The Norfield Church Parish Hall (a beautiful room) and a sunny winter thaw made this tenth year of "The Town's Business is Your Business" or "Speak Up 2001" perhaps the best one yet!  Although a previous event where former First Selectman George Guidera said "Bridgeport Hydraulic is no friend to the Town of Weston" during the Trout Brook Valley threat was maybe better...Betty Hill starred in that one--who could forget Ms. Hill taking to task those who would turn fields and woodlands into fairways and sand traps!!!

"Speak Up 2001" took place on Saturday, February 10, 2001 from 10:30AM to 12:30PM in the Norfield Church Parish Hall.  (Very unLeague-like--reference to the "shit committee" as some members of the Board of Education have called the Select Committee working on solving the septic/sewer issue were made.)  Of course, effluent is what we are talking about!!!

 More than 100 Westonites attended and more than 30 questions were asked of the invited (35) officials on stage by the public of their government.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
 1.  Our State Senator, Judith Freedman, and our Representatives Cathy Tymniak and John Stripp, spoke first in response to questions on ethics and background checks for employees of the Board of Education.

2.  The legislators then informed the audience of their particular assignments.  John Stripp noted that the Special Education formula would be revised in some way this session;  Cathy Tymniak hopes to be active in the financing discussion at the Appropriations Committee on the KELDA lands issue, and Senator Freedman spoke several times, once noting the ongoing investigations by the Legislature's investigatory arm, for which she serves as Committee Co-Chair.

3.  How many communities in Connecticut are exempt from their own zoning regulations? Three (3).

4.  Must you give up private wells if water is supplied?  Answered by the Bridgeport Hydraulic Company executive present--no, but new houses must tie in to public water supply.

5.  Open space use of Water Company Land--anything else but passive use there ever?  No.  The State of Connecticut will own the land.  Selectman Woody Bliss explained that there were other alternatives explained by the Coalition for the Permanent Protection of Kelda Lands, and they should go forward in case preservation is not accomplished in the Governor's action (to buy easements over all but Class I lands[?]).

6.  Tax Relief for the Elderly - congratulations (from non-elderly person)

7.  Open Government?  Cable television almost at a point where we can sit at home and watch public meetings...need a few thousand dollars more to complete the job of installation...would someone care to donate the money (since the Town will not pay for it).

8.  Overbuilding and Project Choice...one parent was concerned that overbuilding, beyond a five-year horizon, might create excess space in the schools that would be filled by out-of-town students. Select Team representative answered (to applause) by asking "Why aren't we willing to take in diversity?"  A meeting on Feb. 14 at 7:30 in Weston Library should discuss these matters--public encouraged to attend.

9.  Kindergarten movement to activities outside new portable village?  Will small children have to be shuttled to and from central service (i.e. Library, Computer Lab)?  Answered:  by small vehicle (for special needs children).

10.  Comparable treatment for children in portables?  This question elicited responses from Superintendent regarding adequacy of portable arrangements planned.  The questioner also asked that class size not be increased.

11.  Coats and Boots...same questioner asked if the extended Kindergarten times so recently put into effect would be nullified by the need to transport children to centralized functions (Library, etc.)?

12.  Kindergarten Special Education students...would the nurse be aware of any emergencies in a timely fashion to remediate medical problems?

13.  "Sewer" Committee?  Questioner wanted to know why the work of the Select Committee was not finished already (within original 90 days). The Chair. of the Select Committee pointed out  1)that they were to find OPTIONS to sewers--and were on the road to solving our problems.  He pointed out that no matter how long the Committee had taken to develop plans, DEP wanted GROUNDWATER TESTING--low water (late Summer) and high water (early Spring). April 2001 is the time the high water tests are due, and a report will come out then.  Also, the Select Committee was successful in getting cooperation from DEP to exchange upgrades for all Hurlbutt septic systems (all 4) for permission to link the Kindergarten Village on School Road to North House's septic system.  A DRAFT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT AND THE TOWN OF WESTON IS IN THE MAIL  The questioner appeared satisfied with this response.

The representative of the other special committee--Select Team--pointed out that this other body was at work in parallel with the septic solution Team to get a new school building up and running by Fall 2003.

14.  Special Education Information Privacy Breach?  A parent who is an attorney questioned the Superintendent of Schools regarding a breach of confidentiality re: a student's records.

15.  F.O.I. Complaint.  A questioner asked why public officials refer to other volunteers in government with disrespect and attempt to hide evidence of activity over the Internet.  The Chair. of the Board of Education did not fully respond to this question, nor did the other member of the Board of Education seated up front, on stage.

16.  Special Education regressing? A questioner asked if the special education inclusiveness developed under the immediate past Director of Pupil Services had been abandoned...and were we "regressing" to previous attitudes toward special needs and disabled persons?  Superintendent referred to Special Education report.

17.  Liquor to minors...what can the Town do to prevent liquor from being served in private homes to minor (and the very young)?  The Police Chief answered that the law can be enforced if violations are reported (not personal matters--but if a party is ongoing, police can help).

18.  Question on kindergarten solution

19.  Cost to seniors of school expansion...concern over expansion in light of increasing budgets.  Select Team representative noted that cost of construction will not be the ultimate biggest tax impact--it will be the increases in the school operating budget that most severely weigh down the taxpayer.

20.  Investigation of School Superintendent? Chair. of Board of Education reported that an investigation is being conducted at this time.  (NOTE:  Please refer to previous news.)

21.  Citizen complemented the Weston Government for excellent work!

22.  Three points to remember (from the Weston Alliance):  First Selectman stated that he agreed with the Alliance!  Point one:  put yourself in your neighbor's shoes.  Point two:  there is nothing wrong with honest differences of opinion.  Point three:  Preserve the best aspects of the Town of Weston.

23.  What about Route Seven (in regard of balanced transportation system)?  Big steps and little steps need to be taken to solve transportation/traffic problems.  Former DOT Commissioner (now Selectman) explained how the transportation problems of the past few years have been caused by lack of action previously or actual countermeasures by other parts of government/political system.  First Selectman spoke of three of the four classifications of roads: 1)limited access highways--Route Seven must be completed  2)major road needs--Routes 53 and 57 (and intersection)  3)collector road turning into bypass routes for inter-town travelers;  4)minor roads taken care of by the Town of Weston--no one complained about potholes!!!

24.  What happened during construction of CORE building (Health District says it did not know about project--they are responsible for knowing where existing wells post 1967 are located) when best well was covered up by structure?

25.  Why don't all seniors get their taxes frozen?  The seniors today paid for the school system once.

26.  Support Special Education...

27.  Don't let what happened to California's educational system happen here  ("Proposition 13")

28.  When is the Town Census going to be finalized?  The First Selectman explained that 82% of the responses were in and showed 30% of the households had children in Weston Schools...another 600 households to be sought to make a full response.  More data will also be developed after the survey phase is complete in a few weeks--by March 3 "Select Team" public meeting this data will be final.

29.  So what is going on with the Jarvis Military Academy?  New appointments to this Committee are to be made at the next Board of Selectmen's Meeting--since its purchase, first floor rooms have been temporarily given over to Town Departments until a plan for the whole property is finalized.

30.  And what is happening with the Reservoir (and water levels)?  Planning and Zoning Commission members left the room at this point as Public Hearing related to water supply and property now in Public Hearing was to be discussed.  Vice President of former BHC spoke of tentative agreement to give land rights for open space to State of Connecticut.  Selectman responded that there is an alternative available if so desired to create a Regional Water Authority that would deliver water and save open space.

31.  Affordable Housing Application? The continuation of the Public Hearing noted above will take place TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2001 at 6:30pm in Town Hall.

LWV of Weston photographs and comment (click HERE)