swrpa

The Saugatuck Reservoir in Weston; OLDER NEWS here. SWRPA-SWRMPO offices in the Stamford City Hall - comment on traffic in 2011 here - after "Congestion Pricing What?"
The South Western Region water and sewer service map 2007 (from Housing Study); State Plan of Conservation & Development 2005-2010, (Weston shown at left), and as it applies to SWRPA. The South Western Regional Planning Agency is an eight-town Region including Greenwich, Stamford, Darien, Norwalk and Westport and, north of the Merritt Parkway, New Canaan, Wilton and Weston. Its latest Plan was adopted in February, 2006.

The South Western Regional Planning Agency on the web...

AT NEW YEAR - 2012: ONCE AGAIN...TO FOLLOW THE HISTORY OF THIS ISSUE, CLICK HERE.

Joseloff support for regional planning agency prompts scrutiny
Paul Schott, pschott@bcnnew.com
Published 06:26 a.m., Friday, January 13, 2012

First Selectman Gordon Joseloff's proposal for Westport to join a new regional planning body received an ambivalent response Thursday night during a public meeting hosted by the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Joseloff has endorsed the creation of a Council of Governments, which would include Westport and seven other municipalities in lower Fairfield County. The COG, as it is informally known, would replace two existing regional planning agencies to which Westport belongs -- the South Western Regional Planning Agency and the South Western Region Metropolitan Planning Organization. A committee composed of the chief elected officials from eight municipalities would anchor the COG.

Consolidation of SWRPA and the MPO into a Council of Governments, Joseloff argued Thursday, would produce a better-organized regional planning body and a more effective advocate for people in southwestern Fairfield County at the state Capitol in Hartford.

"To serve our taxpayers efficiently and effectively, there's no doubt that this agency must convert to a COG," Joseloff said. "A lot of the federal dollars that are coming into the state are going into places other than southwest Connecticut. We need a strong voice; we are the ATM of the state of Connecticut. We ought to get a return."

Joseloff currently serves as the chairman of the MPO, which focuses on transportation issues.

Creating a COG would require approval from the legislative bodies in five of eight municipalities in lower Fairfield County that belong to SWRPA. The Westport Representative Town Meeting is scheduled to review the COG plan in February and vote on the proposal in March, according to RTM Planning and Zoning Committee Chairman Matthew Mandell. If the Westport RTM were to reject the COG proposal while five of the seven other SWRPA municipalities were to accept the plan, Westport could opt out of the COG, SWRPA officials said Thursday.

Many regions in Connecticut use a Council of Government as a regional planning body. Like those organizations, a lower Fairfield County COG would not have tax-levying powers. A Council of Governments, Joseloff maintained, would not threaten home rule. The state General Assembly abolished county government in 1960, and SWRPA was organized in 1962.

Formation of a COG for Fairfield County, however, faces obstacles. While several other chief elected officials in the region back a COG, Joseloff said, the plan does not command universal support. Greenwich First Selectman, Peter Tesei, for instance, has expressed opposition to the plan.

Disagreement has also emerged among SWRPA leaders about the effectiveness of scrapping SWRPA and the MPO for a Council of Governments. While SWRPA Executive Director Floyd Lapp and SWRPA Vice Chairman Robert Byrnes said Thursday that they backed the COG proposal, other high-level SWRPA members have expressed skepticism about the plan.

"There's been no great hue and cry as to SWRPA doing a poor job, or not doing its job," said Jay Tepper, a SWRPA board member from Stamford. "I just don't see why changing the structure is a wise thing at this point."

Josleoff's plan for Westport to join a COG may also struggle to find support among members of the RTM, a town body that for many residents symbolizes a robust tradition of home rule. Westport, for instance, is the only municipality in the state with the authority to regulate hunting within its borders, a power granted to it by the General Assembly in 1933.

"I, frankly, am very reluctant to be supportive of anything, one way or another, unless I get a fairly formal presentation," said RTM member Don Bergmann, District 1.

P&Z Commission Chairwoman Catherine Walsh, meanwhile, expressed reservations about the commitment required of municipal zoning officials such as herself, who would serve on a Regional Planning Commission for the COG.

The P&Z did not vote on the COG proposal at its Thursday meeting.

State Rep. Jonathan Steinberg and state Sen. Toni Boucher, who both represent Westport in the General Assembly, attended Thursday's meeting. Steinberg indicated he would consider supporting a COG that included Westport.

"If a COG could be more effective in getting things changed in Fairfield County -- getting us dollars, getting our agenda together -- that in my mind would be a sufficient rationale for moving forward," he said. "It's a challenge for us to represent the region's interests well with the tools that we have."

Aside from public officials, turnout at the meeting was limited. Resident Michael Calise questioned Joseloff's assertion that a COG would provide lower Fairfield County more influence within the state government.

"We simply don't get any traction in Hartford because of the legislative makeup," he said. "Putting on a new suit of clothes is not going to change it. Go to the Sherwood Diner in your dungarees one day and a suit the next -- you get the same hamburger."

Leaving SWRPA for COG? P&Z Hears Both Sides
By James Lomuscio, WestportNow
Thursday, January 12, 2012

Westport’s Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) tonight heard arguments at a public meeting for and against changing from membership in a regional planning agency (RPA) to a Council of Governments (COG).

Proponents of the shift, including First Selectman Gordon Joseloff and officials of the South Western Regional Planning Agency (SWRPA), touted the organizational shift as creating more efficiency, giving the towns a stronger voice in Hartford and making the region aligned with most of the state.

At present, 13 of Connecticut’s 15 districts have converted from RPAs to COGs, SWRPA being one of the last two. These planning agencies trace their roots to the 1960s when Connecticut abandoned county governments. Westport is one of eight Fairfield County towns in SWRPA.

“I am very strongly in favor of changing to a COG,” said Joseloff, adding that regions—including six municipalities around and including Bridgeport which most recently made the change—see positive results.

Earlier he had called SWRPA “a two-headed organization,” since it also has a Municipal Planning Organization (MPO) component that focuses primarily on regional transportation issues. Joseloff was elected chairman of the South Western MPO in December.

The problem is that while this region “sends most of its tax dollars to Hartford,” he said, it sees very little return of financial support for transportation infrastructure improvements.

“There are things that other regions have been able to achieve, and a lot of it has to do with perception in Hartford,” Joseloff said. “Just writing a letter will have more power.”

Robert Stephan, appointed to SWRPA by the New Canaan P&Z, agreed, saying “Your effectiveness will be stronger,” and that the new setup will be more efficient.

Steven Halstead, who until recently had served as the Westport P&Z representative to SWRPA, concurred that the move would result in a more efficient use of SWRPA’s $1.2 million budget funded by federal, state and municipal coffers.

“I believe it’s using the money more efficiently and a way to have a regional voice that’s more powerful in Hartford,” he said.

Michael Stashower, a former Westport P&Z member who presently serves as one of three Westport representatives to SWRPA, agreed, adding that “one of the advantages COG has is the ability to lobby in Hartford, and one problem we have here in Fairfield County is not being heard.”

Opponents countered the conversion would reduce the number of SWRPA volunteers from 22 to 8 members serving in an advisory capacity on a Regional Planning Commission (RPC) made up of one member chosen by each P&Z.

They also claimed it would put more power in the hands of the eight mayors and first selectmen, the Chief Elected Officials (CEOs). All would have voting power.

“The first thought I had was why,” said Jay Tepper, a member of the Stamford Planning Board who serves on SWRPA. “I don’t see why changing the structure at this time is a wise thing. If it’s not broke, don’t try to fix it.”

He added that with its decreased numbers, members of the RPC “will be doing three times the work.”

Westporter Michael Calise said that he was concerned that too much power would rest in the hands of CEOs.

“This is truly a concentration of power, putting it in the hands of eight elected officials, and you’re eliminating citizen participation,” Calise said. “When someone says to me a regional organization can become more powerful, I get nervous.”

While opposed to the change to COG, Tepper, later said Calise’s argument was misguided. He also dismissed claims that converting to a COG could result in a return to county governments and a loss of local control.

“I’m against it, but that’s bogus,” Tepper said.

State Rep. Jonathan Steinberg suggested that whether the town remains with SWRPA or moves to a COG, it might be wise to “poach some more towns from Fairfield County to be heard.” He made his remarks after hearing that the Capital Region COG had a strong voice due to its 30 member municipalities.

“The fact is we are not getting our fair share of taxpayer money from Hartford,” Steinberg said. “If it (changing to a COG) could get us more transportation dollars, that would be a significant reason for moving forward.”

According to Matthew Mandel, chairman of the Representative Town Meeting’s (RTM) Planning and Zoning Committee, Joseloff’‘s proposal to change to a COG will go before the RTM in February “and a decision will be made in March.”

Five of the eight SWRPA member municipalities have to agree to the change in order for it to be implemented. Those that do not want to join can opt out, said Floyd Lapp, SWRPA executive director.

Regional planning agency: Weston considers structure change
Weston FORUM
Written by Patricia Gay and Matt Dalen
Wednesday, 11 January 2012 12:00

The Weston Board of Selectmen is reviewing a proposal that would change the governing structure of the town’s regional planning agency.

The proposal was discussed at a special selectmen’s meeting on Monday, Jan. 9, with Dimple Desai from the state’s Office of Policy Management.

Weston is currently part of the South West Regional Planning Agency (SWRPA) and is considering changing its governing structure from a regional planning agency (RPA) to a council of governments (COG).

SWRPA includes New Canaan, Darien, Greenwich, Norwalk, Stamford, Weston, Westport, and Wilton, and is charged with encouraging regional cooperation around planning and related policies.

At the meeting, Weston First Selectman Gayle Weinstein said she would like to see the agency change to a COG. “A COG works more efficiently,” she said.

The proposal

Under the proposal, the SWRPA board, which is composed of 22 members appointed by the towns’ executives and the towns’ planning and zoning bodies, would be eliminated.

In its place, the agency would be led by a council composed of each of the members’ first selectmen or mayors, a group which currently holds an advisory role in the agency. An eight-member regional planning committee, appointed by each municipality’s planning organization, would serve as a non-voting advisory group to the council.

In effect, the change shifts the responsibility from an appointed regional planning authority to the chief elected officials.

Weston currently has two members on SWRPA, Margaret Wirtenberg and Ridge Young. Under a COG, they would be replaced by Ms. Weinstein.

Ms. Weinstein said the proposal would streamline the agency’s leadership and be easier for staff to work with just one board. The council of governments model is already in use by nine of the state’s 14 regional planning organizations; only the southwestern region and central Connecticut use the regional planning agency model. There are also three Councils of Elected Officials (CEOs), composed only of chief elected officials without planning advisors.

Concerns

Ms. Weinstein asked Mr. Desai to address concerns that former Selectman Dan Gilbert and others have expressed about the COG proposal. The chief issue was whether the town would give up its “home rule” status and become more like a “county-type” ruled government.

“There is a concern that if we change to a COG the state will allow it to become an individual taxing authority. Would that be the case?” Ms. Weinsten asked Mr. Desai.

He said he could not speak for the state legislature, but there is nothing like that being proposed now and a COG would operate the same way as an RPA does.

Selectman Dennis Tracey was concerned that a COG could become a “regional asset district,” which could require small towns to give up some taxes to the region. He thought an RPA could not become a regional asset district, but a COG of chief elected officials could.

Weston Planning and Zoning Chairman Jane Connolly was also concerned that a COG would have broader powers than an RPA because chief elected officials could do more by state statute.

Ms. Weinstein asked Mr. Desai to look further into the question of whether a COG could implement a regional tax district, and whether a group of non-elected officials could also create one. She also asked him to check whether the scope of authority of a COG is broader, narrower, or the same as an RPA.

Selectman Dave Muller said he thought the authority was the same regardless of whether the town was part of an RPA or a COG.

Regardless of whether the town is a member of an RPA or a COG, another concern was possible expansion of the regional planning district. There are currently eight towns in SWRPA but there has been talk that the state wants to consolidate the districts.

Mr. Desai said a legislative bill that would have reduced the state’s 14 regional planning districts to eight had died.

Under state statute 16a-4c, OPM was supposed to conduct an analysis of the planning district boundaries by Jan 1. Mr. Tracey asked if that analysis was completed. Mr. Desai said it had not been completed as OPM was working on other issues.

Ms. Connolly said she thought the town should wait to see what the state does with the regions before considering a change to the regional planning structure.

Participation in SWRPA goes way back. It was organized in 1962 when representatives from five municipalities recognized the need for regional cooperation and coordination.

In 2005, First Selectman Diane Farrell of Westport proposed changing the structure to a COG. That proposal did not go forward due to lack of support.

To effectuate the change from an RPA to a COG, five out of the eight towns in SWRPA need to support the proposal.

No towns in SWRPA have voted on the proposal yet.

Westport First Selectman Gordon Joseloff, who was at Monday’s meeting, said that town’s legislative body, the representative town meeting, conducted a first reading of the proposal in June but did not do a second reading so the proposal died. “We’re back to square one,” he said. He added that he would “like to get the ball rolling” again on the issue.

New Canaan’s Town Council recently heard a presentation on the plan, but chose to put off a decision so the newly elected first selectman there has time to review it more thoroughly.

Ms. Weinstein said Wilton First Selectman Bill Brennan is in favor of the proposal, but Greenwich is likely not in favor if it.

She said the issue would be brought to a public hearing in Weston but it would not go to a town meeting for a vote. She said it would be handled like “other ordinances,” and that was not how ordinances were passed.

Mr. Tracey said he would debate whether it should go to a town meeting. “It’s a significant decision, I think it should go to a town meeting,” he said.

SWRPA restructuring vote delayed by Town Council
New Canaan ADVERTISER
Written by Matt Dalen, Assistant Editor
Thursday, 05 January 2012 00:00

CORRECTION: The initial verson of this article had incorrect values for the South Western Regional Planning Agency's budget and New Canaan's annual contribution. New Canaan contributes about $12,000 to the agency's $1.5 million budget.

The Town Council has chosen to put off a decision on supporting the South Western Regional Planning Agency’s conversion to a council of governments until it is finished reviewing the proposal.

The Town Council heard a presentation on the proposal, which would restructure the governance — but not, for the most part, the responsibilities — of the agency at its meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 21.

“With this proposal, what we see is a more logical, more effective alignment between the decision makers and the people who are accountable to the public,” said agency board member Bob Stephen. “Rather than relying on reports [from the agency], the chief elected officers would be directly involved.”

Former First Selectman Jeb Walker and agency Board of Directors Chairman Jerry Ellis presented the proposal to the council. New Canaan is the first of the towns and cities in the region to consider the proposal. Five of the eight municipalities — Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Stamford, Weston, Westport, and Wilton — must approve the change in order for it to pass.

The proposal

Under the proposal, the agency’s board, which is composed of 22 members appointed by the towns’ executives and the towns’ planning and zoning bodies, would be eliminated. In its place, the agency would be led by a council composed of each of the members’ first selectmen or mayors, a group which currently holds an advisory role in the agency. An eight-member regional planning committee, appointed by each municipality’s planning organization, would serve as an advisory group to the council.

Walker and Ellis have hailed the proposal as streamlining the agency’s leadership and giving the individual town leaders more influence in deciding what tasks the agency would take on. While about 80% of the agency’s $1.5 million budget is devoted to state- or federally-mandated regional transportation work, the remainder includes studies and proposals for work that would affect multiple towns, such as watershed issues and emergency response.

Under either leadership structure, the agency would not have the ability to levy taxes, and would be limited to asking for dues from the members, something which already happens. According to agency Director Floyd Lapp, the municipalities’ total dues this year are about $12,000.

The council of governments model is already in use by nine of the state’s 14 regional planning organization; only the south western region and central Connecticut use the regional planning agency model.

Concerns

Despite Walker and Ellis’s strong support for the proposal, agency board member Victor Cavallo presented some concerns that the reorganization would remove the town’s planning organizations from the agency’s decision-making.

“The power will be concentrated among the chief elected officials,” Cavallo said. “The planning and zoning representatives will not have voting power.”

Cavallo also expressed concern that the duties required by the council of governments would add responsibilities to already-busy town leaders.

“Do the elected officials have the time to concern themselves with the minutia that is dealt with by the SWRPA board?” he asked.

Some of his concerns over the workload had been echoed by First Selectman Rob Mallozzi III, who had asked the council to delay a decision until he could look at the proposal.

“In concept, this is a very good idea,” Mallozzi said at the Board of Selectmen meeting on Tuesday, December 20. “... [But] if I’m going to be obligated to something, I want to explore it at my place. I want to be more comfortable with it.”

Newly elected MPO Chair. Gordon Joseloff, Westport, outgoing Chair. Jeb Walker, New Canaan and Bill Brennan, Wilton.

R E G I O N A L T R A N S P O R T A T I O N P L A N N I N G...
From Greenwich on the west to Westport on the east...newly elected leadership, 2011-2013:

Westport First Selectman Gordon Joseloff today was elected chairman of the South Western Regional Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), the body responsible for planning, programming and coordination of federal highway and transit investments in the southwest Connecticut region.

At its monthly meeting at the Norwalk Transit District, MPO members also elected Wilton First Selectman Bill Brennan as vice chairman. Joseloff, who had been vice chairman, succeeds Jeb Walker, the outgoing New Canaan first selectman who did not seek re-election in November.

MPO members include the chief elected officials of the eight member communities of the South Western Regional Planning Agency (SWRPA) - Westport, Weston, Wilton, New Canaan, Darien, Greenwich, Norwalk, and Stamford -- as well as directors of the region's transit districts.

"I am deeply honored by the confidence shown in me by my fellow CEOs to lead this important organization," Joseloff said. "While we may be little known to the public, the MPO is crucial to improving the transportation infrastructure which is so critical to the economic viability of our region."

Former Westport First Selectman Diane Farrell also served as chairman of the MPO during her time in office.

Joseloff said he intended to continue efforts first begun under Farrell and continued by Walker to combine the MPO and SWRPA into a South West Council of Governments - a regional planning structure headed by
municipal CEOs which has already been adopted by a majority of the other regional planning agencies in the state.

"I think a Council of Governments structure would make the elected CEOs more directly responsible and streamline SWRPA operations while retaining the important contributions of our planning commissions and
professional planners in our member municipalities," he said.

R E G I O N A L T R A N S P O R T A T I O N P L A N N I N G...
From Greenwich on the west to Westport on the east...newly elected or RE-ELECTED leadership, 2009-2011:
South Western Metropolian Planning Organization Members 2009-2011 (Stamford and Norwalk Transit District representatives not pictured, but share one vote)

Top row: First Selectman PETER TESEI of Greenwich, Mayor Mike Pavia of Stamford, First Selectman Dave Campbell of Darien, First Selectman JEB WALKER of New Canaan; Bottom row: Mayor DICK MOCCIA of Norwalk, First Selectman BILL BRENNAN of Wilton, First Selectman Gayle Weinstein of Weston and First Selectman GORDON JOSELOFF of Westport.

FORMER CHAIR. OF SWRMPO report in HOUR
New Vice-Chair. of SWRMPO is Gordon Joseloff, Westport First Selectman in Westport News (at left of photo center). had a story, too; Stamford Advocate quoted new Chair. of SWRMPO First Selectman Jeb Walker of New Canaan. State Senator (36) L. Scott Franz of Greenwich at right.

Greenwich resentful of status as state income tax cash cow
By Neil Vigdor, Greenwich TIME Staff Writer
Published: 02:20 p.m., Saturday, January 30, 2010

If Greenwich had a town song, "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" would be in the running. For every $142 local residents pay out in state income tax, Greenwich gets about $1 back in municipal aid annually, according to a new study by the South Western Regional Planning Agency that has town officials once again saying that they are stuck in a one-way relationship.

"When the hard-working people of southwestern Connecticut and other pockets of Connecticut end up subsidizing large bureaucracies that do not demonstrate much accountability and tend to grow at unsustainable rates, then you're going to have, at some point, a breakdown in the system," said state Sen. L. Scott Frantz, R-36th District, which includes Greenwich and parts of Stamford and New Canaan.

"As tax rates go up to the point where people realize that they are paying much more than their fair share, they tend to leave the state."

Greenwich provided the state with $758 million, or just over 14 percent, of its income tax revenue in 2007, the most recent year that figures were available to the eight-municipality planning consortium. On a per-capita basis, that works out to $12,420 for each of the town's 61,101 residents as estimated by the 2000 Census. The next closest municipality was Stamford, which accounted for $241 million, or 4.5 percent, in state income tax revenue.

Greenwich received $5.3 million in state statutory grant aid for the fiscal year starting July 1, 2007, and ending June 30, 2008.

Stamford collected $15.7 million in state aid in return for the same period.

Rep. Cameron Staples, D-New Haven, co-chairman of the General Assembly's Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee, said the system was never intended to provide a return on contribution.

"State aid is not supposed to be, in my view, equitably distributed to towns," Staples said. "State aid for the most part goes for services that the state needs to supplement at the local level. A town like Greenwich has the ability to fund most of its own services. The city of Bridgeport is not capable of fully funding its own education system."

SWRPA shared its analysis of the state income tax this month with chief elected officials in its member cities and towns, including Republican First Selectman Peter Tesei of Greenwich.

"I think it's a validation of what many people have expressed -- that we pay a disproportionate share of the taxes and receive a smaller portion of the revenue," Tesei said. "Therefore when we get to looking at the state budget situation, given the political composition, we're not adequately represented."

Republicans have been in the minority in the General Assembly since 1997. Staples was quick to point out that the GOP has held the governor's office since 1994, however. Perhaps Tesei should have said geographical composition instead. With the exception of Deputy Senate Majority Leader Andrew McDonald of Stamford, the leadership ranks in legislature and executive branch have recently been dominated by lawmakers from outside Fairfield County.

"I certainly agree that Fairfield County has a lot to gain by being a lot more politically involved in Hartford because they're paying a lot more than their fair share of the bill," said Tom Foley, a Greenwich Republican running for governor.

Foley said the average household pays $8,600 annually in aggregate taxes to Connecticut, making it the worst state in a ranking by the Washington, D.C.-based Tax Foundation. He added that the average income in the state is $68,000.

"One in eight dollars in the household is going to state government," Foley said. "That's way too high."

Members of Greenwich's political establishment uniformly called on the state to rein in its spending and do more to grow the tax base.

"We're facing, over the next four years, a deficit forecast at $12.5 billion," Frantz said. "We immediately need to shore up our fiscal situation by stopping any unnecessary spending and, for the longer term, we need to adopt a sincere pro-growth approach towards running this state."

Frantz criticized his Democratic colleagues for supporting tax increases.

"To be honest with you, I think the majority party in the General Assembly missed the opportunity of a lifetime by increasing the top marginal tax rate on income and capital gains by 30 percent," Frantz said. "We could have almost overnight expanded our tax base significantly by attracting families, corporations and partnerships to the state of Connecticut from New York and New York City alone."

Staples said changes to the income tax were proposed by Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell and were still quite competitive compared to the rates in New York and New Jersey. Calling Frantz's comments "rhetoric," Staples said that Republicans have come up with few proposals for streamlining state government on their own while controlling the governor's office.

Democrats, he said, are doing their part.

"There certainly is an ongoing effort to find economies of scale, encourage regionalization of services and encourage consolidation of state agencies in an effort to streamline the state bureaucracy," Staples said.

REGIONAL TAXATION REPORTS FROM 2009...

Study to be completed prior to January 1, 2012:
New boundaries for Regional Planning Organizations - instead of 15 they are to shrink to 8; new boundaries to bring related regions together - but this is going on at the same times as Congressional District boundaries are being redrawn, too. Where is the public input here?

The last time this issue came up...story here.
Weston Selectmen to Review Revamping SWRPA
The Norwalk Hour
By Robert Koch
Wednesday, June 15, 2011

The Weston Board of Selectmen on Thursday night will get a better look at a proposal that would revamp the South Western Regional Planning Agency and affiliate Metropolitan Planning Organization into a Council of Local Governments. Creation of a Council of Local Governments, which ultimately would require the approval of the legislative bodies of at least four of SWRPA’s eight member communities, would put transportation, housing and other inter-municipal issues under the direct leadership of chief elected officials, according to proponents.

On Thursday night, the selectmen will begin their discussion of the concept. “ We’re going to have a presentation made to ( the selectmen) and then we have to set a public hearing date and then we’ll vote on it at our next meeting which is July 7,” said First Selectwoman Gayle Weinstein. “I’m in favor of changing the structural organization to a COG, because I think it will allow us to work more effectively as a region.” Weinstein said a COG structure would facilitate regionalization efforts, centralize purchasing and lead to government efficiencies.

SWRPA Chairman Gerald Ellis will make the presentation Thursday night. Wilton First Selectman William F. Brennan and Woody Bliss, former Weston first selectman and past SWRMPO chairman, will also be present, she said. In December 2009, Bliss said creation of a Council of Governments was worth considering.

New Canaan First Selectman Jeb Walker, then incoming SWRMPO chairman, said the organization of SWRPA and SWRMPO was “probably our top priority.” But the idea of converting the two organizations into a Council of Local Government has faced opposition from those who believe it’s a step toward the return to county government, or simply shortchanging some communities.

Greenwich First Selectman Peter J. Tesei told fellow SWRMPO members in April that Greenwich residents perceive “ a very strong push toward regionalization and the adoption of various levels of taxes that in a nutshell redistribute resources in an unequitable manner.” Mayor Richard A. Moccia said this month that there’s no rush to bring the COG concept to vote in Norwalk.

“ I’d prefer to wait until after the summer, maybe early September, to bring it to the council, so they can make their presentation and everything,” Moccia said.

“My position on (the COG structure) is that if it opens the door for more grants and for more regional aid, it’s fine,” Moccia said. “As long as everybody understands we’re not losing local autonomy. I believe the state has some incentive grants that if you have a COG, you can do joint purchasing and save some money and things like that. That’s the advantage. But it has to be clear that you don’t lose local autonomy.”

Floyd Lapp, SWRPA executive director, said four of SWRPA’s eight member municipalities have had public discussions and meetings on the COG option for regional structure. “In the case of New Canaan and Westport and Wilton, I believe they have introduced or will be introducing resolutions,” said Lapp who limited his comments.

“The elected officials and their legislative bodies should be leading the effort, and I should not be getting out in the front offering my opinions."

--------------------

NOTE OF CORRECTION: Five (5) municipalities' legislative bodies must OK changeover.

SWRPA looks to change into a Council of Governments
By ROBERT KOCH, Hour Staff Writer
Posted on 12/11/2009

NORWALK

The outgoing and incoming chairman of South Western Region Metropolitan Planning Organization on Thursday said converting their organization into a Council of Governments is worth considering...read full story here.

Pavia shapes transition team, administration may have slot for Norwalk developer
By TOM EVANS, Hour Staff Writer
November 27, 2009

STAMFORD

With the big thing -- winning the election -- out of the way, Mayor-elect Michael Pavia is now focusing on "the four or five thousand little things" that will help shape his transition and the early stages of his administration.

"We will be transitioning for at least the first 30 days," Pavia said, in reference to his being sworn in to his new post on Dec. 1. "During, and immediately after (being sworn in), we'll be looking at several initiatives. We'll also begin dialogues about the fire situation, (the) Scofieldtown (water line) remediation, and look at the city government and services and see how we can make them even more efficient."

At the moment, the only name to be submitted to the Board of Representatives for an administration position is that of Michael Larobina, who is being considered for director of legal affairs.

The Republican mayor-elect described Jerry Effren, founder and owner of Norwalk-based The Greyrock Companies, as "someone we're considering" for the post of director of operations.

"We can name someone to a position, and that person can serve for 60 days," Pavia said of the administration selection process. "Then we can submit that name (to the Board of Representatives) for ratification. We're looking at some options to maintain some continuity from the former administration to the new one."

Already on Pavia's plate are preliminary discussions on the upcoming budget for Stamford.

"The 2010-11 budget is going to be daunting," Pavia said of the process that will produce a new municipal budget by July 1. "And there are so many other things to deal with too."

Pavia has been pleased with all the people he has met and has been impressed with their ideas and suggestions.

"Everybody who came up to me today and told me what they're doing was interesting and dynamic," Pavia said of the Old Town Hall re-dedication ceremony last Thursday. "I think people are generally happy. And the Old Town Hall was one of the four or five thousand little things. The Old Town Hall was one of the things we wanted to wrap up sooner than later."

One of the people who Pavia met with recently was Mayor Dan Malloy. The two sat down on Friday, Nov. 20, for what Pavia described as "a good meeting."

"It was a very open meeting, and Mayor Malloy offered his help for the transition in any way he can," Pavia said. "We discussed immediate concerns about some issues. Dan made himself available at any time, and he opened up for discussions."

The rush of a resounding election victory has changed into a different emotion. Pavia said he is "anxious to start working" with his elevation to the city's top job just days away.

"I want to do things that need to be done, things I mentioned in the campaign," Pavia said. "I want to improve the way Stamford does business, expand the commercial base, and create more customer-friendly service. I work hard every day and when I see something that needs to be done, I attack it."

Pavia admitted that the last seven months have been something of a blur, but he is proud of the fact that the race against Democrat David Martin never deteriorated into mud slinging and accusations.

"In May, the election was so far away and now I look back, and it went by so fast," Pavia said. "I thought 'we're never going to get to Nov. 3' -- then on Nov. 2, I said, 'I can't believe we're here.' I probably met 8,000 people I'd never met before. We re-created dialogue where people felt they'd been left behind. During the campaign, we had mini town hall meetings without fist fights. It's refreshing that the campaign was issue-oriented."

There are also no flamboyant campaign pledges hanging over Pavia's head as he prepares to take office, he said.

"The only (campaign) promise I made was that I would work hard," Pavia said. "I will definitely pursue hard work and do what I said I would do. I thank everybody for the opportunity to serve the city of Stamford."

The mayor-elect has also been impressed with what he called a "dynamic that was formulating all through the campaign."

"Many new candidates were stepping forward, and it wasn't about party or ideology," Pavia said. "These people have the ability and desire to serve the city of Stamford. More collaboration is beginning to develop, and I'm talking with people who want to erase the party letter at the end of their name."

OLDER NEWS...remember this?

Listen to a radio interview with SWRPA Executive Director Dr. Floyd Lapp at the link below. This interview was initially broadcast on Greenwich radio station WGCH on August 25, 2007... http://www.aboutweston.com/FloydLappWGCHinterview8-25-07-SF64kbps.mp3

Note: This audio mp3 file is 11.8 megaBytes (mB) in size. Depending on how your software is set up, it may start playing immediately, or the entire file may download before starting to play. Download times will vary from a minute or two on a high speed connection, to around 30 minutes on a dial-up connection. Click above listen!!!