First Selectman Jim Marpe Announces He Will Not Seek Re-Election: “every organization benefits from regular changes in senior leadership”
Press ReleaseFirst Selectman Jim Marpe announced today that he will not pursue re-election for a third term in the upcoming November municipal general election.
Mr. Marpe said, “It has been an honor to serve my community as its Chief Elected Official for the past seven years, and I deeply appreciate the bi-partisan support and encouragement I have received throughout that time. While the Westport Town Charter does not place term limits on our elected officials, my experience in the private sector taught me that every organization benefits from regular changes in senior leadership. I am proud of what my administration has accomplished or set in motion, including our responses to COVID-19, fiscal responsibility, physical improvements, and addressing social justice concerns. We have prioritized the delivery of superior services at a predictable cost to the taxpayer. As such, I am very proud that we kept the mill rate stable throughout my entire term in office.
I also know that the real key to our success as a community is the professionalism and commitment to serving our residents that is exhibited every day by the women and men who are employed by the Town and the Westport Public Schools. It is also the result of the remarkable dedication and creativity of our dozens of citizen volunteers and elected officials. I am so fortunate to have led a team of employees and residents that is the envy of my counterparts in other communities.
During the remaining seven months of my term, I will continue to focus on leading Westport safely out of the pandemic tunnel we have been in for the past year, as well as achieving or launching the initiatives that I have described in various budget and State of the Town presentations. When I first ran for election to the Selectman’s Office, I committed to bringing a citizen-centric, professional management style to my responsibilities, and I assure you that will continue into November.
I want to thank the voters of Westport for allowing me the opportunity to have the special privilege of serving them in the First Selectman’s Office. I remain humbled by, and grateful for, the responsibility you have granted me.”
Selectman: "Please remind your children to wear masks”; Update on COVID-19 in Westport
Press ReleaseFirst Selectman Jim Marpe issued the following update today:
Beginning today, all Connecticut residents and workers aged 16 and older are eligible to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment. For local vaccine scheduling instructions and locations, go to www.wwhd.org.
Health officials are urging all who are able and eligible to register to get vaccinated. Those requiring special services and assistance involving homebound vaccinations or transportation to vaccination appointments through Westport Transit may contact the Westport Department of Human Services at 203-341-1050. Fortunately, many of the most vulnerable in Westport are already vaccinated. They are enjoying the peace of mind and realization that they are doing their part to help our community, neighbors, families, and friends move into a spring and summer with less fear of infection from this horrible virus. Although numerous people have been vaccinated, it is vital that COVID protocols remain in place until we are certain that transmission is decreasing.
Currently, there is a surge in COVID-19 cases in Connecticut, and Westport remains in the red category with 28.5 positive cases per 100,000 population. We are seeing the effects of more social gatherings, travel, and a relaxation of COVID protocols. Travel increases the chance of getting and transmitting COVID-19. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that you refrain from non-essential travel and follow the travel guidelines, The CDC also recommends continuing to follow its COVID guidelines and protocols, specifically mask wearing, social distancing, and good hygiene, even as restrictions are loosened and the vaccine is further administered. Please ensure that masks are properly discarded in wastebaskets and do not become litter on our roads, open spaces, or bodies of water.
Much of the uptick in cases is occurring in younger residents and those in their 20’s and 30’s. We are aware that there have been several reports of large teen and youth groups gathering at Compo Beach without masks. Parents, please remind your children to wear masks when they cannot socially distance, even at the beach and other outdoor locations.
The Governor’s Executive Orders declaring a state-of-emergency have been extended to May 20, 2020. That means that various COVID protocols and restrictions remain in place unless noted otherwise. The State will also allow the extension of the relaxed restrictions on outdoor dining at restaurants. In a related action, at its March meeting, the Westport Planning and Zoning Commission again adopted flexible zoning regulations that extend opportunities for outdoor dining, and the use of outdoor studios by local gyms and fitness centers.
The Town continues to work towards reopening more amenities and activities with the optimism that Westport will return to the yellow or grey status on the State’s color-coded COVID map, and that more people will be fully vaccinated. These include:
The Center for Senior Activities and Toquet Hall are planning for the possibility of outdoor and limited indoor programming in late spring or early summer.
The Parks & Recreation Department and Selectman’s Office continue to plan for a Memorial Day parade.
The Parks and Recreation Department is currently preparing to open its facilities and is planning to offer programs that were not available last year due to COVID-19. It will strive to create safe environments for all facility users and program participants by following best practices and state guidelines.
The Parks & Recreation Department has announced that Longshore Golf Course is open for play, as are several tennis locations, Compo Beach pickleball courts, the Skate Park facility, Platform Tennis, Compo Basketball courts, and playgrounds.
The Board of Selectmen approved the Downtown Merchants Association’s Fitness and Health Expo scheduled for May 1 (rain date May 2) and the Fine Arts Festival scheduled for May 29-30.
The Board of Selectmen approved the closure of Church Lane commencing April 15 to allow for expanded outdoor dining.
The Board of Selectmen approved the use of the Imperial Avenue Lot for the Remarkable Theater’s Drive-In Movie Theater and for the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce and Westport Library’s Supper and Soul events.
The Levitt Pavilion is planning its season, to be held in compliance with any necessary COVID considerations related to outdoor venues.
Westport is approaching the end of the Passover week, as well as the upcoming Easter weekend, both of which are important symbols of renewal and new beginnings that we associate with the arrival of spring. I wish all who observe these important holidays the joy that is associated with those celebrations. And to all Westport residents, I ask for a renewed commitment to working through the COVID pandemic together in a safe and responsible manner. In doing so, we can all enjoy the pleasures of our community that come with the spring and summer months.
Leaf Blower Ordinance Creates Heated Discussion; Not Enough Information to Pass
Last night’s RTM Ordinance Committee Meeting became heated as RTM and members of the public discussed the proposed ordinance in Westport that would limit the usage of gasoline powered leaf blowers. By the end of the four hour meeting, tempers had flared, lots of questions were raised, and the proposal could not be moved to the next phase in the RTM’s ordinance process.
The ordinance proposal would limit the usage of gasoline power leaf blowers to certain hours of the day, and only during certain weeks of the year - such as Spring and Fall periods. It also would limit the amount of blowers a property could have based on its size. The ordinance would be enforced by the Westport Police Department, according to RTM members proposing the ordinance.
The proposal comes from RTM (district) members Kristin Schneeman (9th), Andrew Colabella (4th) , and Jessica Bram (6th), and was presented to the RTM Ordinance Committee: District 7: Brandi Briggs, Chair (7th), Peter Gold (5th), Kristan Hamlin (4th), Lauren Karpf (7th), Christine Meiers-Schatz (2nd), Stephen Shackelford (8th); Kristin Schneeman is also a member of the Ordinance Committee. The meeting was attended by over 50 residents, business owners, in addition to State Representative Steinberg and employees for the Town of Westport.
Kristin Schneeman, who is the Director of The Milken Institute’s FasterCures Center and has a background in medical research, mostly spoke on behalf of the trio of RTM members proposing the ordinance and described the ordinance as necessary due to the dangers of both environmental pollution as well as the dangers to one’s health and well-being. Schneeman explained her working home for the past 15 years and the displeasure of the noise of neighbors’ leaf blowers throughout the days. After researching the topic, she said she was surprised by how detrimental the machines really were to both her health and the environment.
Westport Parks & Recreation Director Jan Fava began on a negative note, and described concern for the ordinance - stating that residents and visitors to parks such as Longshore would have to expect a different level of care if the ordinance were to pass. She explained that the Parks & Recreation crews need to use the blowers in the mornings due to tee times beginning near sunrise. Fava also described the need for powerful machines to clear debris from the fields and greens, and the need for multiple machines to cover the large spaces efficiently. Kristan Hamlin (4th) said that regardless of whether or not Longshore is a golf course, they should be held to the same standard as the property is surrounded by residential neighborhoods.
A large supporter of the ordinance was Dan Delventhal, who owns Mowgreen landscaping company. Delventhal’s Fairfield-based company is a fully-electric landscaping service, and services some homes as large as 5 acres “fully electric.” He cited the machines’ long term cost savings in addition to their benefits to health and air pollution. He claimed that 2019 say a 3.5% increase to greenhouse gases, with “10% of all air pollution coming from small gas gear.”
The conversation quickly became heated, as RTM members Jimmy Izzo (3rd) and Peter Gold (5th) began a debate when Gold described a hypothetical comparison: chemical run-off onto a neighbor’s lawn being similar to noise pollution from a neighbor’s gas powered leaf blower bringing up. Izzo, who was apparently not in favor of the proposal, shouted at Gold after the fellow RTM member mentioned his name “don’t tell me what to do with my equipment!” before a point of order was called.
Wendy Batteau (8th) was also opposed to the ordinance, citing the community’s responsibility to look out for the landscape workers serving the community. She described her worry for them and their businesses, including the inability to attend the Zoom meeting due to lack of access. She quickly added that she didn’t appreciate “stealth lobbying” performed by the proposing members, including an 11:00 PM phone call to her the night before the ordinance committee meeting by Schneeman.
Several local landscapers spoke up on their own behalf, like Westport’s Donny Macaluso, who described the large investments he’s made and the loss he would suffer should the ordinance pass.
RTM member Andrew Colabella stated that Westport Police Chief Foti Koskinas was uncomfortable with the idea of police enforcement of the ordinance due to the type of evidence a private citizen’s report would contain. Colabella also described the Department being low on manpower, stating that the usual 64 member force is “well under that” right now . Schneeman added to the enforcement portion of the ordinance, stating that “we wouldn’t want police officers in police cruisers rolling up to landscaping crews in Westport, for a variety of other reasons.” She did not elaborate.
The meeting, which ended around 11:30 PM, did not provide enough information for the ordinance to pass onto the next phase - as all present members of the Ordinance Committee, except Schneeman, voted to push the proposal back to other committees for further discussion and conversation prior to its return to the Ordinance Committee.
Positive Changes: Selectmen Discuss Fine Arts Fest, Pedestrian-Only Church Lane, and Garden Club Plant Sale at 9 AM Meeting
A slew of warm-weather topics will be discussed at this morning’s Board of Selectmen meeting. The Board of Selectmen’s agenda describes several activities which were cancelled or changed in 2020 due to the pandemic, making 2021 the year of their return - if permitted. Residents and local business owners are urged to attend meetings such as this to voice their opinions on the topics at hand.
Returning events would include the Downtown Merchant Association Fine Arts Festival, which is slated to be held on the weekend of May 29th if approved by the Board, and the Westport Garden Club’s Annual Plant Sale, which would be held on Jesup Green on Friday, May 14th if approved.
They will also discuss the closure of Main Street on May 1st for the Downtown Merchant Association Fitness and Health event, which included fitness classes and information on health and wellness throughout the day on the business section of the street.
Many residents loved when Church Lane was closed to all vehicle traffic in Summer 2020, allowing it to be used completely by pedestrians and restaurants for additional outdoor seating. If approved, the street will again be closed from April 30th until September 30th to allow pedestrians and diners alike to enjoy the extra downtown space alongside the newly renovated Bedford Square throughout Summer 2021.
The meeting begins at 9:00 AM today, and can be seen on Optimum channel 79, Frontier channel 6020, or online at this link.
Public comments in support or opposition to the above topics can be emailed to BOScomments@westportct.gov.