New Town Clerk for Westport
The Town of Westport announced the hiring of a new Town Clerk to replace newly-retired Patricia Strauss:
“First Selectman Jim Marpe announced [yesterday] that Jeffrey (Jeff) M. Dunkerton has been appointed as the Town Clerk for the Town of Westport. He will assume his duties effective January 19. Chosen from several qualified candidates, Mr. Dunkerton, who is a Certified Connecticut Town Clerk, is replacing Patricia Strauss who retired January 1.
Most recently the Assistant Town Clerk for the City of Danbury, CT, Dunkerton was responsible for the automation of the Town Clerk’s office, including digitizing all City records. He also performed several management and administrative functions including the preparation of department budgets and the day-to-day oversight of departmental staff.
Prior to working for the City of Danbury, Jeff was a Registrar of Voters in Brookfield, CT and was an Operations Manager for a division of Pitney Bowes. He is a volunteer firefighter in Brookfield, a Marine Patrol Officer for the Candlewood Lake Authority, and a mentor with the Danbury Schools & Business Collaborative program.
“I am very impressed with Jeff’s background and employment history,” Mr. Marpe said. “His dedication, experience and commitment to his chosen profession are precisely what we are looking for in a Town Clerk. We look forward to having Jeff join the Town staff in this important leadership role.”
Representative Town Meeting Moderator Velma Heller added, “We look forward to working with Jeffrey in his new position. I’m certain that he will be a very effective Town Clerk.”
Jeff lives in Brookfield with his wife Amber and their two sons.”
Westport Town Clerk Jeff Dunkerton
Westport First Selectman Speaks Out on Capitol Crisis
Westport First Selectman Jim Marpe issued the following statement regarding the storming of our nation’s Capitol today:
As the Chief Elected Officer of Westport, to watch the behavior and the blatant abrogation of responsibility by the Chief Elected Officer of the United States was discouraging and disgusting. I am embarrassed for our country. Thankfully, as a community, our local elected officials regularly participate in a civil and respectful process that gives me hope and confidence that our democracy can and will survive.
Town of Westport Virtual Meetings: 01/06/21
International Hospitality Committee: 10:00 AM
Pension Board: 11:00 AM
Board of Finance: 7:30 PM
Flood & Erosion Control Board: 7:30 PM
RTM Meeting: 2021 Brings Police Department Review Board; Zoom Culture Growing Pains
Tonight’s Representative Town Meeting, RTM, was riddled with Zoom etiquette questions amidst a discussion about a proposed Police Department Review Board Ordinance, which brought “more public comments than we usually see” according to RTM Moderator Velma Heller, District 9.
The sole item on the first meeting of 2021’s agenda was the first reading of the Police Department Review Board Ordinance, which comes after a year of national public outcry for police reform, Connecticut’s passing of the Police Accountability Bill, and a requested of the RTM by at least 20 resident electors.
According to RTM documents, the new Police Department Review Board will consist of five elected members, and will review, investigate, and give recommendations regarding complaints of Westport police officer misconduct, in addition to reviewing all commendations for annual awards, and assisting in the hiring process for new officers.
When investigating a complaint from the public, the board will be permitted to take testimony from witnesses, issue subpoenas, and is permitted to request a police officer’s presence at meetings of which they are the subject of a complaint, “provided that no such WPD officer shall be compelled to testify in the event his or her Fifth Amendment right is implicated.”
The Review Board will aim to make all recommendations to the Chief within 60 days of receiving a complaint, at which point the Chief has two weeks to make a decision regarding actions to be taken against the employee in question, including a written description of the action taken, and the rationale for such actions. The Review Board process does not prevent the Chief from terminating or suspending an officer, if warranted. All complaints will be filed contemporaneously to both the Westport Police Department and the Westport Police Department Review Board.
Westport resident Jason Stiber, who was speaking live in the Zoom meeting, publicly commented on the current review panel, describing his displeasure with the structure - being a panel of citizens appointed by First Selectman Jim Marpe - amongst other concerns. Stiber cited national movements that claim that these types of review boards should not be connected to the municipality’s Mayor or First Selectman, and should instead be independent in order to allow transparency and the ability to out-live the selectman’s term.
Stiber has been a leader in organizing an independent Westport Police Department review system, with his point echoed by three others during the public comment period. Stiber gained national attention when he fought the Westport Police Department over a $300 citation that claimed he had been driving while talking on a phone. After 10 months in court, spending more money than the original $300, headlines read “Justice is served: deep-fried and in a paper sleeve” as the Washington Post reported his winning the case.
Later on in the meeting, Stiber claimed that a specific public comment was not being read aloud, as required, which was ultimately found to be caused by the sender using an incorrect email address, and rectified by Deputy Moderator Jeff Wieser, District 4. Wieser did his best to efficiently read all public comments aloud while being timed for the regulatory 3 minutes by Seth Braunstein, District 6.
Kristan Hamlin, District 4, made her opinion clear that no member of the public should have their comments ignored due to a technical difficulty, a sentiment echoed by both the Moderator and Deputy Moderator. However the frustration and confusion over the public commenting system was evident in both RTM members and the public, with Assistant Westport Town Attorney Eileen Flug often lending guidance on how to navigate the uncharted virtual waters.
RTM members ended the meeting by discussing better ways to share information with the public, including District 8 member Wendy Batteau’s suggestion of a website to store information regarding certain agenda items like the new Police Department Review Board, and District 7 member Jack Klinge’s offer to read all letters slower and off-record so they can be better understood by members.
While celebrating the first meeting of 2021 socially-distant in their own homes, the 36 RTM members, who represent 9 districts, continued to adapt to and overcome the challenges transcending the new year throughout their virtual testament to local democracy.
Next month’s meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 2nd, virtually.
Westport Property Transfers: 12/14/20 - 12/18/20
Westport property transfers as reported by the Westport Town Clerk’s Office:
Total Conveyance Tax: $83,507.49
Total Sales: $33,403,000
Highest Transfer Price: 88 Morningside Drive South: $3,400,000
Lowest Transfer Price: 13 Jennings Court: $313,333.33
Transfers:
88 Morningside Drive South: $3,400,000
26 Stony Brook Road: $3,275,000
32 Imperial Avenue: $2,750,000
11 Ambler Road West: $2,270,000
4 Rustic Lane: $2,000,000
16 Sunnyside Lane: $1,912,500
1 Beachside Avenue: $1,900,000
17 River Lane: $1,630,000
30 Harbor Road: $1,474,000
3 Ivy Knoll: $1,275,000
332 Wilton Road: $1,250,000
222 Wilton Road: $1,205,000
4 Pequot Trail: $1,200,000
23 Meeker Road: $967,500
2 Fieldcrest Road: $950,000
9 Pamela Place: $912,000
114 Harvest Commons: $885,000
269 Wilton Road: $750,000
3 Carriage Lane: $735,000
13 Jennings Court: $626,666.67
24 Davenport Avenue: $602,000
9 Tiffany Lane: $600,000
11 Evergreen Avenue: $520,000
13 Jennings Court: $313,333.33