First Selectwoman’s Opening Note
I would like to express my gratitude to all the sponsors and the Parks and Recreation Team for their hard work in organizing last night’s Independence Day celebrations.  It is crucial to remember the importance of this holiday and the value it symbolizes.  Let us remain committed to preserving the principles of liberty and democracy that are fundamental to our nation.

Town Hall Talks with First Selectwoman Samantha Nestor
As an enhancement of the weekly Town Hall Happenings newsletter, please join First Selectwoman Sam Nestor for “Town Hall Talks” on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. Come with your questions and we will be there with updates on Town activities.

Town Hall Talks Schedule:
2nd Tuesday of the month – 1 pm at Town Hall
4th Tuesday of the month – 6 pm at Town Hall

RSVP for the next session on 7/9 at 1pm, email [email protected]

Road Paving Plan Underway  
Since January, DPW Director, Larry Roberts has been determining the deterioration and rehabilitation planning for our roads, in collaboration with the engineering firm, Beta Group. After consideration, the BOS & BOF team approved a plan to collect more road condition data with Beta to support a paving plan for FY24-25. Data collection was completed this spring. The revised plan was presented to the BOS at their 5/30 meeting. There was also a joint BOS/BOF meeting regarding the plan and next steps on 6/3. At the 6/10 BOS meeting, the BOS unanimously approved the list of streets to be paved and referred the resolution for funding via Bond Anticipation Notes/Bonds to the BOF as well as set the Special Town Meeting Date for approval. The BOF met on 6/18 to move the process forward and unanimously approved the financing. Approval by the townspeople must be at the Special Town Meeting on July 9th for financing so we can pave in late summer/fall.

Special Town Meeting on July 9, 2024 at 6:00 pm in Weston Town Hall Meeting Room
Qualified Voters are urged to attend this Special Town Meeting which aims to vote on a Resolution which enables a multi-year paving plan financed through Bond Anticipation Notes/Bonds totaling no more than $6 million to be paid off over twenty years. For more information, please click here: https://www.westonct.gov/government/special-town-meeting

Upcoming Road Closures for Repairs
Much needed bridge and road construction has begun. This outlines the projected timeline for road closures during the construction period. Unforeseen delays may occur and, if they do, I will update everyone as needed. Please note this does not include summer paving which begins after financing is approved at the Special Town Meeting. The following road closures may affect routes normally taken:

Georgetown Road Milling and Paving by The Connecticut Department of Transportation: DOT will be repaving a portion of Route 57 (Georgetown Road) beginning on May 28, 2024. The milling and paving project will extend from the intersection of Route 107 (Redding Road) in Georgetown into Weston and finish at the intersection with Trails End Road. Road crews will operate from 7:00am until 5:00pm each day, there will be no work on Sundays. Georgetown Road will be down to one lane during construction hours. Traffic control will be handled by the Weston Police Department and CDOT personnel. The entire project is scheduled to be completed by July 9, 2024.
 
River Road Bridge Replacement (near the intersection of Good Hill Road): Some construction activity will start the week of March 18th.? Complete road closure for through traffic will begin on April 1st and continue through November 2024.

Davis Hill Road Bridge Preservation (near the intersection of Valley Forge Road): This project is currently in winter shutdown and work will resume starting on April 1st. During construction the roadway will remain open with only intermittent closures.? Future updates will be provided in advance of any full day road closures.? This project is targeted for substantial completion by August 2024.

Michaels Way Bridge Replacement (at Newtown Turnpike): Complete road closure for through traffic will begin on April 1st and continue through December 2024.

Lyons Plain Road Rehabilitation: Pavement and drainage repairs are scheduled to start late Spring 2024 and continue through the Summer months.? Construction will require intermittent road closures. ?This project has not yet been awarded and future updates will be provided.  

Town of Weston | Notice – Taxes Due
The first installment of real estate, personal property, and motor vehicle taxes on the Grand List of October 1, 2023 is due and payable on July 1, 2024. ?Failure to pay by August 1, 2024 will result in a late payment with interest of 1-1/2% per month starting with the July 1st due date per State Statute 12-145. Minimum interest charge is $2.00.? If you no longer have a vehicle that you received a bill for, you must present proof to the Tax Assessor (203) 222-2606.? If you have any questions, please call our office at (203) 222-2697. ?Taxpayers have several options to pay their bill. You can come in during town hall hours from 9 to 4:30 Monday through Friday. Alternatively, you can put your payment in the drop box outside the side entrance to the Town Hall, mail the payment, pay online at www.westonct.gov, or pay by phone at (855) 844-0237. Service fees will apply. If you did not receive a tax bill, please contact the Tax Collector. Beginning on June 27th, you can also check online for payment amounts at the town website noted above.? Failure to receive a tax bill does not excuse the taxpayer from tax and delinquent interest (C.G.S.12-130).

Dog Licenses Required
Connecticut law requires each owner of a dog six months or older must register the dog on or before June 30th each year.  Fees: spayed or neutered dogs $8.00 each un-spayed or un-neutered dogs $19.00 each.  Rabies Certificate and Spay/Neuter certificates are required for new registrations (documents will be returned).  Mail your registration to Town Clerk, P O Box 1007 Weston CT 06883 or register in person at Town Hall, Town Clerk’s office.  Thank you for keeping your pet safe!

Weston’s Food Scrap Recycling Program
Second Compost Give Back Event
July 6 from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm
We are holding another Compost Giveback event this coming Saturday July 6th from 8:30AM to 12:30PM for program participants who did not get a chance to come by on June 29th.  Each resident who has already signed up as a participant of the program can come with a 5–6-gallon bucket or equivalent container to get their complimentary compost. Make your way to the table set up by the Food Scraps bins where you will be checked in and assisted in collecting your compost. Shovels will be provided.  

Join The Program:

If you have not yet signed up for the Food Scraps Recycling Program and would like do so, click here: https://hrra.org/organics-food-scraps-weston/? As with mixed, glass, mattress or redeemable recycling, there is NO FEE to use the Food Scraps Recycling program for Weston residents. Residents simply collect their food scraps in a designated counter collection bin or bucket and then tip their container into the Curbside Compost bins located next to the red mattress recycling container at the Transfer Station. ?

Update:?

As of June 30th, 4 months into the program, we have 238 participating households in the program and 11,430 lbs or 5.7 tons of food scraps have been dropped off at the transfer station. Each month has seen an increase of approximately 300 pounds. This is significant diversion from the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) stream.?This Town of Weston program demonstrates the real potential of sustainable, circular loop consumption. ?Measures to counter the effects of the warmer temperatures include increasing the food scraps collection from once a week to twice a week in the summer and adding a layer of sawdust to the scraps in the bins regularly.  ?  

Volunteers:

Since the launch of the program, several program participants have offered to get involved and assist with promoting and refining the program. If you would like to join, please email: [email protected]. We would love to group our Recycling Action Group!? Thank you and well-done Weston!  

Social Media:

See our last event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/zRifswttqBT6Psd6/ and  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/C80HSOLtdjy/?hl=en&img_index=1

Please like/follow “Sustainable Weston” if you are on social media as we would like to boost our presence.

Pickleball Update!
The Town went out for bid last month for construction of three pickleball courts at Bisceglie Park.  Bids were opened on June 20 and the contract was awarded to Hinding Tennis, who have constructed many pickleball courts.  The bid came in within the budgeted amount for the project.  The project is being paid for with a combination of funding from the American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) which is federal funding awarded to the Town as well as Park & Recreation Department fee revenue.  The project should start soon with work proceeding through the rest of the summer.

Parks and Recreation
All camps, programs and other activity information can be found at www.westonct.gov/parksandrec

Bisceglie Pond
Order your passes NOW for the newly resurfaced Pond (thanks to ARPA Grant funding). Click here https://www.westonct.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/12581/638530924861030000 to order a pass. The Pond opened on 6/22! Hours are from 11:30 am to 6 pm.

Human Services
Applications are now being taken for the CT Elderly and Disabled Renters' Rebate Program. ?Please get in touch with Weston Human Services at 203-222-2556 to schedule an appointment. More information and eligibility requirements can be found here: CT Renters' Rebate Program.  

Would you like to be added to the Reassurance Program?
The Reassurance Program is a list of Weston residents who would like to be called by an employee of the Weston Social Services Dept in times of Town emergencies or inclement weather. ?We encourage those who live alone, don't drive, or have medical needs to register as this list is also shared with Emergency Responders in times of Town emergencies. ?Please email Rashida Miller, MSW at [email protected] for more information.  

Youth and Family Services
Please register for the Social Services monthly newsletter! ?Our goal is to provide our families and youth with resources that help promote physical and mental well-being through programming, events, referrals, and advocacy. ?Be sure to sign up at the bottom of the page to receive our newsletter each month! ?Click here for our latest newsletter  

Caregivers Support Group With Allison Lisbon, LCSW, MSW, Director of Human Services
Monthly meetings are held every third Tuesday, 1-2pm at the Weston Senior Center. For questions or to be added to the Caregiver Support Group email list, contact Allison Lisbon at [email protected]

Bereavement Support Group With Rashida Miller, MSW
Monthly meetings are held every fourth Tuesday, 1-2 pm, at the Weston Senior Center. For questions or to be added to the Bereavement Support Group email list, contact Rashida Miller at [email protected]

Board of Selectmen Meetings
Please feel free to attend BOS meetings where you can watch in person at the Town Hall Meeting Room or you can stream into the meetings, which are always posted on the Town website. Documents, recordings, and minutes are available at: https://www.westonct.gov/government/boards-commissions/elected/board-of-selectmen

Volunteers Needed for Town Boards
The following appointed boards have positions available: ?Commission for the Arts, Board of Assessment Appeals Alternate, Beautification Committee, Building Board of Appeals, Conservation Commission, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Committee, Board of Ethics, Historic District Commission Alternate, Veterans Affairs Committee. ?The following elected board has a position available: ?Zoning Board of Appeals. The Town of Weston Board of Selectmen will conduct interviews of candidates for appointed boards, commissions and committees in private, unless the candidate requests that the interview occur in public. Through the CT Freedom of Information Act, the state legislature expressly allows the Town Board of Selectmen to hold non-public executive sessions to discuss “the appointment, employment, performance, evaluation, health or dismissal of a public officer or employee." C.G.S. § 1-200 (6)(a). ?Like Weston, several nearby municipalities have also implemented similar policies to protect residents interested in volunteering their service from the abuse of modern technology such as artificial intelligence, social media, and personal identity theft. ?Please click here for more information and/or to submit your information for consideration for a position.

Paint Night at Norfield Grange
July 11 at 7:00 pm
Norfield Grange, 12 Goodhill Road
Join your friends as we show you how to paint four waterproof coasters or a mini canvas while you enjoy terrific appetizers and delicious drinks.  All supplies, food, and drinks are included. $35 per person. Click here for more information: https://www.westonct.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/6353/196

Weston Senior Center
Click this link to view the Senior Center Newsletter: ?https://westonseniorcenter.info/newsletters.php
Call or email the Senior Center to register: 203-222-2608/ [email protected]

Weston Public Library
Adventure begins at the Weston Public Library this summer. Everyone is invited to take part in the WPL Scavenger Hunt! Pick up your Scavenger Hunt materials at the Library and explore the Town of Weston by visiting locations marked on a map,. Summer Reading Programs for adults and children of all ages take place from June 21 through August 16. Come join the adventure!

Sunday Soundscapes: Hannah Goodman
July 14 at 4:00 pm
Weston Public Library Community Room
Singer, pianist, arranger, and songbook historian Hannah Madeleine Goodman performs “Almost Like Being in Love,” medleys of classics by Jerome Kern, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Frank Loesser, and more in the latest edition of Sunday Soundscapes from Friends of the Weston Library. Recognized as a crossover singer of many styles, Ms. Goodman reveals what makes the Great American Songbook great. Suggested donation: $20 for adults, $10 for students, or an amount more manageable