For 3 years Julianne Mulvey attended meetings, made phone calls and wrote letters about the Long Lots Elementary School building project.
As the closest neighbor south of the Hyde Lane site — with a home abutting the former Community Gardens — she wanted to be sure that her rights as a property owner were considered.
She and her husband Fran made compromises. They also made sure the Long Lots School Building Committee included elements like buffer zones in the design.
The first phase of construction began last week. On the very first day, carefully drawn plans were disregarded.
The buffer area, with before-and-after photos.
Specifically, the couple said in a letter Monday to the Planning & Zoning Commission:
Representatives of the LLSBC assured us that clearance along our property line would occur at the greater of the flagged 25 feet from property lines or areas essential to the approved site plan. That is not what transpired.
The most egregious clearance has occurred between the main construction road and our front yard. We were explicitly assured by the LLSBC that this area would remain as undisturbed as possible, while still allowing access to the site.
While the construction road was positioned the maximum distance from our home, the demolition crew nonetheless destroyed an estimated 6,000 square feet of mature vegetation and growth beyond the construction road — our home’s primary buffer from the project site.
This area is not part of the construction plan or existing future plans for the site and did not need to be cleared for the project to proceed. The fact that the area lies outside the fence enclosure of the construction site further underscores this point: It did not need to be destroyed.
Despite our repeated and consistent concerns voiced over the past 3 years, the LLSBC proceeded in direct opposition to both its own assurances and the conditions of P&Z approval, which specifically required that our property be taken into consideration.
In addition, certain areas were cleared within as little as 15 feet of the property line — though a walkthrough with the LLSBC identified flags at 25 feet that were meant to preserve the buffer.
The effects on their quality of life — and property values — have been devastating.
“We have spoken repeatedly in the last 12 months about our fear that demolition would occur without a town representative on hand for us to speak with immediately,” the couple said in the letter to the P&Z.
On the first day of construction, there was no representative of the town on site — “only construction workers doing their job with understandably no authority to speak with us.”
After seeing the letter, “06880” reached out to Julianne Mulvey.
She said that on Monday, Susan Chipouras — project manager for the LLSBC — knocked on their door. (Mulvey noted that Chipouras had tried to contact them earlier.)
Chipouras first blamed a utility company. Mulvey said that they had removed only one tree.
Chipouras acknowledged the gravity of the clearance, and implied it was a third party mistake.
“It was the first day of a $100 million project,” Mulvey said. “And no one was there from the LLSBC to oversee the removal of this sensitive buffer area.
“On the first morning the project began, everything we had been promised was gone.”
(Photos and graphics courtesy of Fran and Julianne Mulvey)
Before last week, the Mulveys could not even see the school. Now they live adjacent to a construction zone.
And they can see everything.
“Our skepticism regarding the LLSBC’s promises to take ‘only what is necessary’ (a quote from chair Jay Keenan during a formal walkthrough with neighbors in August) regrettably, has been validated,” the Mulveys’ letter said.
“We no longer have confidence in the town’s ability to manage this project.”
Chipouras proposed plantings to minimize the effect of the removal.
But, Mulvey said, “the damage is done. It is on the LLSBC and the town to fix this mistake.”
“ no one was there from the LLSBC to oversee the removal of this sensitive buffer area.”. Too busy campaigning.
“No one was there from the LLSBC to oversee the removal of this sensitive buffer area”. Too busy repeatedly boasting in public about what a great job the LLSBC did.
I am so sorry this is happening to you, I can’t imagine how awful this is. I hope that the town fixes this for you but, after seeing all the promises and stories told by these same people to the community gardens, I am not surprised, honesty and transparency is not their strong suit. Please keep us posted and good luck with getting them to do the right thing by you and your neighbors
“No one was there from the LLSBC to oversee the removal of this sensitive buffer area” Too busy attacking and maliciously scapegoating the poor community gardeners as public safety risks to school children.
Did you mean the first day of the 120 million dollar project?
I raised this at Finance and Facilities yesterday with the support of the other BOE members.
I also followed up with Board of Finance and LLSBC member Liz Heyer who spoke during the meeting.
I spoke at length with Julianne Mulvey yesterday, and after the meeting I went to the site to inspect it — both from the road and from Julianne’s house.
This is a highly unfortunate event — especially to occur on day one of construction. This was such a critical day, and such a sensitive issue, and for there to have been no one from the Town or LLSBC at this part of the site while this was happening is simply not acceptable. No excuses.
The Mulveys deserve a full public apology, and this issue needs to be comprehensively fixed — and fast.
I hope a material landscaping plan (in the near term) is presented to replace trees (over 5 ft) in the buffer zone, which should never have been disturbed in the first place.
My experience with the Aquarion water tanks on North Avenue several years ago was that it took four or five revisions and upgrades to the proposed landscaping plan to reach a satisfactory outcome.
I fully understand that there are four areas that seem to concern and frustrate the Mulveys the most:
1. There appeared to be an immediate attempt to shift blame to a third party — first Eversource, and then a separate contractor.
2. The 25-foot flags, which were clearly in place to protect the buffer agreed upon with P&Z, were ignored.
3. No one from the Town, LLSBC, etc., seems to have been on site — or at least in this part of the site — when the destruction occurred.
4. Julianne Mulvey interpreted the initial offer to plant a few 5-foot evergreens as half-hearted; alternatively, it was suggested that the construction fence could be moved closer to the Mulveys’ house. This last point, in my view, infuriated the Mulveys and should not be repeated.
From inspecting the site myself — both from the road and from the Mulveys’ property — I can say this event is beyond frustrating and deeply regrettable.
Accidents happen — and will happen. The key, in my humble opinion, is to own it, fix it, and over-communicate.
Jay and Don are good people, as are all those who sit on the LLSBC, and I am hopeful they can resolve this.
We are all excited about the new Long Lots and Stepping Stones — long overdue investments in our community’s future. But with that progress comes responsibility. We must protect the abutting and nearby neighbors at all times and honor the commitments made to them. Trust is not a given; it’s earned through consistent action. Our community deserves to know that when we say we will do something, we mean it — and we keep doing it.
I do not see this as a “Mulvey problem” as you seem to frame it. They may be the principal watchdogs and those most impacted,
The buffer protects not only them, but the whole area from the construction noise and significant additional water run off that a loss of mature trees and root systems will provide.
Every taxpayer in every neighborhood will feel the pain of new costs being added to this project for making the “mistake” – but was it really? right. Additional plantings? Lawsuits? A hired supervisor as deemed to much oversight for volunteers to manage? Costs will not be insignificant.
100% Andrea. I do not see this as a Mulvey problem in isolation. I was just referring to their specific situation as their house was the closest to the barrier that was removed. I agree this is much broader and many families are affected.
We must protect ALL the abutting and nearby neighbors at all times and honor the commitments made to them. Trust is not a given; it’s earned through consistent action. Our community deserves to know that when we say we will do something, we mean it.
Agree fully that costs will not be insignificant.
Thank you for clarifying and expanding your concern. The next large capital project in town will be more expensive, and needlessly, because of the mis-steps and “mistakes” of this project.
Robert I deeply admired your push back on the treatment of the gardeners -until- you actually endorsed the O’Day Moore ticket which is quite flabbergasting.
You mention a 5 foot buffer height ? Who are we kidding ? 5 feet ? That is ridiculous. For what ? A midget ?
To screen the view of the school from a sausage dog ? Or a cat ?
What is a 5 foot tree going to do . A tall person can step over that. It’s going to do sweet FA ! Nada.
These trees need to be the Mulveys choice and lots and lots of them !!!! They need to be a minimum of 12 feet high.
If they are not sausaged together they need to be 2 rows staggered.
This is a 50-100k mistake.
Make no bones about it.
Not some cheap and crappy 5 feet arborvitaes( builders special)
No. This was a deliberate and disgraceful “mistake” probably borne of evil intent, and it needs to be fixed to the satisfaction of the homeowner, or they should immediately sue the town.
With costs.
That is all that seems to wake these people in the administration up. Including the town attorney.
I mean 5 feet.. thats like a bush. That will do nothing.
The mulveys need a buffer of their choice, done to their satisfaction, with decades long GARANTEE, and otherwise they should go to court. Enough of this committee spending our hard paid tax dollars on their geo thermal then purposely letting this happen through either malice or ignorance only to throw in some bushes. Nah. This is a major job.. 12-14 feet !
It needs to be 2 rows.. of nice thick glossy prickly green fully deer resistant holly trees.
No one who followed the LLSBC as it ran roughshod over the public and the gardeners will be in the least surprised by this latest faux pas. The project was mishandled from the start when the Charter designation of the PS&BC as the school building committee was ignored without explanation.
Unfortunately atypical of town oversight on projects after they approve them. One big cluster f***.
FUBAR‼️🤣🇺🇸
Of course no one was there–Don O’Day and his team were too busy campaigning and bragging about what a great job they did on the project. And just wait until it rains. The other night at the Sustainable Westport meeting, O’Day kept bragging about how he had gone above and beyond when it came to flood control. But he’s not being honest. First, the DEEP/State were going to require that they build to the 100-year storm numbers ANYWAY (not the measly 25-year numbers that Tooker and her gang still [ridiculously] insist are adequate). And second, 80% of the water is actually coming from across the street and their own consultant admitted that the only way to make a REAL difference would have been to use the front soccer field for a storm retention pond–which they wouldn’t even consider given their distorted priorities. I even suggested that they dig down and recess the field so that it could serve dual purposes (just as they do in Europe): 99% of the time it would be a sports field but during heavy storms it could act as retention pond to help slow runoff and avoid flash flooding for neighbors and those downstream. But as with every suggestion presented, O’Day just blew it off. I pity those poor neighbors–their lives and home have been irreparably harmed. But we are ALL in trouble if this guy gets elected as First Selectman.
Valerie, WHAT ? State law requires any affordable housing project, using State funds, to be constructed with its first floor elevation at or above the 100 year flood level, as does any project funded using HUD funds. Why in the world would the State fund a $100M+ school at the 25 year flood elevation? How can that be? Has the State reviewed and officially signed off on the proposed design?
I have not seen the current drawings ….because the Public Site and Building Commission was officially cast aside by the, thankfully soon to be gone First Selectwoman, but I am now curious as to what the proposed new first floor elevation is? Typically, the site can be below the 100 year flood elevation, right up to the front door but the first floor must be raised above it.
“I’m shocked!” said no one.
This was predicted a thousand-fold, and more to shocking moments to come. The gardens were first to feel the heat of this scorched earth project. The neighboring property owners are now in the line of sight.
I am truly sorry for the Mulvey’s predicament. I sat next to Julie at several meetings and was impressed with her thoughtful, optimistic and friendly demeanor even as she made clear her property, home life, and personal sanctuary were at risk.
The appointed Members of the LLS BUILDING COMMITTEE have been dishonest, deceptive, self interested and self serving. They went beyond their mission to build a school, destroying citizen trust and their own credibility in the process.
Let’s round up the usual suspects. Say their names: Don O’Day, Jay Keenan, Sri Puttagunta, who are currently running for public office. Liz Heyer, now a member of Board of Finance. And bOF chairman Lee Caney, Chief funding bulldozer is Democratic Party turncoat Lee Caney, who is now endorsing the Republican ticket, who was shamelessly predisposed to his own ideas of grandeur and served as the chief funding bulldozer to make way behind closed doors for a 4% tax increase.
O’Day’s campaign bluster includes an oft repeated reference to a meeting “with gardeners” on October 16, 2023. I WAS THERE.
Here’s what I wrote the day after that meeting: https://open.substack.com/pub/tonisimonetti/p/do-the-right-thing?r=1dhpe&utm_medium=ios
Stay tune for a follow up essay, titled “October 16, 2023: I WAS THERE.”
What specs were given to the tree cutters and who signed off. Isn’t that step one?
What a horrendous breach of trust!
This is what “experienced” leadership brings. Time for a massive change.
I’m actually surprised that none of the powers that be or their minions haven’t blamed the neighbors yet, or accused them of hating kids. Stay tuned.
My heart goes out to the Mulvey’s. The project should be stopped until reparations made and paid to the Mulveys.
O’Day and his committee have mishandled this project from the very beginning — ignoring sensible ideas presented by the public, gardeners, architects, etc. I’ve rarely seen such arrogance and lack of respect for residents. And now he wants to be First Selectman?
Jill, campaigning and nonstop photo ops. takes time..As Tom Feeley said FUBAR!
Given the disregard and casual removal of the Community Gardens by the town, why should it be a surprise that mature native trees were destroyed, allegedly and unlikely accidentally, without an on-site town supervisor who possibly could have stopped it when destruction was beginning or “not noticed” until it was ongoing? Replacing with 5-10 ft. saplings is not going to help neighbors much (if at all) for quite a long time. So, then, what is the town going to do about it? And how quickly? The saplings better be native trees to help restore the habitat eventually. And if alleged promises are made, get it in writing.
The irony of Don O’Day’s “experience matters” campaign. We keep experiencing him and it isn’t pleasant.
Have the Mulveys consulted with attorneys for advice? Would the rights of all the neighbors be better protected if they put this issue before a judge? Would court action, or a legal settlement agreement, increase the chance that any commitments would be sufficient for settlement and remediation, and that those commitments would be met over the long term? Would court action deter the town, and politicians who are on the ballot in the next month, from applying a band-aid, a half-measure that doesn’t fix the harm?
Very upsetting to hear this. I feel bad for the Mulveys and other Long Lots neighbors whose concerns were completely blown off. It is disingenuous of Don O’Day to to pretend to care and actually espouse fairness and transparency after the backstabbing/villifying that took place against members of the Community Gardens and nearby neighbors to get their way for the Long Lots school committee. That alone is enough to cast your vote for ANYONE ELSE than those who seek to continue the policies and actions of the current administration.
Mr. and Mrs. Mulvey, we have never met but you have my sincerest apologies for a tragedy that should never have happened.
I apologize for the arrogance, hubris and incompetence of the Long Lots School Building Committee.
Those of us in the design and construction industry who offered help were ridiculed, marginalized and then cast aside by the Committee. This is not an opinion, this is a fact.
I apologize for the arrogance and incompetency of our First Selectwoman who refused to elicit the support of the Public Site and Building Commission, the group of volunteer professionals; architects, engineers and builders who are normally tasked with overseeing all municipal projects, except this one. The PSBC has been here long before she arrived and we will be here long after she is gone.
I am shocked by what happened but I am not surprised. A simple glance back at how this committee treated the Community Gardners set the tone for what has been a deeply painful and lengthy process.
Let’s not let any members of the Board of Education escape culpability, they have all been content to acquiesce in silence, similar to the Republicans in Washington.
My hope is this tragedy becomes the rallying cry for all Westporters to vote to insure no members of the Long Lots School Building Committee who are either seeking a higher office (yes, Don O’Day) or any of those running for another term in the RTM, are denied the honor of representing the community. Vote on Election Day and tell them our dictator’s favorite line; “You’re fired !”
Joseph Vallone, A.I.A.
The current administration has failed certain Westport residents when it comes to this otherwise promising Long Lots project. Poor leadership, inadequate oversight, and a lack of attention to detail have defined this process. What’s unfolding at Long Lots is deeply unfortunate—a clear failure of integrity and disregard for residents and their quality of life.
Julianne Mulvey and her family have been blindsided by the destruction of a long-standing buffer zone between her property and the new school site. Don O’Day serves on the LLSBC, while First Selectwoman Tooker and Second Selectwoman Moore oversee the administration responsible for this project. Together, they have demonstrated a lapse in leadership—failing to deliver on an agreed plan, disregarding clear commitments, and inflicting unnecessary harm on nearby residents. This situation demands immediate acknowledgment, a public apology, and concrete remediation. A town rep should be present at all critical benchmarks of the full project through completion.
When we don’t listen to our residents and don’t govern with compassion and empathy, it leads to mistakes and surprises. Unfortunately, Westport is now living with both. We need greater transparency, communication, and accountability in town government. We need to listen to our residents. Truly listen. We need a leader who honors commitment with follow-up and follow through. Every decision we make as a town directly impacts lives. We need better follow through in the future, and we must take all sides into account when making decisions.
David, Your words here ring hollow given your RTM track record. Where were you over the past two years when the topic of Long Lots came up on multiple occasions before the RTM? Never once did you say anything about it, even though you cited LL as a reason for running for RTM in the first place. Instead you sat silently meeting after meeting, including when colleagues were shouted down in Feb 2023 for the mere suggestion of adding a few additional members to the LLBC to help with reporting.
Jennifer, do you really hold an RTM member more accountable than Kevin Christie, who sat on his hands during months of BOE meetings with the LLSBC?
Robert Harrington showed leadership on the matter, on the BOE. What did Mr Christie do?
RTM was never going to reverse the decisions of the BOE.
We all know which candidate was on the LLSBC, but to finger-point at Mr Rosenwaks is nothing put putting partisanship over facts. It rings completely hollow.
Chris,
I’m not being partisan in this comment. Claiming that is a distraction.
As a member of the RTM who courageously fought to protect the gardeners, Jennifer Johnson has a perspective that no one should ignore. She and a few others took the direct hits, including insults and threats, because of her conviction and championing right over wrong.
I’m sad to say that as my RTM district 6 representative, David Rosenwaks ignored the gardeners pleas…even despite my advisement that he actively help the RTM work to find a solution that would both build a great new LL while preserving our award winning Community Gardens.
Getting the Public Site & Building Committee involved was an RTM possibility. Supporting the P&Z’s mandate to preserve the gardens was an RTM possibility. When Clarence Hayes suggested adding some other representatives to the LLSBC, the RTM had opportunity.
Instead David just went along and sat silent, permitting Jenny, Sal and Clarence to be lambasted. AND David was silent while parents in my/his district vilified the gardeners as being dangerous to children with their garden tools. No effort to stop that vilification that I saw or read.
So yes, David directly owns HIS record of agreeing to the destruction of the gardens and also giving the LLSBC unchecked reign.
I wish it weren’t so. Your support of his candidacy should not obfuscate this reality.
The only thing less authentic than a Christie supporter pointing a finger at David Rosenwaks as if he is somehow responsible for what happened to the Gardens is for a O’Day supporter to do so.
You’re doing it right here, Jay. What did Christie do during the months of meetings in which the LLSBC was in with the BOE?
That is just simply not a true statement.
What part?
If you are assigning accountability in the process…
1. O’Day and Keenan, serving Tooker on her manufactured and handpicked LLSBC, were architects of the destruction of the Gardens and Preserve. Of this there is little debate.
2. There were months of BOE meetings with the LLSBC. Robert Harrington opposed the needless destruction of the Gardens. Kevin Christie could have certainly helped push that the destruction be prevented, and he did not, in those many months of meetings.
3. So after all the Boards approved this stuff, it went to RTM, which pretty much sat on its hands. And let’s be honest, under Jeff Weiser, RTM is basically a tool for the Administration. There was no stopping that train.
Sure, I wish Mr Rosenwaks had spoken up, but to compare his non actions with the actions of O’Day and Christie, who were more actively involved in the whole process is pretty ridiculous.
Interesting that both establishment Republicans and establishment Democrats are pearl clutching over the Rosenwaks candidacy. That tells me that they both think he’s going to win.
Ms. Johnson is 100% accurate. He never spoke up. Not once. As an elected official, his job was to raise concerns for residents, and he failed to do it. He’s only been in Westport four years, served one RTM term, and stayed silent when it mattered. Now he points fingers after the fact—that’s not leadership, that’s deflection
Hmmmmm how self serving of you to chime in and chastise David.
You are just concerned he is drawing many many republican votes, away from ODay Moore, as he rightly should.
They will be a disastrous nightmare for this town.
Their track record speaks for itself.
Tooker, probably the least popular selectman this town has ever seen and Moore her side kick who voted along side her on every single vote over 4 years.
And we know you think they are both wonderful !
Well they are NOT.
And as for ODay, don’t even get me started…
I don’t give a rats ass about his boasts on coleytown the committee he was appointed to as a “reward” for endorsing Marpe for selectman, possibly after he was rejected or knew he would be rejected as a democratic candidate for FSM.
Coleytown was let go to hell by the likes of ODay, Tooker, and Moore who all served on one, some or all of BOF, BOE, and even RTM.
Why do you suppose we have the hefty spends ahead of us all at once in town ? It’s because they let it go to hell, ignored, and unnoticed..
we should have been paying attention to our schools our firehouses, our shed at Longshore, Barrons south, the cribari bridge, the parking at the railroad, the community gardens, the state of our ballfields.
Parker Harding’s disheveled appearance.
But no ! NONE of that was done.
Taxes were kept low while we watched everything go to sh..
money was not borrowed when interest rates would have made it cheaper.
Projects which should have been done or repairs and maintenance were ignored so they could keep being elected.
Huh !!!!
Unreal.. so now the mill rate might and should go up 10+%. ! Someone has to pay for this stuff..
SMDH.
So both David and Kevin may have blots on their copybook regarding how loudly they did not speak but between them both it pales in comparison to O’Day and Moore !
SMH
Self serving? Chastise? Oh, Ciara… let’s keep perspective when emotions run high. David’s candidacy should be judged based on current contributions, not rewriting history or blaming others.
Westport’s deferred maintenance and pending projects were due to broader town leadership priorities, a capital plan, fiscal conservatism, and community preferences for low taxes. Blaming individuals doesn’t solve the problem; it’s bullying.
Attacking O’Day, Tooker, or Moore personally doesn’t address funding schools responsibly, modernizing infrastructure, preserving open space, or keeping Westport livable without excessive taxes. Focus on solutions, not score-settling. Chastising you say? Pot meet kettle.
Support the candidate you believe will lead best, but avoid confusing anger with accountability or past frustrations with a roadmap.
“Self-serving” is a laughable accusation. Speaking up has never been about me; I have no agenda or personal interests.
It’s about ensuring Westport doesn’t repeat mistakes, not self-interest. My reputation and accomplishments prove otherwise.
I look forward to your theories. Further, calling me Judas months ago, and the comment being deleted, I actually thought was funny. We all make mistakes, and you are forgiven.
Bullying ? Says you, you who I believe, was part of a group who bullied the heck out of Jen Johnson ( one of the very few RTM, who stands up for all constituents) over the LLSBC document debacle, and let’s not even get started on the treatment Sal liccione( another stand out champion for all constituents) receives from, more than several RTM.
Now THAT, is bullying.
Personal attack, absolutely nothing personal, I’ve met Tooker once, and never met ODay.
On the contrary it is based on watching the carry on, and relentless attempts to get over the finish line, many majority unpopular “improvements” ( wasting our tax dollars, and appointing YES MEN, to committes who serve, only as a rubber stamp, of hiring, at exorbitant tax payer expense, so called “consultants” or “experts” to again serve as yet another rubber stamp for grossly unpopular agendas..
The last 12 years of kicking the can down the road on EVERYTHING, has now come home to roost, and yes during the, over a decade, had maintenance and improvements been done on our schools, parking lots, shed at Longshore, mill rates would have risen a little at a time. But no, instead, now with higher interest rates and massive tariffs, we are embarking on 12 years of catch up. Surely you would think it appropriate to place blame for that on the past and present administration and the folks, who had a hand in maintaining the status quo.
It is not a good track record.
Nor was kicking the gardeners to the curb,or insulting them with an offer of the poisoned ground, shaded, non level land at Narons. Nor is installing a 11-13 million geothermal system when conventional hvac would be perfectly energy efficient and cost 2-4 million.
Not is a police and fire combined building, built, at all, let alone on an archeological site far away from the centre of Westport.
Need I continue, nor is disrespecting every merchant in the downtown with a relentless, and nonsensical plan to remove parking, which will bring merchants to their knees, just so we can see an even greater exodus of businesses out of downtown.
You, I believe may support all the above, and if so, you are in the minority. If not, then do let us know where you stand on those matters.
“Learning”from Experience does matter, without a doubt, and for that very reason, either Kevin Christie or David Rosenwaks, are undoubtedly a better choice than ODay Moore.
Not personal, but based upon my lived experience.
Andrew, weren’t you one of the RTM 29 who disdain input from citizens you can’t control? You have zero credibility.
John, did we hear two petitions at the RTM?
Let me clarify how petitions work.
Westport residents have the right to petition the RTM, protected by our Town Charter. It’s a direct way to bring issues to the public’s attention. However, petitions are not unlimited.
The RTM has specific powers limited by the Town Charter and Connecticut law. Petitions must relate to areas where the RTM can act. For example, residents can petition to:
– Overturn or affirm Planning & Zoning Commission decisions.
– Present municipal property matters before the RTM.
– Propose changes to town ordinances.
– Raise questions about appropriations and the town budget.
Petitions cannot force the RTM to address matters outside its jurisdiction. The RTM cannot override state law, direct the Board of Education or town departments, decide employment matters, or intervene in private property disputes. Even with 20 or more signatures, a petition outside these boundaries won’t move forward because the RTM lacks the legal authority.
Petitions are a powerful democratic tool (as you know!) but they’re not unlimited. Their effectiveness comes from focusing on matters the RTM can decide. By keeping petitions within this scope, we ensure they receive the attention and consideration they deserve.
The opinion of the town attorney, and other sitting attorneys on the RTM, were paramount.
It’s okay to disagree, but to personalize it…glad to know I live in your head, rent free, for doing good.
Andrew, A reminder that the Asst. Town Attorney is not a judge. She wrote a legal opinion that was designed to please her employer and clients (Jen and Jeff) and not a legal decision. Basic stuff. That you treat it like tablets brought down from Mt SInai would just be comical if it wasn’t so serious.
The petition rights language in the charter was a carry over from when the town moved from a Town Meeting form of government to an RTM structure. No qualifiers. This history was explained in depth the night you chose to deny us our rights. But you chose not to listen or do any independent thinking.
Shall means Shall. You and the rest of the RTM 29 and a handful of elected officials in town are the only people that believe the laughable fiction you continue to peddle.
Thank you John.
Lest we forget AC is ‘The baddest man in the whole damned town….and, ‘you don’t tug on Superman’s cape..’
So you are not blaming O’Day. This makes perfect partisan sense!
Listening is key! Too many people want to talk and not listen! Thank you for LISTENING to residents!
I wrote about O’Day’s famous October 2023 meeting with “the gardeners”. Read “I was there, Don” on my substack.
https://open.shttps://tonisimonetti.substack.com/p/i-was-there-don?r=1dhpe&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true
Jenny Johnson you are 100% correct, when it was time to participate in democracy, David Rouge Rosenwaks NEVER ONCE went to the podium at any of 6O plus LLBC meetings, RTM meetings, and RTM Committee meetings to speak up for the Gardens, or the parents and children pushing for the new Long Lots Elementary School.
When the temperature of democracy got hot, Mr.Rosenwaks sat silent, preferring to hang out in the walk-in cooler. He couldn’t even speak up for his own kids need for a new school.
Mr Rosenwaks consistent inaction as an RTM member does not exemplify leadership skills needed to run our town.
Some fun facts about David Rosenwaks “INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE CLAIM.”
As of May Mr. Rosenwaks was a registered Democrat and active member of Westport Democratic Town Committee.
At this time last year Mr. Rosenwaks was our State Representative Jonathan Stienberg’s (D) Campaign Manager for re-election.
A supporter of State Senator Ceci Mahar (D) who voted in favor of Bill (HB5002) designed to destroy local zoning laws.
Mr. Rosenwaks is far from an Independent Candidate.
The republicans seem petrified of Rosenwaks.
Any opportunity to take jabs at him because he’s taking more of your votes than he is Kevin’s.
Now why do you suppose that is ?
It’s because the last 4 years has been a nightmare.
And many republicans are sick of it.
So jab away at Rosenwaks and at Christie, but as I said back to Andrew, either one of them would be far superior to the ODay Moore ticket, which promises more of the same as this last 4 years. An unmitigated disaster.
Zero transparency.. and I do mean zero.
Underhanded sneaky meetings, appointing croney committees to do their bidding, wasting town residents money on “experts” who are worse than clueless just to rubber stamp their ludicrous ideas.
It is no wonder nothing got done.
Certainly wasn’t for the lack of WASTING copious amounts of money on agendas that simply do not work.
At least Rosenwaks was not one of the RTM29 who will forever go down in history of Westport as screwing over the residents.
I believe either David or Kevin will restore a civility to this town, we have not seen for years.
Neither one comes across as authoritarian, and both will listen, be transparent and above all in my opinion, be honest.
We could use some of that integrity.
Today not only was the tree cutting at long lots a warning to us all, but the half hearted insulting apology from the LLSBC, was just mind numbing.
Jimmy let me get this straight. You are attacking and blaming David Rosenwaks for not doing more in his capacity as 1 of 36 members of the RTM to stop your candidate Don O’Day from destroying our Community Gardens, from callously ignoring and riding roughshod over the Long Lots neighbors who have just seen their property values destroyed by O’Day’s construction workers refusing to abide by and obey the existing development agreements all while O’Day provided absolutely no oversight or supervision? You want us to believe that Rosenwaks is to blame for O’Days arrogance and incompetence at the LLSBC???
Wow, that is rich indeed!!
I met you once Jimmy. Did you really just come up with A TRUMPIAN nickname for a candidate?! Vile, immature, and not ok.
Anyone can BECOME an INDEPENDENT at ANY time Jimmy! I WAS a DEMOCRAT, now I am an INDEPENDENT! THERE IS NO LAW AGAINST CHANGING PARTIES!!!!
YOUR TRUMPIAN WAYS ARE NOT WELCOME HERE. KEEP THAT TO DIVISIVE NATIONAL POLITICS WE DO NOT WANT IN WESTPORT!
John, you and I have been in the fox hole together, saving Barons South right?
We took the shots from our critics right? We did what we felt was right to save Barons South from a 99 year land grab lease.
Mr Rosenwaks NEVER stepped up for either the Gardens, kids, or two schools which includes Stepping Stones correct?
You and I, even when we are on different sides of an issue, we show up, we speak up, and we take a position on the issue right?
Mr. Rosenwaks has NEVER in his 22 months on the RTM EVER spoken in committee, RTM meetings, etc. That is a fact.
The community conversation was that of the RTM IT Committee, he claims full credit! Not a mention of Claudia Shaum, Nancy Kail and others who put in the work for the Q and A exercise at the Library.
Again, do your homework my friend, and happy to have a coffee to chat anytime, as I always enjoy your company, and consistent participation in our democracy.
Jimmy
Participating in Democracy means PICKING TO BE A PART OF ANY PARTY THAT YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF! Your Trumpian style attacks are vile.