Over the past week, I have had many thoughtful and in-depth conversations with my team, friends and family following the Democratic Town Committee caucus.
After careful consideration, I have chosen not to petition for a primary, and will therefore suspend my campaign for State Representative. I wish Lee Goldstein well moving forward.
I am deeply grateful to the volunteers, supporters, well-wishers and donors who placed their trust in me and my candidacy. Your encouragement, dedication and belief in what we hoped to achieve together is something I will always cherish.
This was not an easy decision, and it is certainly not one that comes naturally to me. However, it is the right decision for me personally and for the overall health and well-being of my family.
My commitment to Westport remains as strong as ever. I will continue to be a steadfast advocate for our community and look forward to channeling my energy, experience, and passion into new opportunities to serve and strengthen the town we all care so deeply about.
Congratulations to the Staples boys lacrosse team!
The Wreckers won the FCIAC (league) championship for the 2nd time in 3 years last night. They edged New Canaan 10-9, in a nail-biter.
Seven straight 2nd-half goals gave the blue-and-whites the lead. They hung on when the Rams scored the last 5 — and their final shot hit the post.
Junior Nate Maurillo was the game’s Most Valuable Player.
Coach Will Koshansky’s squad, with a 15-4 mark — is the 5th seed in the state tournament. Play begins Wednesday (June 3, 6 p.m.), with a home match against #12 Hamden.
The last school to win both the league and state title in the same year was Darien in 2017.
Speaking of sports: As the Planning & Zoning Commission plans to debate lights on 2 athletic fields (Monday, June 1, 6 p.m., Zoom), Staples High School student Loewe Epstein hopes to rally support.
He started a Change.org petition, which is nearing 200 signatures. It is focused on Wakeman Field, which is used by a variety of school teams.
Epstein cites scheduling difficulties and community involvement as key reasons to add lights.
The Coleytown Middle School gifted program teacher, and Westport Public Schools No Place for Hate coordinator, will receive the Connecticut Education Association’s Mahatma Gandhi-Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Award.
The honor recognizes an individual who has developed or implemented a program in a school or community that advances peace education, promotes cooperation, supports the peaceful resolution of conflict, and expands opportunities for students and educators.
The Westport district’s No Place for Hate initiative “helps create school communities where all students feel valued, respected, and supported. The initiative focuses on identity, bias, bullying prevention, and proactive responses that strengthen school climate across the district.”
Superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice says that Sweeney “has helped lead work that strengthens belonging, empathy and respect across our schools. This recognition speaks to her dedication to students and to the kind of school community we are always striving to build. Her work reflects the very best of Westport Public Schools and our commitment to building inclusive, caring learning communities.”
The award will be presented June 18 in Hartford.
Faith Sweeney
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A vehicle crashed into a parked car, then an apartment building yesterday afternoon at Canal Park.
The driver was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
No one was inside the building. Fire crews shored up and stabilized the structure.
A vehicle strikes Canal Park …
… and a firefighter stabilizes the building. (Photos courtesy of Westport Fire Department)
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The Historic District Commission meets June 9 (7 p.m., Zoom).
The agenda includes discussion of demolition permits for:
A new business is moving into Compo Shopping Center, next to Gold’s:
(Photo/Sal Liccione)
But that’s all we know. There’s no phone or email, QR code … nothing.
A quick web search brought up a “Flora Aesthetics & Wellness” in Ventura, California. An email to them bounced right back, with an error message.
Flora: We’d love to give some love to Westport’s newest aesthetics and spa place. But who are you? Contact us: 06880blog@gmail.com.
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June is Pride Month.
Westport Pride kicks it off on Monday — June 1 — with a 4 p.m. flag-raising ceremony at Jesup Green. First Selectman Kevin Christie and State Senator Ceci Maher will attend. The public is invited.
Westport Pride — the non-profit that advocates for LGBTQ+ inclusion and respect — says the Pride flag :more than a seasonal decoration. It carries history, identity, grief, celebration and visible support.
“Pride Month, observed each June, honors the legacy of LGBTQ+ activism and the ongoing pursuit of dignity and equal rights for all. This flag-raising is a public expression of Westport’s values — a visible signal to LGBTQ+ residents, families, and visitors that they are welcome and celebrated in this community.”
Westport Pride is also organizing the town-wide Pride celebration on Sunday, June 14 (12 noon, Jesup Green).
A night of classic rock, pop and dance hits tonight (Friday, 7 p.m.) will help raise funds for Homes for the Brave, the Bridgeport-based housing, vocational skills and life coaching support non-profit serving area veterans.
The show’s site is appropriate: VFW Post 399.
The Gold Dust band will play. Admission is free, but donations are encouraged — and important.
Four 10-minute plays — each revealing a different aspect of reproductive health care — will be staged at the Westport Country Playhouse Lucille Lortel White Barn on July 12.
“R Rated: Reproductive Rights and Resistance On Stage” — directed by Keria Naughton — is a collaboration between The A Chronicles and Reproductive Equity Now.
The performances will be followed by an open conversation exploring reproductive rights, bodily autonomy, and the realities facing today’s patients and providers. Click here for tickets, and more information.
He noted safety concerns: speeding drivers, a disregarded stop sign, and 2 speed humps that are too low to serve as a deterrent.
He asked the town to increase the height of the humps, introduce additional traffic calming measures, and increase police enforcement.
“The response is clear,” he wrote. “Residents want action.” A Change.org petition link was included in the story.
Existing speed hump on Clinton Avenue.
Yesterday — just 24 days after that posting — he shared good news from Public Works, in partnership with the Police Department and 1st selectman. They wrote:
“Dear Residents,
“Thank you for taking the time to share your concerns regarding traffic safety conditions on Clinton Avenue. We appreciate the thoughtful and detailed information provided, and understand the importance of maintaining safe neighborhood streets for residents, pedestrians, cyclists, and especially children.
“Following recent inspections of the area with members of the Traffic & Pedestrian Safety Task Force, the Town has determined that the existing speed humps on Clinton Avenue are not currently constructed to the intended height specifications. As a result, the Town is developing a plan to correct and restore the existing speed humps to improve their effectiveness as traffic calming measures.
“In addition, the Town will address overgrown vegetation that is currently obstructing certain traffic signage and reducing visibility for motorists. To further improve driver awareness at the intersection, the word “STOP” will also be painted directly onto the roadway surface at the stop bar.
“The Town takes these concerns seriously and will continue to evaluate conditions on Clinton Avenue in coordination with the Police Department, Department of Public Works, and engineering staff to determine whether additional measures may be appropriate moving forward.
“We appreciate the community’s engagement and patience as these improvements are coordinated and implemented in the coming weeks.
This has nothing to do directly with the town’s response. But it’s a rainbow over Clinton Avenue, so it adds even more joy to this story. (Photo/Jenny Rago)
Lisa Wexler has been endorsed unanimously by the Democratic Party to serve as the probate judge for Westport and Weston for another 4-year term. She was elected previously as both a Democrat and Republican.
After being chosen in a special 2013 election, Wexler has been re-elected 3 times since. A graduate of Johns Hopkins University and the New York University School of Law, she has lived in Westport with her husband Bill and family since 1989.
The final day of the 53rd annual Fine Arts Festival began wet yesterday.
Fortunately, the rain eased around noon, before starting again. It was not a total washout for the 160 artists, from around the country.
Before the crowds arrived, photographer Tom Kretsch — one of 6 Westporters in the show — helped make the area presentable.
The things artists do, that most of us never see …
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The weather was blustery yesterday.
But after church, longtime Westporters Janine and Pietro Scotti (former owner of Da Pietro’s) and their daughter Lucia headed to Compo Beach. She reports:
“The poor lifeguards were in the pavilion, and hanging out.
“I thought I’d eat lunch from the new Sandbar concession stand there, but would up on one of the side counters.
“We had the chicken souvlaki, and a side of fries. Really good tzatziki, and the fries were delicious. Great quality.
“I felt for them, because they really hustled to get open for this weekend. I’m glad Nikki Glekas has other businesses. I’ve heard a lot of good things about her. A friend from Stamford said her restaurant is phenomenal.
“We’re really lucky they’ve come in.”
From left: Lucia, Janine and Pietro Scotti, and The Sandbar staff.
Looking ahead: The West Point Concert Band takes the stage June 9. They’ll honor America’s 250th anniversary with everything from Broadway classics and bluegrass to marches. Clck here for free tickets, or go to the box office.
Club203 gets into the World Cup spirit, at their final gathering of the year (June 9, 6:30 p.m., Ned Dimes Marina).
Westport’s social organization for adults with disabilities promises soccer-inspired art led by MoCA\CT, along with food from the Super Duper Weenie Truck, and more. Wear a team jersey, and enjoy the fun. For more information, click here.
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It’s been a gray holiday weekend in Westport.
But today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo, from Terra Nova Circle near the Norwalk line, offers a burst of much-needed color.
(Photo/John Maloney)
The rest of the week will be partly cloudy. Temperatures will be in the 70s — and, on Wednesday, the 80s.
And finally … on this date in 1961, President Kennedy told a joint session of Congress that the US “should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth.”
As director of the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce, Matthew Mandell hears a lot.
He sends regular updates to an email list, from a SaveWestport.com address.
The one that landed in inboxes less than an hour ago is quite interesting. Matthew writes:
I was informed this week that an 8-30g will be coming to 55 Greens Farms Road. (NOTE: That’s the office building next to Assumption Cemetery, opposite I-95 and near Hillspoint Road.)
55 Greens Farms Road
Our old 8-30g lawyer Tim Hollister (Hiawatha) is bringing us another one. Of the 2 buildings at the office park, the front one will become a 70-foot, 250-unit apartment building (175 market, 75 affordable).
The other will remain for office use, at least for now. The Planning & Zoning Commission rezoned this area for medical use, which made a lot of sense, but this is what is coming anyway.
Aerial view of 55 Greens Farms Road. The apartments would be in the front. The rear building would remain offices.
55 is the one closest to the road, and the new apartment building will be much closer to the road. While the folks in the cemetery to the east probably won’t mind much, it’s the poor folks on Gonczy, Lakeview and Medwell who will get this full impact.
This is besides the increase in use of the roads for that area, and the sheer size of it being out of character. And the state Department of Transportation still would like 18-wheelers to come across the Cribari Bridge and be on this road.
Technically the application has not been filed with P&Z. Hollister is coming before the Conservation Commission to do a wetland modification based on new reports. CC pretty much would have to follow the expert analysis, but they don’t have to, nor do they need to do anything quickly.
Once the application arrives formally then we look for cracks in the application, knowing Hollister it will be pretty clean.
This is coming folks. We have not had an 8-30g since we lost the moratorium 2+ years ago. Once Lincoln Street and Hiawatha Lane come on line we will get another moratorium, but until then we are still vulnerable.
(This is a developing story. “06880” will update it, as more information becomes available.)
Posted onMay 22, 2026|Comments Off on Roundup: Mill Rate, Alma Sarelli, Free Ride …
Westport has a new property tax rate: 13.2 mills ($13.2 per $1,000 of assessed value). The Board of Finance set that figure at its Wednesday meeting.
The current rate (for fiscal year 2025-2026) is 18.86 mills. However, many homeowners will see their property tax rise, following last year’s revaluation.
Tax bills will be sent in early July. To figure out your new rate, click here. Find your property; multiply the total assessment (minus the last 3 numbers) by 13.2.
Alma Sarelli’s candidacy for the 26th State Senate District is official.
The Republican Party nominated the Westport Representative Town Meeting member this week. She’ll face Democrat Sam Nestor — Weston’s 1st selectwoman — in the race to succeed retiring Senator Ceci Maher.
Sarelli owns a production company. She is involved in several local organizations, including Neighbors and Newcomers, and TEDx Westport.
Alma Sarelli
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Speaking of politics: It was 1st selectpersons’ day yesterday, at the Y’s Men’s meeting.
Westport’s Kevin Christie and Weston’s Sam Nestor were interviewed by a panel, then took audience questions.
Topics included the Westport mill rate (story above), Nestor’s run for State Senate, Saugatuck development, affordable housing including for teachers and young people), seniors aging in place, and Saugatuck River dredging.
Wheels2U is extending its “10 rides for the price of 9” promotion through December 31. The cost is $18 — a savings of $2.
Riders now have 8 more months to snag the discount. There is no time limit for using the rides.
Wheels2U provides on-demand service to and from anywhere in Westport, and the Saugatuck and Greens Farms train stations, Senior Center, Jesup Green, Farmers’ Market, and the shopping centers at Post Road East and Compo Road.
The Staples Tuition Grants Kids Fun Run is always a great time.
It’s also a chance to support an organization that each year helps over 100 students attend college.
This year’s Kids Fun Run is Saturday, May 30 (8:45 a.m., Loeffler Field at Staples High). In addition to the run, there’s a bounce house, face painting, snacks, awards and more.
Organizers Will Briggs and Ryan Krenzer, and other Stapleites, will help run the event. All youngsters in grades pre-K through 5th grade are welcome. Click here to register.
A few tickets are left for Cocktails & Clams. The tasty benefit for Harbor Watch — the Earthplace division that protects local waterways through water quality monitoring and research is set for June 6 (5 p.m., Copps Island Oyster, Norwalk).
This year’s event celebrates 2 milestones: the 15th anniversary of Cocktails & Clams, and the 40th for Harbor Watch.
All proceeds support Harbor Watch’s testing lab, to improve efficiency, expand monitoring capacity, and provide more hands-on training for student interns.
As always, the fundraiser includes an unlimited, super-fresh raw bar, hors d’oeuvres, open bar live band and silent auction, all with beautiful views of Long Island Sound. Click here for tickets, and more information.
Longtime Westport resident Mary McCarthy died Tuesday. She was 93.
Though born in New York City, Mary spent her formative years in County Limerick, Ireland, where she moved with her mother and brothers. Her childhood there shaped the woman she became: deeply rooted in her Irish heritage, her faith, and her love of family.
After World War II, Mary returned to New York City with her family. She graduated from Cathedral High School, and went on to work for the telephone company. At a St. Patrick’s Day dance she met her future husband of 61 years, Tom McCarthy.
After living in Manhattan and Montclair, New Jersey, they moved to Westport. Over more than 50 years Mary created a place of warmth, laughter and open doors, where 7 children and all their friends always felt welcome.
Her annual St. Patrick’s Day party — complete with homemade Irish soda bread and Irish coffee — was a cherished tradition for family, friends and neighbors.
In the years that followed, Mary and Tom lived in London, making a home away from home for family and friends. She and Tom traveled extensively across Europe and Asia.
Mary volunteered for many years at the Gillespie Center, where she and Tom served dinner monthly for many years. Recently, she found joy and purpose in attending protest rallies at Jesup Green and on the bridge in downtown Westport.
Tom died in 2021. She was also predeceased by her brothers Patrick, Neasy and John, and her dearest friend and cousin, Ann Ahern.
Mary is survived by her children Christine, Tommy, John ( Susan), Maggie, Michael (Stacy), Paul (Ann), and Stacey; grandchildren Kathleen, Thomas and James Casey, and Crissy, Patrick, Siobhan, Sean, Jack and Danny McCarthy, and nieces and nephews John Carroll, Madeleine Richmond, Sarah Richmond, Liam Richmond, Dorothy Carroll and Rob Nelson.
The family will receive visitors at Harding Funeral Home today (Friday, 4 to 7 p.m.). A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated tomorrow (Saturday, May 23, 10 a.m). Interment will follow at Assumption Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary’s memory may be made to Nourish Bridgeport.
Mary McCarthy
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Egrets are regularly featured in our “Westport … Naturally” series. (Sometimes we misidentify them as cranes.)
But usually they’re solo, or in pairs.
Today’s image shows a school of egrets. That may not be the official term (like a “parliament of owls”).
But the young ‘uns sure look like they’re learning what it takes to survive in the rough waters of Burritts Landing.
And finally …. on this date in 1807, a grand jury indicted former Vice President Aaron Burr on a charge of treason.
(We know: It’s not a crime to not support “06880.” But if you read us regularly but haven’t yet donated — well, what are you waiting for? It’s as simple as clicking here. Thank you!
Comments Off on Roundup: Mill Rate, Alma Sarelli, Free Ride …
[UPDATE: A video recording of Wednesday’s Board of Education meeting, which discussed an upcoming review of special education, is now available online. Click here to see.]
Nearly 100 parents filled a Staples High School library classroom last night, for the Board of Education’s community conversation on special education.
Speaking respectfully but passionately, they urged the Board to conduct a “thorough, objective, independent and transparent” review of the entire special ed. program — and then follow through with accountability.
All 7 Board members, and superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice, took notes, and asked several clarifying questions. Board chair Lee Goldstein said their job last night was to listen to the public.
Board of Education members (from left) Stephen Shackelford, Jill Dillon, Andy Frankel, Neil Phillips, Dorie Hordon, Abby Tolan and chair Lee Goldstein, and superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice.
Assistant superintendent of pupil personnel services Michael Rizzo, who oversees special education, was there too. His acknowledgment that the last district survey of special education families took place in 2009 drew a strong reaction from several speakers.
A 2017 review by CES — an organization that provides services to the district — was not an independent review, but looked only at the administrative structure, parents said.
They also questioned how many of CES’ 9 recommendations had been followed up on.
Several parents offered names of groups that could conduct a comprehensive review, involving all stakeholders.
Speakers also requested “transparency” around issues like the number of out-of-district placements for special education students, the amount of money paid to settle lawsuits, and the number of non-disclosure agreements signed.
There was discussion too of how well Westport special ed. students perform on standardized tests compared with their peers in regular education classes, as well as against special ed. students in comparable school districts.
Several parents praised their children’s excellent experiences in Westport, particularly Stepping Stones Pre-School. Others noted difficulties, including PPTs (Planning and Placement Team meetings), access to programs and facilities, and a lack of responsiveness from administrators.
The final speaker, Rosie Jon, drew sustained applause when she said, “No family should feel forced to leave the district because their needs are not being met.
“The Board of Ed is capable of leading change. They can be a hand reaching out to every child.
“We need an independent consultant to look into whether students, families and staff feel safe physically and emotionally working together, free from retaliation.
“At the center of everything is the child. We should all look at each child and ask, ‘How can we help? How can we work together?’ You can choose the right consultant to run this review.”
“Then & Now” — our “06880” series featuring Dave Matlow’s photos of pre-demolition Westport homes, and the houses that replace them — has drawn plenty of interest.
Some readers lament the loss of smaller structures, and a different streetscape. Some say, “good riddance.”
Some bemoan the new style of architecture. Others like it.
Many also wonder: We’ve got a Historic District Commission. What exactly does it do?
Three years ago, “06880” ran a comprehensive story on that exact topic. Now seems a good time to revisit it.
Then-chair Grayson Braun and vice chair Scott Springer offered a brief “Historic District Commission 101” intro course. (Ben Levites is the current chair. Braun is now vice chair. Springer’s term expired last November.)
They noted that the HDC is a volunteer organization. Members are appointed by the 1st selectperson.
The commission has an office in Town Hall, and is supported by an administrator — currently Donna Douglass — who is a town employee.
The HDC offers support and guidance to help property owners, in the service of historic preservation.
Grayson Braun
Braun’s route to the commission was typical. She and her husband moved to Westport in 1997, for “the historic feel and character” of the town. When a developer planned a project for their Gorham Avenue neighborhood, she worked with the HDC to gain “Local Historic District” status for the area, making demolition more difficult. In 2009, she joined the board.
Braun stresses: Their work is, by town and state ordinance, strictly advisory. They collaborate with other town agencies, like the Architectural Review Board, to establish Local Historic Districts and designate Local Historic Properties.
But they cannot unilaterally stop teardowns.
The only time the HDC can prevent demolition is if a property is designated as a local historic property or a local historic district.
When a homeowner, commercial property owner or developer of any other building 50 years or older (and 500 square feet or larger) requests a demolition permit, there is an automatic 180-day waiting period.
They can apply to the HDC for a waiver. The HDC can uphold or deny that request.
That 6-month period is the maximum allowed by state regulation. Many municipalities adopted a shorter waiting time.
If the HDC denies the request, the goal is for something to happen in those 6 months. A stakeholder can come forward with an alternative to demolition. An architect may come up with a plan for zoning relief, in return for preservation.
Those things happen.
Owners Blanca and Suni Hirani of 19 Soundview Drive, for example, originally applied for a demolition permit. They were approved for a new house, with a completely new design.
But during the 180-day period, they reimagined what they wanted. They updated the structure, while keeping the outside look. The result is impressive. And it earned the owners an HDC Preservation Award.
19 Soundview Drive – before (left) and after preservation.
Another Preservation Award went to 8 Mayflower Parkway. It too was a property whose 180-day waiting period was upheld. During that time, builder David Vynerib decided the structure was worth saving — and came up with a plan.
8 Mayflower Parkway, after renovation.
The Historic District Commission pays particular attention to the street-facing part of a property. When Michael and Kim Ronemus wanted to renovate 113 Cross Highway — once a gas station, house and outbuildings just west of North Avenue — the HDC helped them retain the exterior, while adding a modern extension in back.
Braun and Springer know the public is often confused when they see a “historic plaque” on a house, and assume that’s an official designation.
It’s not. Those markers are provided by the Westport Museum for History & Culture (for a fee). The program is separate from the Historic District Commission.
The HDC’s work extends to commercial properties. One recent example: work done on the former Remarkable Book Shop/Talbots/Local to Market building, on Main Street at Parker Harding Plaza. It has been reimagined as Eleish van Breems.
The HDC also oversees Westport’s 7 Local Historic Districts. They range from 4 properties on Morningside Drive South (formerly owned by artists Walter and Naiad Einsel) to about 40 homes on and around Kings Highway North.
The other Local Historic Districts are Evergreen Avenue, Gorham Avenue, Jesup Road, Lincoln Street/Riverside Avenue, and Violet Lane.
(Photo/Morley Boyd)
The HDC website says:
Local historic designation assists in the retention and enhancement of property values by providing a stable market in which to invest. It creates community pride, fosters neighborhood stabilization and enhances the appearance and authentic character of a designated area.
Building materials and natural resources expended in original construction retain their usefulness and rehabilitation itself uses less energy and raw materials than new construction. Restoration conserves energy and materials while reinforcing already environmentally sustainable neighborhoods.
Two-thirds of the owners in an area must approve a vote to become a Local Historic District. That designation offers a degree of protection for exterior (street-facing) alterations.
However, it’s not something all owners want. A proposal to add Sniffen Road, off Clinton Avenue, to the list went nowhere. A number of homeowners felt the designation would prohibit them from selling their houses to developers, as teardowns.
Braun notes, “There are rules for everything in town. No matter how old or new your property is, you can’t just start adding on without a permit.
“The HDC has an extensive review process, but we’re no more restrictive than other rules. We realize people want to do work on their property. We are always happy to help. We even schedule pre-application and special meetings, outside of our monthly ones.”
(To learn more about the Historic District Commission, click here.)
(“06880” explains Westport, to newcomers and old-timers alike. If you appreciate our work, please support us with a donation. Click here — and thank you!)
The Planning & Zoning Commission does not often debate recreation.
But they do weigh in on issues involving town property. So 2 items of interest to many Westporters — the concession stand operator at Compo Beach and Longshore, and lights on 2 athletic fields — were on their agenda last night.
Nearly 100 people logged on to the virtual meeting. Over the course of 4 hours the P&Z unanimously endorsed Nikki Glekas to run “The Sandbar,” and heard the pros and cons of 4 70-foot poles at the Wakeman and PJ Romano synthetic turf fields.
Glekas — owner of Westport-based NG Entertainment — was enthusiastically recommended by Parks & Recreation director Erik Barbieri.
She said that her beach menu would be both “family friendly” and “a bit upscale,” ranging from smashburgers, chicken tenders and french fries to fresh salads, gyros and souvlaki.
The Compo Beach concession opens soon. (Photo/JD Dworkow)
She would offer catering too — for fireworks parties, for example — and make The Sandbar a “destination.”
With little discussion, the P&Z voted unanimously in favor of Glekas, for Compo, the Longshore pavilion and golf course halfway house.
With Barbieri and Glekas hoping to be operational by Memorial Day weekend, and Board of Finance approval coming 48 hours earlier, the contract now goes to the Board of Selectpersons on May 21 for final approval.
The field lighting proposal drew much more comment, from commissioners and the public.
Citing increased participant numbers, gender equity, the effects on Staples sports and the need to maintain the quality of grass fields by limiting play there, Barbieri, Parks & Rec superintendent Carm Roda and Staples High School athletic director VJ Sarullo called the need for lit fields “urgent.”
Wakeman B, near Bedford Middle School, is currently unlit. PJ Romano, behind Saugatuck Elementary, utilizes temporary lights. The third lit field in town, at Greens Farms Elementary, is used for softball.
Wakeman B field.
The town officials, and Mike Mahoney of Musco Sports Lighting, who has worked with Westport previously, emphasized LED technology, which eliminates the “spillover” of previous generation lights; automatic turnoff, to prevent not-permitted use, and noise restrictions. The lights would comply with Connecticut Dark Sky standards.
Roda promised to pull the permits of any organizations abusing the system.
Dozens of residents emailed public comments before the meeting. But the majority of public speakers — while emphasizing their support for youth sports — questioned certain aspects of the proposal.
Many live near Wakeman Field. the focus of most of the speakers.
Concerns included the effects of lights and noise on neighboring properties; the proposed 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. cutoffs; the effects of night games and practices on youngsters’ bedtimes, and use by adult teams and for-profit organizations.
The tone of the discussion was respectful. Many of the neighbors asked for revisions or “a better solution,” and requested a meeting at the Wakeman site.
The P&Z took no vote. Discussion, including public comment, will continue May 18 (6 p.m., Zoom), and again on June 1.
A new community garden at Burr Farms. At least 2 synthetic turf fields. Some upgrades to Compo Beach and Winslow Park. A dedicated maintenance facility.
Those were some of the key “Phase I” recommendations for Westport’s Parks & Recreation Department, offered last night as part of the new Parks Master Plan.
The Town Hall event was the third public session for BL Companies, the consultants who have undertaken an independent review of the town’s beaches, parks and playing fields.
Thirty residents — including a number of elected officials — heard Dominick Celtruda offer a “10,000-foot” view of current facilities and operations, and 3 phases for the future.
Parks & Recreation director Erik Barbieri, last night at Town Hall. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Specifically, Phase I priorities involve:
Infrastructure upgrades, including maintenance; a multi-purpose field at the Doubleday complex, and a minimum of 2 synthetic fields. BL Companies urges a balance between natural grass and artificial turf surfaces.
The Community Garden at Burr Farms would share space with a 50 x 70 multi-purpose athletic field, as well as restroom facilities for gardeners and field users.
Upgraded trails and a dedicated dog area at Winslow Park.
At Compo Beach: Upgraded pickleball (site TBD), a relocated skate park, reconfigured internal circulation, and dune restoration.
Phase II would include Baron’s South — for example upgraded access, vegetation management, removal of invasives, and a small percentage of space dedicated to semi-active recreation.
Phase III would focus on Luciano Park, Jesup Green, other parks, and the Town Hall athletic fields.
Celtruda emphasized that these are recommendations only. Parks & Recreation director Erik Barbieri noted that while BL offers important insights, he “may not necessarily agree” with all of the recommendations, or their timing.
“Nothing is set in stone,” he noted. His department, and the Parks & Recreation Commission, will continue to assess the report.
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Speakers also requested “transparency” around issues like the number of out-of-district placements for special education students, the amount of money paid to settle lawsuits, and the number of non-disclosure agreements signed.
