Western CT Council of Governments Announces News and Events

From Western Connecticut Council of Governments:

SANDY HOOK, CT - The Western Connecticut Council of Governments has news to share regarding project updates, grant opportunities, upcoming workshops, and more.

Project Updates

WestCOG Awarded Funds: To assist with the development of the regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), the Economic Development Administration has granted WestCOG $50,000. The CEDS will provide guidance for the economic future of the region and once approved will enable WestCOG municipalities and projects to be eligible for Federal funding.

Regional Stormwater Support: WestCOG continues its efforts to prepare WestCOG communities for the upcoming MS4 permit requirements. In coordination with UConn CLEAR, DEEP, and our communities, WestCOG has developed a 1st draft of Stormwater Management Plan (SMP) Template. The SMP is a requirement under the new MS4 permit which is due before April 1, 2017. The goal of the SMP template is to reduce much of the effort for communities developing their SMPs.

New Fairfield RSA: On September 21, WestCOG participated in a Road Safety Assessment (RSA) in New Fairfield along Gillotti Road between Route 39 and Titicus Mountain Road. An RSA evaluates roadway and intersection challenges and identifies countermeasures to improve safety. Tony Lorenzetti, Safety Circuit Rider at UConn’s Technology Transfer Center, led a group of participants from a diverse cross-section of disciplines throughout the RSA. WestCOG will develop a report for New Fairfield outlining the short, mid, and long-term recommendations that were developed during the RSA.

MS4 GIS: WestCOG also continues to work on MS4 mapping issues and monitor statewide policy and implementation approaches. The GIS team recently completed an accuracy assessment of our GIS data against the proposed impervious cover data set that the state will provide in the Westport area.

Wetlands Data & GIS Support: WestCOG is providing a suite of wetlands data and software as well as GIS training for the town of Sherman. The data includes state and federal wetlands data, topography, and imagery. If interested, please reach out to Associate Planner, Mike Towle.

GIS Planimetric Data: It’s not glamorous but it is laborious. WestCOG is grinding out through the quality assurance process to ensure the region receives the highest quality planimetric data. Planimetric data for the northern towns of WestCOG are anticipated this winter.

Pollinator Program: WestCOG is working with the Fairfield County Regional Conservation Partnership (FCRCP) on new initiatives related to promoting pollinators around our state roads and landscape connectivity. The GIS group completed a small test project to model micro-scale ecology along the I-95 corridor in Darien.

Drug Task Force: WestCOG hosted the Drug Task Force meeting on October 13, which featured a presentation by Charles Grady of the FBI. The minutes from the meeting and the presentation can be found on the WestCOG site.

TAG: The WestCOG Technical Advisory Group (TAG) convened in September to discuss the DEEP MS4 permit, including regional assistance to municipalities for reporting, mapping, and public outreach requirements. In October, Will Britnell, CTDOT Principal Engineer and Connecticut’s “Roundabout Guru,” presented to the group on roundabouts and design aspects. The TAG will also be involved in reviewing and recommending projects to our MPO’s for the ongoing Transportation Alternatives Program funding solicitation.

Economic Advisory Group: The EAG met on September 29 to hear a presentation from Joe Ercolano from the CT Small Business Development Center and discuss the next steps in the CEDS process. The presentation can be found on the group's webpage. The next meeting will be November 8.

Regional CRS Kick Off Meeting: On September 28, WestCOG hosted the Regional CRS Kick Off meeting with representation from Darien, Greenwich, Norwalk, Danbury, and support from Newtown (currently involved in the CRS Program). During the meeting, WestCOG laid out expectations for the program and identified potential program challenges, and planned steps for program implementation. Information on the CRS program can be found here on the FEMA website.

Regional IT Working Group: On September 26, the group heard about opportunities for regional software purchasing from WestCOG staff. The next quarterly meeting will be in January.

Planners' Lunch: Municipal Planners met on September 14th to discuss the issues surrounding small cell facilities. The presentation can be found, here.

Agenda for the Upcoming COG Meeting: Available here.

Agenda for the Upcoming MPO Meetings: SWRMPO Available here. HVMPO Available here.

Grant Opportunities

DECD is accepting applications for its latest round of grants under the CT Brownfield Remediation Program. Awards may be used for a range of brownfield assessment, remediation and redevelopment activities. Eligible applicants for grant funding include municipalities and economic development agencies. Applications are due November 16, 2016

Staff Profile: Robert Brinton, P.E.

WestCOG welcomes Bob as a Project Manager. Bob assists with the management and administration of LOTCIP projects and transportation planning studies for WestCOG. He has 15 years of experience as a town engineer for the towns of Hamden, Milford, and Bloomfield, and previously worked for several engineering consulting firms designing highway, railroad, and bridge projects. Bob has a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Connecticut and a M.S. in Environmental Engineering from the University of New Haven.

Regional News & Events

• The CT Greenways Council will be presenting the CT Trail Symposium at Middlesex Community College on October 20. By the end of the Symposium, you will leave knowing the many benefits of greenways, learn how to successfully deal with obstacles that get in the way of development, and have a network of trail oriented associates to rely on along the way and be empowered to go back to your community. On-line registration is now open and can be accessed through the CT Greenways Council's website.

• EPA is hosting a webinar for is 3 planning assistance programs which are open for applications: Local Foods, Local Places; Cool & Collected; and Healthy Places for Healthy People, on October 20 at 2pm EST. Part of the webinar will be dedicated to a question-and-answer session where potential applicants can ask questions about the programs and the application process. Register here.
• The Connecticut Farmland Trust is presenting a series of workshops to introduce the model agricultural easement developed by American Farmland Trust, Connecticut Land Conservation Council, and Connecticut Farmland Trust. More information and registration, here.

Workshops for Attorneys (basic and/or advanced topics):
Friday, October 21, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
CT Nonprofit Center, Hartford

Workshop for Land Trusts:
Saturday, November 12, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Southbury Public Library

• CERC and CEDAS are booking future dates for their free Municipal Economic Development Training, which is custom tailored to specific town(s) and designed to help those who impact economic development to work more collaboratively together. Contact Courtney Hendricson with questions and to schedule a training.

• UConn CLEAR has decided to take the NEMO workshops and Land Use Academy Training on the road to make it easier for land use commissioners to attend. WestCOG will be helping towns organize these free joint classes. Please contact Liz at eesposito@westcog.org for more information.

Do you have news or events you would like to share with the rest of the region? Send your updates to Liz at eesposito@westcog.org.

Upcoming Events

WestCOG Board & MPO Meetings
October 20, 11:30am
Ridgefield Visiting Nurse Association

TAG Meeting
November 1, 11am
Wilton Community Center

WestCOG Open House
November TBA

Economic Advisory Group Meeting
November 3, 12:30pm
TBA

Veterans' Day
November 11
WestCOG Closed

WestCOG Board & MPO Meetings
November 17, 11:30am
Ridgefield Visiting Nurse Association

For more, visit the WestCOG Calendar.

Images via the Western Connecticut Council of Governments.