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.
You’ve seen the pictures — washed out rail tracks, crumbled roadways, debris and flood damage everywhere. The 1,000-year storm that hit the Naugatuck Valley last week caused destruction of biblical proportions. And the reconstruction will take weeks, possibly months. First off, the CDOT must secure the damaged areas, remove the debris and inspect for structural damage. Where appropriate they’ll replace damaged bridges with temporary spans, pulled from an inventory of such bridges stored for such occasions.
Here’s what to know about the upcoming Republican primary election in Darien — when you can vote, where or by absentee ballot. Also: Two contested Republican races are on the ballot — between candidates for a U.S. Senate seat and the Fourth District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Candidates
The party’s nomination for the U.S. Senate seat is contested by Gerry Smith and Matthew M. Corey, will face incumbent U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy on the November ballot. (A previously scheduled Democratic primary to contest Murphy’s seat was canceled)
The winner of the primary between Michael Goldstein and Bob MacGuffie for U.S Representative in the Fourth District will face incumbent U.S. Rep Jim Himes, a Democrat, in the November election. Here are links to more information on the candidates:
About the U.S. Senate Primary Candidates
— NBC Connecticut: “Two Republicans vying to challenge Murphy for U.S. Senate”
U.S. Senate Candidate Matthew Corey
— His campaign website’s description of Corey
— Campaign website: Corey’s stands on various issues
— Connecticut Mirror’s coverage of Corey
U.S. Senate Candidate Gerry Smith
— His campaign website’s description of Smith
— Campaign website: Smith’s stands on various issues
About the U.S. House Candidates
— NBC Connecticut: “Republican candidates in 4th District agree on substance, not style”
U.S. House Candidate Bob MacGuffie
— His campaign website’s description of MacGuffie
— Campaign website: MacGuffie’s stands on various issues
U.S. House Candidate Michael Goldstein
— His campaign webite’s description of Goldstein
— Campaign website: Goldstein’s stands on various issues
— Greenwich Time: “CT US Rep Candidate Illegally Dumped 1,000+ Truckloads of Dirt on His Greenwich Yard: Records” (Aug.
The Darien Department of Public Works has announced the road paving schedule for 17 streets in town, with milling starting as early as this Thursday, Aug. 8, and paving wrapping up by Friday, Aug. 23. — an announcement from the Darien Department of Public Works
“Preparatory work will precede paving on all roads,” the DPW announcement said. “Road surfaces will have raised structures during these dates.
Part of Old Kings Highway South will be closed to vehicle traffic this Monday through Friday, Aug. 5 to 9, in downtown Darien in a stretch of the road where I-95 passes over it, the Darien Police Department announced. The road will be closed from the street’s intersection with Corbin Drive to its intersection with Locust Hill Road, but only between 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day. Here’s a map of the site. The announcement didn’t give a reason for the closure.
The Darien selectmen recently approved $25,500 to create a bid proposal documenting what steps contractors would agree to do in order to prevent erosion at Pear Tree Point Beach. “The purpose of this request for $25,500 is to really fund [project consultants] Weston & Sampson to go out and develop bid documents,First Selectman Jon Zagrodzky said at the July 1 meeting of the Board of Selectmen. “The bid documents would provide basically all the information that any contractor would need to bid on this project — these parts — and then hopefully we would have a number of bidders and we would be able to select a low-cost bidder. “That beach is at risk. There’s no doubt about it,” Zagrodzky said.
What puzzles you about Darien town government? What question would you like answered by the town’s top elected official, First Selectman Jon Zagrodzky? — an announcement from Darien TV79
Now your questions will be answered as part of a new feature on Darien TV79, “Ask the First Selectman”. Hosted by Program Director Jim Cameron, the show will feature viewers’ questions, either offered with their name or anonymously, which they will submit by email. Though the topics will be shared with the first selectman before each taping, the specific questions will only be revealed live during the show.
Three Darien businessmen who donated dozens of flags for downtown lampposts have been thanked by the town Beautification Commission in a public letter. “On behalf of the Darien Beautification Commission, we would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude for the generous donation of the American flags that you sourced, purchased and assembled,” commission members said in a letter to the three businessmen: David Hawes, head of the Hawes Team at Compass real estate; David Campbell, CEO and president of Rings End Lumber and John Hertz, one of the founders of Hollow Tree Self Storage. “Your support played a pivotal role in the success of the celebration of Memorial Day and towards the overall beautification of Darien, and we are immensely grateful for your contribution. “To have the flags flying from the town lampposts is not only beautiful but also serves to remind the town of the sacrifice that so many have made for our freedom,” the letter continued. “We have received positive feedback, and it is clear that your contribution to the town’s appearance makes a significant difference.”
Today, Monday, the DPH reported that mosquitoes positive for WNV have been found in Darien. — an announcement from the Darien Health Department
Finding mosquitoes positive for WNV commonly occurs each year at this time, not only in Darien but in many locations throughout the state. It is important to note that NO cases of West Nile Disease have been diagnosed in Connecticut residents thus far this year. Here are a slew of things you can do to make it less likely a mosquito will bite you, your family or anyone else around your home:
What the State Is Doing About Mosquitos
As it does every year, the state Mosquito Management Program is monitoring mosquitoes for the presence of viruses that can cause illness in people including West Nile virus (WNV), Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEE) and ZIKA. The mosquito trapping and testing program, coordinated by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES), began in June and continues through October.
The Darien Board of Selectmen voted unanimously Monday to approve a $400,000 operating budget for the Great Island property. Also during the meeting, selectmen were told that consultants just hired to suggest future plans for the property had stressed how important it is to get plenty of public suggestions on what should be offered at the site. The budget includes $175,000 in rent payments to the town. One tenant there is moving out, Town Administrator Kathleen Buch told the board. If the loss of the tenant’s rent puts enough of a dent in the budget, a request for more money might be brought to the board, she said.
Banning cannabis businesses in Darien and prohibiting fuel tanks in front of buildings don’t have anything to do with each other — except that the Planning & Zoning Commission is asking public to comment on each on Tuesday in separate public hearings. — an announcement from the Planning & Zoning Commission
Cannabis Businesses
The Commission has put forth a proposal to prohibit Cannabis Establishments in Darien. This includes, but is not limited to: dispensaries, growers, manufacturers, or retail establishments. The current zoning regulations do not permit Cannabis establishments as part of a broader category of business. This proposed amendment addresses Cannabis establishments specifically.
The Swap Shop will be closed this Saturday, June 8, due to a lack of volunteer staffing. Additional volunteers are always welcome and needed. Please email swapshop@darienct.gov if you have an interest. — an announcement in the June 7 Town of Darien Newsletter
The revised Darien Swap Shop hours are typically 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday through Saturday. Please follow @DarienSwapShop on Instagram for daily updates as the hours may change.
This is your last chance to avoid hauling heavy junk to the town dump: Schedule a pickup of large items with the town Department of Public Works for one of the two Tuesdays or Wednesdays ending June 12. After that, you’ll have to make other arrangements — or wait till next year. — an announcement from the Darien DPW; a version of this article was published on March 28. The pickup service is free for those with homes on public streets, with the exception of refrigerators, air conditioners or dehumidifiers — for each one you’ll have to buy a $15 sticker. There are a number of rules and a list of items that won’t be picked up.
Starting on June 30, Darien will allow Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in town after the Planning & Zoning Commission found that the development of Accessory Dwelling Units offer benefits for both homeowners and the broader community. — adapted from an article in the May 24 Town of Darien Newsletter and a May 7 resolution from the commission
The commission spent over a year considering and discussing the potential rules and regulations surrounding ADUs and their impact in Darien. The deliberations concluded with a public hearing on March 12. Why Allow ADUs? Some of the benefits discussed by the commission include
Most of the office park at Thorndal Circle is close to being sold to TC Northeast Metro Development Inc., which is proposing to demolish five office buildings and construct five residential buildings with 175 homes, according to filings with the Darien Planning and Zoning Department. The proposal will be the subject of a public hearing by the town Environmental Review Commission at 7 p.m., today, Wednesday, May 22 in Darien Town Hall, Room 119. If approved and built, the 11-acre development will be one of the biggest in town, comparable to the Corbin District downtown as well as Darien Commons and Heights Crossing in Noroton Heights. Cushman & Wakefield Capital Markets, a large commercial real estate firm that represents the owners, says on its website that the Thorndal Circle property is “under contract,” a real estate term meaning “the seller has accepted an offer, but there are still conditions to clear before closing,” according to Opendoor, a San Francisco-based real estate company. Although the reasons for the buyer to have conditions before actually acquiring the property are unclear, the decisions town land use boards make on whether to approve the project and under what conditions could potentially make the buyer cancel the deal, likely putting the property back on the market.
