Darienite (https://darienite.com/category/news/government-politics)
Government and political news
You can now apply online for an absentee ballot if you’re unable to get to a polling location on Election Day, Nov. 4. On Saturday, Sept. 20, the state government opened an online portal allowing Connecticut residents to apply online.You’ll need to provide your driver’s license number or non-driver identification number to complete the application. The Darien Town Clerk’s Office has more information, here, on getting and using absentee ballots for the upcoming election.
The Darien Human Services Department is accepting donations of gift cards for its Back-to-School Program. This program provides gift cards to purchase school supplies for students whose families have low incomes and are financially struggling. — an announcement from the Human Services Department on the Town of Darien Newsletter
Gift cards from Target and grocery stores are preferred and can be delivered to the Human Services Department in Town Hall, Room 109, Monday through Thursday between 8 a.m. and 5:15 p.m., or mailed to Darien Human Services, 2 Renshaw Rd. Gift card distribution for eligible families runs through Thursday, between 8 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. up until Monday, Aug. 27, 2025.
A revised paving schedule, showing when certain roads in Darien will be repaved, was issued Thursday by the town Department of Public Works. The department also announced work on
The original schedule was issued in early July. Here’s the new list (minus paving that was newly scheduled from Thursday through Monday — the revised list is on the town government website, here). The paragraph at the bottom of the announcement is republished at the bottom of this article because it might be easier to read. The announcement says that bad weather may change the paving dates.
Darien Library has received the Connecticut State Library Excellence in Public Libraries Award for Civic Champion in recognition of the Library’s recent President’s Series on Intellectual Freedom. This Award recognizes public libraries that demonstrate exceptional work in serving their community. This is the first year the Award has been presented. The four-part President’s Series was a response to the national debate on censorship, free expression, and civil liberties in American institutions. The Library hosted three legal experts who explained the nuances and impact of book banning and other limiters on free speech.
The Darien Emergency Management Department is seeking up to 25 residents to volunteer when an emergency shelter is required in Darien. The volunteers would provide assistance with all aspects of shelter operations. — an announcement from the Town of Darien Newsletter
Volunteers for the emergency preparedness team must be Darien residents living locally and readily available to be in a shelter should an emergency or disaster occur. Shelter operation responsibilities can include checking on people in need of shelter, tracking attendance, assisting with food service, receiving and monitoring supplies, assisting with security and helping with additional needs that arise. The volunteers will be required to attend a two hours of training in sheltering operations (date to be determined).
Providing new affordable housing in Darien, real estate development projects in town and providing more electricity in the state were discussed when First Selectman Jon Zagrodzky recently met with Gov. Ned Lamont at Roots Ocean Prime, a new restaurant in town. The Greenwich Democrat and Darien Republican spoke for about an hour on Monday, May 5, Zagrodzky said in his regular biweekly column in the latest Town of Darien Newsletter (sent out by email on Friday). Zagrodzky discussed how Darien officials in recent years have worked to encourage more affordable housing, with 200-plus units built or renovated in the past 15 years and 40 more, not yet built but approved by town land use boards. He also pointed out that Darien is 98 percent developed, making it more difficult to build. “The governor seemed to appreciate our results,” Zagrodzky added.
The Town of Darien offers free bulk pickup to residents each spring. Pickup is on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from April 1, 2025, to June 11, 2025, for residences on public streets. — a combination of announcements from the town newsletter and the town government website
An appointment for pickup must be scheduled in advance. Each residence is restricted to a single pickup per calendar year. Debris must be placed at the curb by 7 a.m. on the day of the scheduled pickup.
Get your household hazardous waste away from your kids, your pets, your absent-minded spouse and yourself at any of the nearby household hazardous waste drop-off days coming up, starting with Westport’s on Saturday, April 5, 2025. Greenwich is next on May 10; Darien on June 7. Stamford and Norwalk come next, then New Canaan, on Sept. 27 — the final collection day this year. (All of these towns have a mutual pact accepting household waste from the other towns on the list.)
This year, Darien will exchange your mercury thermometer for a new thermometer — but only while replacement supplies last.
The Darien Department of Public Works has announced it began sidewalk replacement on West Avenue between Herman Avenue (at the Rings End store) and Leroy Avenue (near Darien Railroad Station) on about Monday, March 24, 2025. — an announcement from the Darien Department of Public Works
Preliminary layout work and saw cutting will begin before that. Work is expected to take about five months. Work will begin at Leroy Avenue and progress towards Herman Avenue. The sidewalk will be constructed of concrete and will include handicap ramps at intersections.
A “Superintendent’s Conversation” for school parents last Tuesday on the topic of acts of bigotry and the response to it was the focus of most of First Selectman Jon Zagrodzky’s fortnightly column in the latest town government newsletter. The meeting was held after graffiti with a racial slur (the “N” word) was found twice in a girls’ bathroom at Middlesex Middle School, once in January and again in February. In the Town of Darien Newsletter emailed on Friday, March 23, Zagrodzky passed on some of the information from the meeting and added some of his own comments. (Darienite.com has another article on the other part of the column, about the massive construction site downtown.)
Here’s the full text of the major part of Zagrodzky’s column and the pictures accompanying it:
At the invitation of Dr. Alan Addley, Darien schools superintendent, I had a chance to participate in his Superintendent’s Conversation for parents, which took place in the Middlesex Middle School auditorium this past Tuesday. The reason for the event was the discovery, again, of another racial slur written in one of the school bathrooms. As Dr. Addley said in his invitation to parents, “We must collectively and firmly stand against these actions, and I ask for your continued support in making this clear to our students.” The conversation was led by representatives from the area chapter of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
Darien TV79, the town’s government and community television station, has just added a new feature: “In Memoriam”, a weekly show honoring Darien residents who have recently passed away. — an announcement from Darien TV79
“When we reach a certain age, we all read the obituaries looking for people we know. Our new weekly feature will highlight friends and neighbors, old school chums and others in town that have recently passed”, said Darien TV79 Program Director Jim Cameron. The two-minute long show will include pictures and dates of birth and death. “We also encourage our viewers to submit the names and photos of Darien residents they know who have died, for inclusion in our “In Memoriam” listings.
How you pay the town online for services and what you have to do for daily and permit parking should both become easier, First Selectman Jon Zagrodzky said in his most recent town newsletter column:
This week, I would like to highlight two initiatives we have undertaken to enhance efficiency at Town Hall. Firstly, we have engaged Clifton Larson Allen (CLA) to assist us in improving our payment systems. The objective is to expand the available payment options to include all forms of electronic and app-based technologies. My hope is that this will facilitate easier payment for services, whether you are paying in person, online, or through an app. CLA commenced their study last month. During their initial payment system analysis, they uncovered related processes that will need improvement as well.
The Great Island Advisory Committee (GIAC) invites you to our next Community Engagement Session at Town Hall. We hope to see you and your family there. — an announcement from the Great Island Advisory Committee
Date: Saturday, March 1, 2025
Location: Darien Town Hall, 2 Renshaw Road
Welcome Refreshments: 2:00–2:15 p.m.
Reed Hilderbrand Presentation: 2:15 to 3 p.m.
Engagement Activities (Town Hall Gym): 3:15 to 4:15 p.m.
Let’s shape the future of Great Island together! Kick things off with coffee and treats, then dive into an inspiring presentation from Reed Hilderbrand on the evolving vision for this cherished landscape. Afterward, get hands-on with interactive activities in the Town Hall Gym—explore the Futures of Great Island workshop boards, embark on a youth scavenger hunt, or let creativity flow at the kids’ coloring station and story time hosted by the Darien Library. All ages welcome to both or either session—come dream, discuss, and design the future of Great Island!
The latest town government newsletter features Darien news you may want to use. Here’s a selection of what the Town of Darien Newsletter posted:
DPW’s Christmas Tree Pickups Have Started
Happy Daughter, Happy Daddy:
Tickets go on sale on the Parks and Recreation webpage on Wednesday, Jan. 8 at 10 a.m.
2024 Parking Permits Expired: Display 2025 Ones
“It is time to replace 2024 parking permits with 2025 permits. 2025 parking permits need to be displayed in cars effective Thursday, Jan. 2.
First Selectman Jon Zagrodzky sent an email Friday to the public that discusses the Aquarion Water Company announcement about potential contamination from lead and other substances in customer-owned pipes bringing water into their homes or businesses. In the email, sent Friday, Zagrodzky said he expects to send more emails on various subjects every other Friday, in between issues of the Town of Darien newsletter. The First Selectman also published this video on the subject:
In the video, Zagrodzky says that letters from Aquarion have gone out to water customers when the utility doesn’t have information on the service lines that bring water to individual homes or businesses. For those who did not receive the letter, the utility didn’t send out emails because it already has a record of what material is in the service lines of those customers. Zagrodzky also said:
Utilities are mandated by the federal government to send out the notices for these customers.
Want to have a say in how your town is run? Get involved by joining the RTM, Darien’s Representative Town Meeting. — an announcement from the Darien Town Clerk’s Office
Acting as the town’s legislative body, the RTM has 100 members from across the town, who are elected for two-year terms. They serve on various committees and meet to debate and vote on town spending, ordinances and other issues impacting residents’ lives. Following the recent elections, there are still RTM vacancies to be filled. If you are interested, use this link to find which District you live in.