Drainage was enhanced and the driveway apron was replaced. The entire parking lot received truckloads of stone that was graded and rolled into the ground. The area is drier and cleaner as we also relocated the redeemable bottle and can operation to the transfer station.

As detailed in our previous announcements, the Town of Weston detected PFAS in the School/Town Drinking Water System. The PFAS levels detected are within allowable legal limits. However, out of an abundance of caution, the schools and town offices have been using bottled drinking water until a permanent PFAS Remediation System could be successfully installed. A prototype remediation system installed in April by the Town’s Certified Operator dramatically reduced PFAS levels to non-detectable levels in the drinking water. The Town’s Certified Operator submitted a design for a permanent remediation system to the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH) for its review and approval. The CT DPH approved the Certified Operator’s design for a permanent remediation system, and equipment associated with the permanent system was ordered and delivered. The permanent remediation system is being installed and will produce water in time for the fall school session. To review previous communications regarding the School/Town Drinking Waters System as well as the recording of the public information meeting with DPH, DEEP, WPS, TOW, and Health District officials please follow this link https://www.westonct.gov/government/municipal-departments/public-works/weston-school-town-drinking-water-system-232

The Town is moving forward to schedule the renovation of three bathrooms at the Senior Center with funding provided via the routine budget process and with ARPA grant money. Outside, we added new plantings and a patio, inside, blinds and fan in the gym.

Construction on the new Offutt Education Center at Lachat Town Farm has begun! We are excited how this new space will enhance the programs and services of Weston's own community farm and we are so grateful to all those who have contributed and especially to the Daniel E. Offutt III Charitable Trust. The Connecticut Attorney General gave a green light to the town to proceed with plans for programming and a new building. The letter stated that the Attorney General “has no objection to the proposed continued operations” of the Farm as outlined in an agreement between Lachat and nearby homeowners that was approved (see here https://westontoday.news/articles/211106-lachat-special-meeting) by voters in a Special Town Meeting last November 6th. The cost of the center is funded with private donations, a $2 million grant from the Daniel Offutt III Charitable Trust as well as another matching grant of $1 million from the trust, and $100,000 grant allocation from the town’s ARPA funds.

We modified the original plan for a new Dog Park (which was approved by relevant town boards and won in CT Superior court) by making the access way 2/3 shorter, reducing the number of parking spaces by ½, and making the dog park itself slightly smaller. This changed projected costs from $561,000 to $268,000. The $268,000 will be funded completely from private donations from the Weston Dog Park Inc., the Greyledge fund, and a grant allocation of $135,000 from the town’s ARPA funds. The revised project has received approval from both the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Conservation Commission. The Town has been sued (again) by a handful of people that opposed the construction of the Dog Park. That claim resides in Superior Court. I am confident that the Town will prevail in court, once again.

Thanks to donations from the Daniel E. Offutt, III Charitable Trust, several private foundations, and a $150,000 grant allocation from ARPA, Weston Town Green project has nearly reached its fundraising goal. The Weston Town Green will be located on the lawn in front of Town Hall and will provide a much needed community space for the town. The centerpiece is an accessible elliptical walkway that leads to a new Veterans’ Memorial. In addition, there will be pollinator-friendly perennial gardens, park benches, a refurbished gazebo, a lush event lawn, ADA-accessible walkways, and new lighting and signage. The project management for the Town Green project has begun.

The Parks & Recreation department is assessing possible locations for new Pickleball Courts. This project will be funded with a $100,000 allocation from the town’s ARPA funds.

On Thursday, July 14th, 2022 at 6 pm, I hosted a Tri-Board Meeting of the Board of Education, Board of Finance, and Board of Selectmen regarding status of STEAM (Strategic Town & Educational Assets Masterplan). At the meeting, the three boards heard a presentation from Tecton Architects and the Chair of the Weston Facilities Optimization Committee. The presentation is the culmination of two years of work by the Committee. It contains the Committee’s recommendations. Prior to this presentation we hosted two Community Conversations where the community was invited to learn about the direction and planning on this project as these conversations will have an impact for generations with the goal of these programs will be to develop a plan that will align and optimize all of the community’s assets and operations to create the best future for Weston. I thank the committee for its hard work and look forward to the next phase in this process spearheaded by the Board of Education and Board of Finance who will work out numbers and needs.

We have engaged with Altice to install WIFI hotspots around the municipal campus with funds provided by the town’s ARPA grant. These hotspots should come in handy in the event that people lose power at home.

Cell Tower Update
Residents have reached out to Weston town staff with questions about when the cellular equipment installed by AT&T on an Eversource transmission tower will be fully operational. The tower is located on Tall Pines Drive, near White Birch Road. Please know that Town officials do not have an answer to this question, since AT&T has not fully completed its work on site. As soon as staff hears from AT&T that the tower is fully operational, then I will relay that information in Town Hall Happenings.

3. Citizen Engagement on Major Financial Commitments

On June 18th we had a machine ballot vote on how Weston will use $3,034,000 of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Grant Funds. The spending plan that was proposed by both the Board of Selectmen and Board of Finance passed with 72% of voter approval. See the plan here: https://www.westonct.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/8165/637898351754930000

The May 7th Weston Budget Referendum approved the proposed Fiscal Year 22/23 Budget. The Town Operating Budget Passed with 73.89%, Board of Ed Operating Budget Passed with 72.63%, the Town and School Capital Budget Passed with 76.13%. Following the referendum vote, the Board of Finance met on May 9 and set a mill rate of 32.46 mills for motor vehicles and 32.97 mills for real estate. The mill rate change for real estate is 0.15%. The mill rate change for motor vehicles is negative .014 mills.

The Sale of the Town-owned 86 acre “Fromson Strassler” property to the Aspetuck Land Trust was a huge victory for the birds, bees, flowers and the trees. A machine ballot held this past fall resulted in 93% of voters approving the sale. Aspetuck Land Trust considers the Fromson Strassler property a keystone property in the Trust's efforts to create a 705 acre forest block on the Weston Wilton border in one of the last frontiers of open space in Fairfield County. The Land Trust paid $1,143,750 for the property which the Town ultimately used to offset existing debt service for FY 2022/2023. Although the property is now owned by the Trust, it is still available to be hiked by the general public.

4. Collective Bargaining:

We concluded collective bargaining agreements with the Dispatchers Union, Police Union, Town Hall Union and the Public Works Union, respectively. These agreements will be in place for a total of 4 years.

5. Grants: The Town of Weston has received the following new grants/gifts.

$3,034,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)

$10,000 donation to the Weston Police Department

$2,000 from the United Way of Coastal Fairfield County

$5,194 from Emergency Management Performance Grant sub-grant

$16,023 Library Grant as part of the federal American Recovery Act Plan

$5,800 State Opioid Settlement

Large public funding commitments are currently being used for various phases of development of town bridges, roads and pedestrian improvements. For four bridges, the federal government will be covering 80% of more than $8.7 million. We also have funding commitments of nearly $6.3 million for road (Lyons Plain) and pedestrian improvements (Community Connectivity, Transportation Alternative Grant, LOTCIP) through state and federal programs.

6. Economic Vibrancy:

We are also thrilled for Weston in terms of what has been happening at the Weston Shopping Center. Last October the Lee family of Weston opened the Weston Pharmacy. This spring, Lily’s Market opened after making extensive renovations. These stores look terrific!

The Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) finalized zoning regulations (effective 10/18/21) that will encourage responsible development in our new Weston Village District. The new District is intended to expand opportunities for commercial development in Weston, which will work along with our sidewalk initiative to promote a more vibrant, connected and walkable Town Center! The Village District will also create opportunities for development of smaller, more manageable living quarters, and will require that 15% of housing units in developments of five or more units must be affordable, as defined by State law. We hope that this housing will prove attractive to our seniors who want to stay in Weston, and to our Town employees, teachers and others who want to live in Weston but cannot afford to purchase a typical home on two acres.

New ADU zoning regulations adopted by P&Z went into effect on June 20, allowing detached apartments to be built on residential properties. There are limits on size and other factors, but the regulations offer options and flexibility, especially for residents who would like a separate unit for family members. The new regulations can be found on the Town website and at the P&Z office in the Town Hall Annex.

7. Sustainability Efforts:

Weston’s membership in the Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority has provided multiple opportunities to increase our efforts to be a more sustainable town, including ways to get rid of household hazardous waste and ways to recognize people for recycling accomplishments (Congratulations to two talented Weston students, Eden Leuzzi and Victoria Bumberova.) The Transfer station added a dedicated glass recycling station, a vastly improved redeemable bottles and can station, and new signage. Mattress recycling is coming soon. Please mark your calendar for the next Regional Hazardous Waste event. It will be held in Weston on Saturday, September 10th, 2022 from 9 am to 1 pm at the Hurlbutt Elementary School.  The Town is billed for what Weston residents dispose of, so no need to bring money. For details, please visit https://hrra.org/household-hazardous-waste/

The Pollinator Pathway continues to educate and support the public with their outreach and weekly Sunday workshops. The Weston High School Green Team partnered with Tree-Plenish to plant trees to offset the schools paper usage and to restore our local natural habitat.

The Sustainable Weston Committee’s progress in taking action friendly to the environment has earned the town a bronze Sustainable CT certification for the second time as part of a statewide program administered by the Institute for Sustainable Energy at Eastern Connecticut State University. The program involves an assessment of local efforts to become "efficient, thriving, and resilient." Visit https://sustainablect.org/ to learn more about Sustainable CT. Using Federal Grant money (ARPA), the Sustainable Weston Committee has been tasked with developing an actionable and achievable Sustainability Plan for Weston. Using Federal Grant money (ARPA), the Sustainable Weston Committee has been tasked with developing a Composting Pilot project at the transfer station.

Engineers, town officials, and Friends of Lachat have met at Lachat Farm to begin the process of remediating wetland issues at the location using a $90,000 grant allocation from the town’s ARPA funds.

We look forward to new charging stations at Town Hall this year and have engaged with Titan Energy to begin the project which is fully funded with an allocation from the town’s ARPA grant.

8. Key Meetings:

Our state representatives – Anne Hughes and Will Haskell – were consistently responsive and available to discuss various issues regarding our town. In addition, I met with Congressman Jim Himes, and Governor Ned Lamont visited Weston and spent time discussing the Town triumphs and challenges, talking about our excellent schools and visiting the Weston Shopping Center’s new tenants and customers. Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz has been at Town Hall numerous times for meetings and a variety of programs. We discussed state resources, economic development, disaster preparedness, green initiatives, policy management, infrastructure, and state grant programs. I am grateful for the open line of communication that I have with her.

9. Covid 19:

We protected ourselves and others this year. While the Omicron variants present new challenges, we are finding a way through recent surges. The town provided two public distributions of at Home Test Kits and Covid response ran smoothly thanks the Public Safety and Emergency Management Teams. I appreciate their hard work these past years and to all of you for your patience as we continue to move forward through the pandemic. Covid-19 updates and information are still posted regularly on the town website. Please see here https://www.westonct.gov/government/municipal-departments/emergency-management/covid-19 for more information.