Several expensive capital projects loom. We are a wet town, which floods regularly. Democracy is messy.
But overall, Jen Tooker and Lee Goldstein say, Westport is an “amazing” place, doing visionary things in areas like education, technology and the environment.
Our schools, businesses and restaurants are “vibrant.” There is a strong commitment to our young people. Westporters make our town “a great place to live, work, play and learn.”
1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker and Board of Education chair Lee Goldstein returned to those points often, at yesterday’s State of the Town meeting.
1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker and Board of Education chair Lee Goldstein, at yesterday’s State of the Town session.
The 7th annual event — sponsored by the Westport Rotary Club and Westport Sunrise Rotary, at the Westport Library — drew a large crowd.
The 2 leaders offered prepared remarks, then answered questions submitted on note cards by audience members to meeting (and RTM) moderator Jeff Wieser.
Speaking first, Goldstein spoke with pride about individual and group accomplishments, student leadership initiatives, and improved transportation.
She said that educators strive to turn down the “arms race feel” of the college admissions process; noted that insurance costs rising nearly 40% drive much of next year’s budget increase; announced the imminent launch of a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging web page, and reiterated the goal of a September 2026 opening for the new Long Lots Elementary School.
The library’s big screen showed Westport schools, during Board of Ed chair Lee Goldstein’s remarks.
Tooker talked about her desire for Westport to be a town where everyone — residents, those who work here, and visitors — feels “safe, seen, heard and valued.”
Her 4 other priorities include traffic (the “number one quality of life issue”), on which a task force continues to make progress; upgrades and renovations to Longshore; downtown; and flood mitigation/stream management.
Tooker cited Startup Westport as an important public/private partnership to make this town the tech entrepreneurial hub of Connecticut.
She previewed “Skip the Stuff,” a collaborative effort of Sustainable Westport, the Westport Downtown Association, Westport Farmers’ Market and Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce to change the way restaurants offer disposable items.
Alluding to recent controversies, the 1st Selectwoman noted, “A strong, functioning democracy demands involvement and compromise. That can be messy and frustrating. But at the end of the day, the democratic process — through our Town Charter — yields the best decisions for our community.”
One of the first questions from the audience was, “How will we pay for everything?”
Tooker said that after nearly a decade without a mill rate increase, there was a hike of just under 1.5 percent last year.
“Long-term capital projects are scrutinized by multiple boards,” she said. “We have robust community conversations around these issues. Our mill rate is the third lowest in Fairfield County. My job is to keep it stable, and make sure you get great value for your tax dollars.”
1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker illustrated her comments about traffic and safety with a photo of the new sidewalk near Willowbrook Cemetery.
Asked about potential affordable housing sites, she mentioned Linxweiler House on Post Road (between McDonald’s and Fresh Market) for cluster housing, and Baron’s South for the conversion of 5 buildings.
The state Department of Transportation property between Walgreens and West Parish Road has “gone quiet,” she said.
Only one question concerned the Long Lots project. Goldstein explained that the Community Gardens “terrace” must be used for staging, and geothermal wells. She said it will be “built back” near its present location, and added, “We appreciate the time, energy and intergenerational work” that has gone into building it.
In response to a query about how Westport will become a net zero community by 2050, Goldstein listed the future electrification of the school bus fleet, composting that has already begun, and the sustainability of the new Long Lots building.
Tooker said that the town is electrifying the police, fire and Emergency Medical Service fleets, and pointed to flood resiliency work.
However, she stressed, “Net zero is a community commitment. It involves residents and business owners, not just government. It’s about lifestyle choices. Everyone must contribute.”
Some things are out of Tooker’s hands. She said there is “no update” on the state Department of Transportation’s Cribari Bridge project.
The Saugatuck River will not be dredged until the Army Corps of Engineers solves the problem of where to dispose of the silt, Tooker said. “This is a federal project. We’re at their mercy.”
Goldstein fielded a question about bicycle infrastructure. “We’d love students to ride to school,” she said. “But we don’t build bike lanes.”
The town does. Tooker said that officials are looking at expanding bike lanes. Advocates like Bike Westport will have “a seat at the table,” she promised.
Describing the value of volunteers, 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker showed a photo taken by Thane Grauel of her with Bill Vornkahl. The organizer of 53 Memorial Day parades died last week, at 93. (All photos/Dan Woog)
The final question asked, “What’s the biggest problem that can be solved — or avoided — to contribute to our happiness?”
Goldstein disagreed with the premise.
“I’m sitting here in this beautiful library, looking at our beautiful river,” she began.
“I’m not unhappy. This is a happy place. I’m thinking back to Jen’s commitment to a sense of belonging. We need to sand the edges.
“As she said, democracy is messy. We need to find a way to talk about issues, while providing each other with dignity. We can have disagreements, while still remaining human.”
Tooker agreed.
“This is an amazing community — a great place.
“Are we perfect? No. But history tells us: We figure stuff together well. And the decisions we make, make Westport a little better tomorrow than yesterday. We will continue to do that.”
Westport Rotary Club and Westport Sunrise Rotary sponsored yesterday’s State of the Town event.
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If Westport would stop slapping itself on the back on how great “she” is and get to work, this town might be saved? One can conduct 20K$ studies on traffic all you want but when the result is two out dated “speed traps” on Cross Highway, things will just get worse. This town needs a professional CITY MANAGER.
That photo of Ms. Tooker and fellow vet Bill Vornkahl was taken by me. I’d have gladly given you and the administration permission to use it if asked, but wasn’t. Not sure how “All photos Dan Woog” credit line applies.
Sorry, Thane. I took the photo OF your excellent photo of Jen Tooker and Bill Vornkahl. Not sure how you didn’t see how it was a photo of what was shown on the large Library screen.
Four word summary: Don’t worry, be happy.
The Westport economy aloears to be very strong. I would ask the community to consider how much of the Westport economy is supported by undocumented immigrants. for example. resteraunt help. domestic help. painters. landscapers masons. roofers. framers. delivery people. car wash support. nail salon. massage it’s my opinion that without the outstanding contribution of this labor force that the Westport economy would suffer.
Cheap labor is why the elite and affluent historically have been pro-immigration, legal or otherwise. Of course, that comes at the expense of the unions and the working and middle classes whose wage demands have been undermined by the availability of said cheap labor. Unfortunately, that exacerbates economic inequality but, hey, at least those of us that can afford it save a lot of money for our Venti Skinny Caramel Lattes.
You raised two separate issues.
.
Yes, Patriotic Americans historically are “pro-immigration” preferably “legal” (“or otherwise”) because we have no choice – closed borders will be our demise:
‘Day of Empire: How Hyperpowers Rise to Global Dominance–and Why They Fall’
Please help me understand how “restaurant help, domestic help. painters. landscapers masons. roofers. framers. delivery people. car wash support. nail salon. massage” are affecting “the unions and income of the working and middle classes”?
Okay, very true but when you have 10% of the population of this country owning 90% of the wealth, you have issues. And then the politicians get involved after 25 years of neglect in immigration reform and you have major league FUBAR.
Iran has job openings for the morality police. Eric you have the qualifications.
Eric. your ignorance empowers me
Richard, you were overpowering already. I don’t cause, I describe.
Knock it off Fogel or I will. Like most Wetpoters, your ego exceeds your sense of humor. Eric’s wit shines over your sour disposition (every day!!!) BTW, the morality police in Iran, although returned, is basically enforcing dress code.
learn how to spell Westport. are you making an on line threat ? are you acting like a bully ?
Yes Richard I do. But I’ve chosen to focus my efforts close to my native home (it reduces the fossil fuel I would consume (carbon footprint) if I moved my act to Iran). Besides, you have the actual experience. I just call it out for what it is. Remember our deal: If you want to see less of me, then let me see less of you. Covering Tooker is OK. She’s relevant to Westport (as long as she and Foti stay focused on Westport instead of trying to be the UN using their Westport jobs as the platform). You and I can just be friends. My grout gets dirty too. Your call.
1.) Is there any way we can go back to a comment section that is not entirely populated by the same 3-5 people making snarky, unfunny comments on every story? 2.) I was disappointed to see basically no self-reflection in the First Selectperson’s speech. While there are many good things going on in Westport, I think I’d have a lot more respect if she admitted that the Long Lots conversation was botched from the get-go (even if we get to a good outcome) and the downtown parking conversation was also a disaster. It wasn’t compromise and debate the way it should be, but items that weren’t public until late in the game and hurt feelings that happened here unnecessarily, creating a lack of trust in the process.
Clark Thiemann – I agree about your comment related to our 1st Selectwoman. I just read the full text of her speech and there was no self-reflection at all about the fact that she operates with as little transparency as possible until word gets out. When is that approach going to change? So much of the controversy in the last year (Parker Harding, Westport Community Gardens and Long Lots School) occurred because of what was ‘decided’ before bringing all directly affected parties to the discussion.
Ms. Tooker is not a politician. Perhaps she does not like banging heads with her voters over high price items in her cart? That said, you know what they say about the political agenda of Dallas Republicans? “Thoughts and Prayers” is its entirety.
Commenters: please stay on the topic of the State of the Town address.
Dan, it appears that a dyslectic person has hijacked 06880. Democracy is “amazing”, “vibrant” and Westport is “messy”, “frustrating.”” You have a tough job. Fortunately you are “amazing”, “vibrant.” Just like democracy. But unlike Westport which is messy and frustrating.
I chose to leave Westport after Staples in 1970 to pursue a classical art course of study at the Sorbonne. I was a free man in Paris I felt unfettered and alive. Nobody calling me up for favors and no one’s future to decide. I lived in a loft about two blocks from the Champs Elysee. I met Catherine Deneuve at a coffee house and she returned with me to my studio and graciously agreed to move in and pose for me sans chapeau.
I’d send you some of my work for the art featurette but Catherine made me sign a non-disclosure.