Greetings and Welcome to Town Hall Happenings! 

First Selectwoman’s Opening Note
On this Independence Day, I am thankful for residing in this tranquil and charitable town. I also recognize that for others around the world, the struggle for and value of freedom is profound. Wishing you an enjoyable and significant holiday, and for those going to the fireworks at the middle school, I'll meet you there! And, as we celebrate our nation's independence, let us also reflect on the importance of unity and cooperation in building strong communities while we continue to work together towards a brighter and more peaceful future for all. 

Town Closures – 7/4
Please note that municipal offices and the transfer station will be closed on Thursday July 4^th in observance of Independence Day.  

Weston Family 4th of July Celebration
Weston Family 4th of July Celebration will be held on Thursday, July 4th at the Weston Middle School field. Entertainment, live music and food trucks will be available to celebrate Independence Day. The fireworks show will begin at dusk. Premier parking passes are on sale now, they are limited and give you direct, close access to the celebration area. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased at the Recreation office at 47 Norfield Road. Regular parking passes are also available for $20/car and walk in passes can be purchased at the event for $5/person. This is a CASH ONLY event, credit cards, Venmo, etc. will not be accepted. The fun begins at 4:30. Celebrate Independence Day with your friends, family and neighbors! 

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.

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 9^th 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

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 1^st 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 27^th, 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).

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:

Weston Bridge Replacement/Rehabilitation Projects:

- 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.   

Broadway’s Swings! Saturday June 29^th at 6:30 pm at Lachat Town Farm Offutt Center
The Weston Commission for the Arts and Lachat Town Farm are pleased to sponsor this free event, highlighting our own Kristen Hahn fresh off her successful debut as a soloist at Lincoln Center. Joining Kristen is a long time favorite of Weston audiences, Chris Coogan of the Chris Coogan Quartet. Chris will be on piano and join in duets.  A Weston native, Kristen Hahn got her professional start in the Westport Country Playhouse's production of Our Town which starred Paul Newman and then transferred to Broadway. Kristen's other Broadway and National Tour credits include the Tony-winning productions of "A Gentleman's Guide To Love and Murder" and "Hello, Dolly!". In addition to her musical theater work, Kristen also enjoys a career in classical music and made her Lincoln Center soloist debut earlier this year with the American Classical Orchestra in Bach's B Minor Mass.  Chris Coogan has played pop with Phoebe Snow, Donna Summers, Bette Middler and Darlene Love, and on Broadway with Paul Newman, Jim Naughton and Kelli O’Hara and has performed jazz with Randy Brecker, Sal Salvador, and with his own Chris Coogan Quartet. He serves as musical director at churches, synagogues and with local theaters as well as leading the GoodNews Gospel Choir. He teaches the art of jazz improvisation to many students locally and at the University of Bridgeport. The New York Times has called him a “masterful performer.” He is quoted as saying, “I like to bring people together with music.” 

Doors Open at 6:30 p.m. inside the Offutt Center. Performance starts at 7p.m. Tickets are complimentary and require advance registration. Limited seating to 100 attendees. Light complimentary beverages will be served, including prosecco and wine. Register at lachattownfarm.org

Compost Give-Back Saturday 6/29 at the Transfer Station
Saturday, June 29 from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm
237 Godfrey Road East
Thank you to those who signed up and participate in Weston's Food Scraps Recycling program launched in February.  We have some news for you! Tomorrow, Saturday June 29th, 2024 for From 8:30AM to 1:30PM, there will be a Compost Give Back at the Transfer Station.  Each resident who is already signed up as a participant of the program can come with a 5-gallon bucket or equivalent container to get their complimentary compost. Make your way to the tent set up by the Food Scraps bins and where you will be checked in and assisted to collect your compost. 

Food Scraps Recycling Update
As of June 28th, 4 months into the program, we have 233 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. 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. This Town of Weston program demonstrates the real potential of sustainable, circular loop consumption. Grow. Eat. Compost. Repeat. 

Reminders:

BioBags - Refill rolls are available for purchase at the Transfer Station office.

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 let me know, we would love to group our Recycling Action Group!

Enlist others - Please encourage them neighbors and friends to register. Many residents compost at home and some use curbside compost services but there are many who are still throwing food scraps in with regular trash and burdening the Municipal Solid Waste Stream.

Contact - If you have any questions, feedback or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out via phone or email with questions.

Thank you and well done Weston!

Solar Array to be Built at the Transfer Station
Exciting Announcement! The lease of town-owned land at the transfer station was unanimously approved during the Special Town Meeting, marking a significant milestone. What's even better is that we will enjoy the benefits of a solar array without incurring any costs. That's right, not a single penny! Instead, Greenskies Clean Energy, a reputable company headquartered in North Haven, will provide the town with annual lease payments. The construction of the solar array is scheduled to commence this summer, as soon as all the necessary approvals and permits are obtained. While it will take approximately two months to complete the process, the wait will undoubtedly be worthwhile.

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.

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]

Click Here for more information.