The Representative Town Meeting generally meets once a month.
But their May schedule is so packed, they’ve scheduled sessions on 2 — and possibly 3 — straight days.
Beginning Monday, May 6 (7:30 p.m., Town Hall auditorium), they’ll consider:
- The 2024-25 fiscal year budget.
- Budgets for the railroad parking fund, town sewer fund, Wakeman Town Farm, and other financial items.
- The appropriation of $630,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds for the redevelopment design of Jesup Green and the Imperial Avenue parking lot.
- A petition request to appoint a committee to review Downtown Implementation Committee plans for both Parker Harding Plaza and Jesup Green, and to consider alternatives, including a parking deck at the Baldwin (Elm Street) lot.
Click here for the full agenda.
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A large contingent of volunteers — from the VFW, Sons of American Legion, Staples Service League of Boys, RTM, Compo Beach Playground Committee and Westport Police Department gathered at Elaine Road yesterday, for an Earth Day cleanup effort.
They were joined by Officer Lovallo, who arrived straight from his midnight shift.
They spent 1 1/2 hours clearing the steep embankment from the water’s edge underneath I-95, to Compo Road South.
RTM member Andrew Colabella, who organized the event, says there was a bit less trash this year than during last year’s cleanup. He hopes that litter from the highway is diminishing.
All ages contributed to the Elaine Road cleanup.
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Also yesterday: The Westport Weston Family YMCA’s Parkinson’s boxing group headed to New York’s Central Park, for the Michael J. Fox Unity Walk.
Bob Levy reports that the men and women — proudly wearing “Knock Parkinson’s Out” — all completed the 1.2-mile walk.
Katie Couric introduced Fox, whose talk inspired the Westporters, and thousands of others.
The Y’s Parkinson’s boxing group, in Central Park.
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Triple Threat Academy’s trailer for “Presumed Incompetent” — the movie inspired by Staples High School junior Wynston Browne’s true story — is now live.
It shows just a small part of Cynthia Gibb and Jill Johnson Mann’s movie, which stars Wynston himself.
The short film is long on inspiration. It shows the dramatic difference a simple spelling device made, allowing the non-speaking autistic teenager to communicate.
And to show his parents, teachers and the world just how intelligent, engaged — and competent — he is.
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The Westport Winners opened their 12th season of Challenger baseball yesterday.
23 players and 16 buddies were on hand at the Westport Little League program for youngsters with disabilities.
Play ball!
(Photo/Beth Cody)
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Speaking of baseball: Congratulations to Jack McFarland.
The longtime Staples High School coach notched his 300th victory at the helm last week.
Since being named head coach in 2005, McFarland — whose job is grade level assistant in the deans’ office — has earned 2 state championships, and 4 FCIAC crowns.
Go Wreckers!
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The Lawfare Project is a non-profit legal think tank and litigation fund based in New York. It focuses on civil and human rights, discrimination, antisemitism and counter-terrorism.
#EndJewHatred is an international grassroots civil rights movement uniting people, activists and organizations around the world who work to end hatred of Jews.
A group of local residents is sponsoring a garden reception fundraiser for both organizations. It’s set for May 16 (6 to 8 p.m.), at a private Westport home.
Click here for more information, and tickets. Questions? Email chloe@endjewhatred.com.
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Longtime Westport resident Clinton Vogel died last Monday in New York. He was 81.
He grew up here, and graduated from Wright Technical School in 1962. An electrician by trade, he owned Vogel Electric Service.
Clint also owned horses, and played polo at the Fairfield County Club. He was an avid bowler and golfer. He loved going to the Bridgeport Islander games and traveling with his wife Joan, especially to Ogunquit, Maine.
Clint is survived by his daughter Diane Dias (Joe) of Woodbury, and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife, he was predeceased by his brothers Fred and Donald.
The family will receive friends in the Harding Funeral Home on Friday (May 3, 10 to 11 a.m.), followed immediately by a service in the funeral home. Interment will be private.
Condolences for the family may be left online. Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to the Marginal Way Preservation Fund.
Clint Vogel
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Elisabeth Keane’s 60-year-old weeping cherry trees — in full bloom a few days ago — is the star of today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.
It’s one of several on Park Lane, off Compo Road South.
The average lifespan for this type of weeping cherry tree, she says, is 30-40 years.
(Photo/Elisabeth Keane)
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And finally … Elisabeth Keane’s photo (above) brought to mind:
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I urge everyone to attend the May 7 RTM meeting at which our elected representatives will take up the request for a $630,000 appropriation for design work in connection with the Ill-conceived plan to desecrate Jesup Green by adding parking to compensate for 40 spaces which will be lost in the equally unacceptable plan to reconfigure Parker Harding Plaza.
No one has yet examined the efficacy of the alternative suggestion to construct a deck on the Baldwin lot which might well yield a net increase in parking at a more convenient location without despoiling the town green and without requiring shoppers to cross the Post Road – twice – to access Main Street.
A net increase of parking on the Baldwin lot would also allow for a more flexible plan on Parking Harding with full-size spaces, angled parking and perhaps a loading zone.
It would be foolish to implement the flawed plans which are being considered until we have studied this alternative.
So I encourage everyone who cares about Westport to come to the RTM meeting on May 7, when, at 8 or 9 o’clock, at the end of a lengthy agenda, our elected representatives will come to grips with this important issue. Add your voice to that of those who care by telling the RTM not to authorize implementation of the current plan until the better alternative has been given the attention it deserves.
Dan, always love your song choices to accompany your posts! Chad and Jeremy were always a favorite of mine back in the 60s, laying in the summer sun on Compo Beach. I was a little grade schooler with my transistor radio listening to their song, Summer Song. What a Westport vibe!
There are more meetings this week for the RTM involving Jesup Green being paved over and turned into a parking lot.
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The RTM has two site visits to Jesup Green scheduled for this week.
Monday, April 29, 2024 at 5:30pm
Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at 4:30pm
The stated purpose is the incredibly nondescript (so nondescript it might violate FOI statutes), “To review the proposed plans.”
Just enough information to notice a meeting, but with not enough information for any member of the public to know which plans or what they involve.
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The other meeting is scheduled due to the RTM continuing to disregard the Town Charter by blocking petitions submitted by at least 20 members of the public from being placed on the RTM agenda.
The RTM Rules Committee will meet on Thursday, May 2, 2024 at 7:30PM. There is no physical location for this meeting. It will be held electronically.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84561787779?pwd=dEthaGxOWDBscWpOQURZRkNObTR3UT09
To discuss the petition requesting the establishment of a committee to review the Downtown Plan Implementation Committee.
What was the intent of The ARPA? To help merchants affected by the pandemic?
Congratulations Coach McFarland on number 300! Most importantly, thank you for your time and dedication to our students.