Weston Town Hall Happenings For Dec. 20, 2024

Press release from the Town of Weston:

12/20/2024 1:02 PM

First Selectwoman’s Opening Note
Happy holidays to everyone! I can't believe this is our final newsletter for 2024 and I am looking forward to catching up with you all in the New Year. It's been such a privilege serving as your First Selectwoman in this fantastic community, and I'm excited for all that 2025 has in store. A huge shoutout to the amazing team of municipal employees who work tirelessly to keep our town running smoothly and have achieved so much this year. As we reflect on the past year, let’s celebrate the accomplishments we've made together and the challenges we've overcome. I encourage everyone to take a moment to appreciate the beauty of our community and the spirit of togetherness that defines us. Let’s carry this momentum into the New Year, embracing new opportunities and fostering connections. Wishing you all peace, joy, and prosperity in the coming year!

Holiday Closures
Municipal Buildings and Transfer Station will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday, December 24 & 25

Message from Weston Police Chief, Edwin Henion
Wednesday evening, the Police Commission conducted interviews for the next Captain of the Weston PD. The commission interviewed two very qualified individuals for that position. After a vigorous process, the Commission identified Sgt. Joe Miceli to be appointed the next Captain of the Weston PD. Please join me in welcoming Joe to his next career challenge. The timing of the promotion is to be determined. I am proud that we have such internal talent to fill these important positions. I will be announcing the next process to fill future Sergeant positions in the near future.

Message from the Fire Marshal
Each year, fire and rescue crews around the country respond to fires that are caused by improper disposal of hot coals or ashes from fireplaces, wood stoves, pellet stoves, grills, or mobile fireplaces designed for use on decks or patios. The fact is, coals and ashes from fires can remain hot enough to start a fire for many days after you think the fire is out. The exact amount of time for complete extinguishment and cooling depends on many factors such as how hot the fire was, what was burning, how much unburned fuel remains, etc. To be safe, simply treat all ashes and coals as hot, even when you think they have had time enough to cool. To properly dispose of ashes or coals we recommend the following:

Weston Bridge Replacement Progress

• The River Road and Davis Hill Road Bridges are both open and complete. Thank you to the entire team!
• The Michael’s Way Bridge remains closed with a projected completion date of January 1st. Weather permitting, we anticipate no delays in getting the roadway open by that date. The bridge beams have been set and the road surface should be installed in the next two weeks.

Lyons Plain Road Rehabilitation Project
Crews are working on the Lyons Plain Road Pavement Rehabilitation. This project will be active until weather forces a winter shutdown. Crews will resume in the spring, typically around April 1st, if weather forces a winter shutdown. The project will consist of repairing the road structure in some areas and resetting the geometry of the road surface (eliminating high and low points and restoring the crown of the road). Drainage improvements along the entire length of the roadway will allow for better control of rainfall and help to contain solids, improving water quality before it is absorbed back into the ground. New guardrails and traffic sign installations will offer increased safety for motorists. Lastly, new pavement will finish off the project. We appreciate your patience during this period of rebuilding and urge motorists to use caution while driving through areas under construction. Please keep your vehicle speed reduced for the safety of those working to improve our Towns’ roadways. The construction of this project is paid for with a $2.7 million grant from the State of Connecticut. Please note this is a state funded project and timelines and milestones are coordinated with the CT DOT.

Valley Forge Road Rehabilitation Project
This project is proposed to address heavily deteriorated pavement conditions along Valley Forge Road between Kellogg Hill Road and Bradley Hill Road. This project, with an estimated construction cost of more than $5 million, will involve full depth reconstruction of a 1.25-mile long segment. Minor widening will be required in areas to accommodate 10' travel lanes with 2’ shoulders in each direction. Approximately 1,200 linear feet of modular block, or similar, retaining walls are proposed within some sections of minor widening to hold back the existing steep slope along the easterly side of the road. Approximately 1,100 LF of steel cable guide rail will be replaced with new guide rail to improve safety. Driveway aprons will be repaved to match the new pavement elevation as part of this work. The project also includes storm drainage improvements including replacement of catch basins, drainage pipe and existing culverts. Bituminous concrete lip curbing will be replaced in select areas. Several drainage easements are proposed adjacent to existing end walls to provide ongoing maintenance. The Town has received WestCOG endorsement for funding through the State’s Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program for 100% of construction costs. The Town is responsible for designing the project, including all costs associated with design. Please note this is a state funded project and timelines and milestones are coordinated with the CT DOT. This past week we had a Public Information Meeting: Click here to see the video: https://vimeo.com/1040804703. The projected start time of this project is Fall 2025 (estimate).

Weston Dog Park Status Update
I am pleased to report that we have started to build the parking area and access way to the dog park and the Moore Property following the guidance of the Tree Warden on the removal of trees. Dead, living, and potentially dangerous trees have been removed in accordance with the Tree Warden’s Notice of Final decision on January 13, 2023. This project utilizes 7% of the entire Moore Property -- land that was purchased by the Town more than two decades ago for $2.3 million, specifically for municipal use. The dog park construction, design, and first few years of maintenance are funded with grants (ARPA, access way and parking & Greyledge plantings), gifts from private individuals through the Weston Dog Park 501c3, as well as a contribution in memory of Brian Gordon, our former second Selectman who passed away in 2018.

Food Scraps Recycling Program
Thanks to the Weston households who are part of the program and to the Town of Weston for your support. This year we have made a positive impact in diverting food scraps from the trash and turning them into compost!

Thank you and well done Weston!

Emergency Alerts
Please make sure that you and your family are registered to receive emergency alerts from the Weston Office of Emergency Management. Registration can be done online by visiting https://www.westonct.gov/our-community/community-alert-system-and-e-notifications. The Weston Public safety team will continue to expertly guide us through storms by sending out texts, emails and automated phone calls via our Everbridge system. With all the new residents in town, please make sure to mention Everbridge to your new friends, acquaintances and neighbors. Please also see this link, which provides details on how to prepare for weather events: https://www.westonct.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/5929/637650804379770000

Town Hall Talks
As an enhancement of the weekly Town Hall Happenings newsletter, please join First Selectwoman Sam Nestor for "Town Hall Talks," on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. Come with your questions and we will be there with updates on Town activities.

Town Hall talks schedule:
2nd Tuesday of the Month - 1pm at the Town Hall
4th Tuesday of the Month - 6pm at the Town Hall
The next session is on 1/14 at 1pm, RSVP required: executiveassistant@westonct.gov

Radon Test Kits Available for Weston Residents from Aspetuck Health District
Aspetuck Health District has free radon test kits for residents, while supplies last. Residents can pick up one radon test kit per address at the Aspetuck Health District, 180 Bayberry Lane, Westport, Monday through Friday, between 9:00 am – 3:00 pm. Residents are asked to follow the instructions when conducting the radon test and to submit results to Air Chek Inc. Results will be shared with homeowners as well as the Health District. Radon is an invisible and odorless gas that can enter homes through cracks in the basement floor or from well water. Prolonged exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. Only one in five homes has a radon problem. But the only way to know if your home is free of radon is to test it. Radon levels vary throughout Connecticut. Because you cannot see, taste, or smell radon, the only way to determine if you have a radon problem in your home is to test for it. Testing involves placing a small device in your home for at least 72 hours and then sending the device to a laboratory for results. If levels of radon are high (4 pCi/L or higher), the Connecticut DPH strongly recommends that homeowners enlist a radon mitigation professional to help lower the levels. However, radon exposure at any level poses some health risk, and according to the CT DPH, homeowners may want to consider reducing radon levels if they are greater than 2 pCi/L. Radon mitigation professionals are trained to reduce radon in homes using ventilation and depressurization systems and other techniques. As with many home repairs, the cost of radon mitigation varies. The CT DPH estimates that the service may cost $1200 to $1500. A list of radon professionals is available on the CT DPH website (http://www.ct.gov/dph/radon). Testing kits can also be purchased at the American Lung Association website at http://www.lung.org/our-initiatives/healthy-air/indoor/indoor-airpollutants/radon.html or by calling 1-800-LUNG-USA or 1-860-289-5401 to order a testing kit. Radon test kits can also be purchased at local hardware stores. For more information about radon and radon testing, visit Radon | CDC.

HRRA Sustainable Tips for the Holidays
As we move into the holiday season, we want to remind you of a few tips to have a more sustainable holiday!

Weston Human Services

Board of Selectmen Meetings
Please feel free to attend BOS meetings where you can watch in person at the Town Hall Meeting Room or you can stream into the meetings, which are always posted on the Town website. Documents, recordings, and minutes are available at: https://www.westonct.gov/government/boards-commissions/elected/board-of-selectmen

Volunteers Needed for Town Boards
The following appointed boards have positions available: Board of Assessment Appeals Alternate, Beautification Committee, Building Board of Appeals, Building Committee, Board of Ethics, Historic District Commission Alternate, Veterans Affairs Committee. The Town of Weston Board of Selectmen will conduct interviews of candidates for appointed boards, commissions and committees in private, unless the candidate requests that the interview occur in public. Through the CT Freedom of Information Act, the state legislature expressly allows the Town Board of Selectmen to hold non-public executive sessions to discuss “the appointment, employment, performance, evaluation, health or dismissal of a public officer or employee." C.G.S. § 1-200 (6)(a). Like Weston, several nearby municipalities have also implemented similar policies to protect residents interested in volunteering their service from the abuse of modern technology such as artificial intelligence, social media, and personal identity theft. Please click here for more information and/or to submit your information for consideration for a position.

With gratitude,
Sam

PS: Check out my previous THH by visiting the following link! https://www.westonct.gov/about-us/advanced-components/list-detail-pages/news-list

This press release was produced by the Town of Weston. The views expressed here are the author’s own.