April 11 Update From Easton First Selectman Bindelglass

**News Release Submitted by Easton First Selectman Bindelglass**

April 11, 2025

Good afternoon,

The Board of Selectmen met Wednesday night to set the agenda for the town meeting, to be held at Samuel Staples Elementary School on April 28, at 7:00 PM. As noted, the questions on the budget, the planning and zoning ordinance change, and the designation of town hall as a historic property will be voted on at a referendum also held at SSES on May 6, from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

It has been discussed at several selectmen meetings, that in cases involving land use around the Center road/Sport Hill road intersection, the judge hearing those cases has criticized the town for not having regulations specific to that area. To provide some history, in 2019, the planning and zoning commission did propose regulations for this village district. The public hearing to present those regulations was postponed at my suggestion after I took office. With the suggestion that we need specific regulations for this area of town, I will make the 2019, recommended regulations available for people to review at:

https://www.eastonct.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif3071/f/pages/proposed_village_district_zoning_reg.pdf
This is merely a starting point for further discussion.

Things in our sister city Sviatohirsk have taken a turn for the worse. As you know we had been raising money for generators which is still a huge need. However, their most pressing need at the moment is clean fresh drinking water. Previously, Easton was able to help them secure a water purification apparatus which made a huge difference, but it is not portable, and not accessible to many of the surrounding villages. They had relied on a water delivery truck which had been supplied by other organizations. These organizations have lost their funding, and as a result our sister city has lost its water delivery truck. This creates a dire situation. Any help that you can give is greatly appreciated. https://ukraineaidinternational.org/easton-sviatohirsk/.

I am pleased that the Aspetuck health district has made some recent changes including a new director, added personnel and technological improvements. These steps should translate into service improvements. The changes are detailed in the following article: Westport community news: Inklings News earns second Gold Crown Award.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is developing plans to replace municipally owned and maintained post-mounted sheet aluminum speed limit signs on municipally-owned rural roads. All existing speed limit signs along roadways included in this project will be replaced with new, retroreflective signs to ensure proper placement and compliance with current federal guidelines. From 2020 to 2021, 19% of all crashes were speeding-related. As such, one of the State's safety initiatives is to replace speed limit signs on higher-risk rural roads to increase visibility, ensure compliance with standards, and assist with enforcement efforts. There are about 50 roads involved in Easton. For more information please contact my office.

I am pleased to announce that today, the governor’s bond commission awarded $1 million to our library for upcoming renovations. Thank you to our library and library building committees and our staff and legislators for their hard work and support. Bringing in state and federal funds allows us to improve our town without always having to rely on funding projects with our own tax dollars.

The Connecticut fire academy will be presenting a college fair for people interested in a career in the fire service. It will be held at the CT Fire Academy on April 25, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. For more information please contact my office.

Activities around town:

Aspetuck Land Trust is having their Spring Native Plant Sale! It opens online to the public on Friday, April 11th. Plant preview here. Plant pickup on May 16-18 at Haskins Preserve, 20 Green Acre Lane, Westport, CT.

Jesse Lee United Methodist Church is having a free Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 12th from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at 25 Flat Rock Road for children 2-6 years of age. BYOB- Bring your own basket! Crafts and games in the church hall prior to the hunt, prizes awarded to the finders of the Golden Eggs! The event is free of charge, although donations are always welcome. Registration is required at our website, www.jesselee.org. Questions 203-372-8250.

C2 Education will be at the Easton Public Library to administer a free practice test (both the SAT and ACT) on Saturday, April 12th, 1:30 pm - 5:00 pm, and a Results Session on Thursday, April 17th at 7:00 pm (Grades 9-12) Registration required.

The Staples Academy Foundation is holding a Fish Fry on Good Friday, April 18,2025 from 5 – 8pm at the Congregational Church Hall, 336 Westport Road.

Easter Sunday service will be at 9:30 am at Christ Church Easton with Rev. Canon D Littlepage officiating. After the service, there is a light brunch and Easter egg hunt on the hill for the kids. Vicki Mark Anthony is also leading Stations of the Cross for Holy Week, every day from Monday, April 14th to Thursday, April 17th at 5:30 pm.

The Easton Senior Center has scheduled four classes with AARP for SAFE DRIVING CLASSES. The dates are: Friday, April 25th, Friday, July 18th, Friday, September 12th, & Friday, November 7th. All classes are from 11:15 to 3:15. The cost is $24 for members and $25 for non-members. Please sign up for the class you are interested in.

The Easton Public Library will be hosting an American Red Cross Blood Drive on Thursday, May 8th, from 11:30 am to 4:30 pm. Sponsored by the Siren Aide of Easton in memory of Ellen Longbine Waugh. Please make an appointment at www.redcrossblood.org / 1-800-RED CROSS.

SAVE THE DATE! Easton Learning Foundation (ELF) is hosting a Golf Tournament on Monday, May 19th at Tashua Knolls Golf Course. Check in at 8:30 am, shotgun start at 10:00 am, $225.00 per player, $900.00 per foursome. Price includes 2-hour driving range, continental breakfast, lunch at the turn, 2-hour open bar/wine cocktail reception, gift bag, and door prizes. Register at www.elfgolftournament.com All proceeds to support Easton Schools.

Have a great weekend,

Dave