Weston Town Hall Happenings For Jan. 31, 2025

Press release from the Town of Weston:

01/31/2025 3:24 PM

First Selectwoman’s Opening Note
As we approach the budget season, I want to extend my appreciation to the entire municipal team, public safety officials, and the Weston Public School organization for their relentless work in preparing the budgets. The commitment and attention to detail shown throughout this process are genuinely admirable. Additionally, I want to let you know that we will be presenting the budget to the Board of Selectmen on February 4th at 6 PM in the Town Hall Meeting Room. The presentation provides us with a chance to highlight the hard work and successes we have achieved together and position us for a bright future.

I kindly ask that if you know anyone working for the town or the school, please take a moment to personally express your gratitude to them. Their steadfast dedication to our town is what truly distinguishes Weston as an exceptional place to live.

Thank you once more, Team Weston, for your ongoing efforts.

It's Budget Season!
Town Budget Meeting Calendar
The public is highly encouraged to participate in this year’s budget process. Below is the tentative meeting schedule. The Town budget will be posted for review before February 6th.

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. The months of February and March will be dedicated to addressing your questions regarding the Town budget. Come with your questions!

Town Hall talks schedule:
2nd Tuesday of the Month - 1pm at the Town Hall
4th Tuesday of the Month - 6pm at the Town Hall
RSVP required. The next session is on 2/11 at 1pm: executiveassistant@westonct.gov

Weston Public Schools Budget Information
The Weston Public School proposed operating and capital budgets, along with supplemental documentation can be found on the district website under Board of Education/Budget. Below is a list of WPS budget meetings that have already taken place. Please see the letter with detailed information from the School Superintendent Lisa Barbiero HERE as well as the dates below regarding the Weston Public School Budget.

Below are previous meetings which can also be found on the WPS website under Board of Education/Previously Recorded Meetings.

• 01/06/2025 Special Meeting: Operating & Capital Budgets Presentation
• 01/07/2025 Special Meeting: Budget Workshop #1
• 01/15/2025 - BOE Public Forum #1 with Administration on FY 2025 Budget Request
• 01/16/2025 - BOE Budget Workshop #2
• 01/21/2025 – BOE Regular Meeting
• 01/23/2025 - BOE Special Meeting: Public Forum #2
• 01/27/2025 - BOE Special Meeting: Budget Workshop #3
• 01/28/2025 – BOE Special Meeting: Approval & Adoption of FY’26 Recommended Operating & Capital Budgets

Trash Talk at Lachat Town Farm on February 10, 7:00pm (doors open at 6:30pm)
What goes in your bin? What stays out? Why recycle? Where do recyclables go? Can I save money? What is the fuss about food scrap recycling? Connecticut is experiencing a solid waste, recycling and food waste crisis. More waste is generated than we have the capacity to manage. What’s happening to all that waste? Where does it go? Managing waste and knowing what to recycle can be confusing. What is the state of Connecticut’s universal recycling guide. What is the state doing with regard to the food waste crisis? What happens when you put the wrong thing in your recycling bin? How does waste and recycling impact the environment? How can managing your waste save you money and how it affects your taxes? Come to this family-friendly event, to learn where our garbage and recycling really go. Learn more about our town’s special initiatives such as food scraps recycling, redeemable bottles & cans, food rescue and backyard composting programs. Join industry expert, Jennifer Heaton-Jones, the Executive Director of the regional governmental solid waste and recycling authority, HRRA, for a fascinating presentation followed by a panel discussion and Q & A. You’re guaranteed to learn something new.

Panelists providing updates and perspectives will include:
Larry Roberts - Weston Public Works
Andy Bill - Bottle & Cans
Alice Ely and Scott Smith – Backyard Composting

This community talk is a collaboration between Sustainable Weston Town Committee, Lachat Town Farm and the HRRA. It is the 5th in a series of community talks, “Living In the Country”, spearheaded by Sustainable Weston Town Committee. This program is being offered at no charge to the community, but due to space constraints pre-registration is required. Instructor: Jennifer Heaton-Jones Register Here: https://www.lachattownfarm.org/register.php?eventid=2062

An Evening in Paris! - Friday February 14th, 6:00 pm Lachat Farm. Sponsored by the Weston Commission for the Arts and Lachat Farm. A special Valentine’s Day FREE event featuring a live cabaret show by French musician-singers! This special program will include works by Edith Piaf, Jacques Brel, Charles Aznavour, and Carla Bruni, as well as a famed selection from Starmania, the hit musical currently all the rage in France! Meet our artists here: lachattownfarm.org. Specialty French charcuterie (pre-order), wine and beverages will be offered for a truly authentic, Parisian experience! Doors Open at 6:00 p.m. inside the Offutt Center. Performance starts at 7pm. This is a free, general seating event with reservations required in advance. General seating is free, however, food/beverage packages can be purchased should you wish to secure a cocktail table for two- first come, first serve. In addition, a cash bar will be open in our cabaret for the length of the performance. *Ticket reservations can be made at lachattownfarm.org

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 of Valley Forge Road between Kellogg Hill Road and Bradley Hill Road. 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 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 continue to build the parking area and access way to the dog park and the Moore Property as well as the Dog Park itself. The fencing is nearly complete and we have begun to benches and signage. 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. We will keep you informed on the park’s progress.

Lyons Plain Road Rehabilitation
Crews are worked on the Lyons Plain Road Pavement Rehabilitation during the late fall and early winter, and now this project is part of a winter shutdown. Crews will resume in the spring, typically around April 1st, . 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.

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

2024 MS4 Stormwater Annual Report Update
In accordance with the requirements of the CT DEEP General Permit for the Discharge of Stormwater from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems, residents of the Town of Weston are hereby informed that a draft pdf of the 2024 MS4 Stormwater Annual Report, which summarizes municipal stormwater compliance activities conducted within the Town of Weston during calendar year 2024, will be posted on the town website on or before February 15, 2025 for a forty-five day public review and comment period prior to the draft being finalized and submitted electronically to the CT DEEP on or before April 01, 2025. Residents are hereby encouraged to review the report and submit written comments between February 15, 2025 and March 31, 2025. All comments should be addressed to Wade Thomas, Town MS4 Consultant at wthomas@nlja.com.

Radon Test Kits Available for Weston Residents
The 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.

Weston Human Services
Would you like to be added to the Reassurance Program?
The Reassurance Program is a list of Weston residents who would like to be called by an employee of the Weston Social Services Dept in times of Town emergencies or inclement weather. We encourage those who live alone, don't drive, or have medical needs to register as this list is also shared with Emergency Responders in times of Town emergencies. Please email Rashida Miller, MSW at rmiller@westonct.gov for more information.

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, Children & Youth Commission, 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.