Westport RTM District 8 Seeks New Representative Following Departure of Former Rep
The Representative Town Meeting (RTM) is seeking candidates for a District 8 representative to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Lisa Newman. In accordance with the Town Charter, Section C5-8C, the vacancy must be filled by a registered voter residing in RTM District 8. No party affiliation is required since Westport’s RTM is non-partisan. The term expires November 21, 2023.
Residents of RTM District 8 interested in being considered to fill the vacancy are invited to send a resume on or before February 22, 2023 at 4:00pm to Town Clerk Jeffrey Dunkerton at JDunkerton@westportct.gov.
Space Heater Causes Near-Fire on Terra Nova Circle
The Westport Fire Department Communication Center received a 911 call this evening from a homeowner who reported smoke was filling their house. The fire department responded with 3 engines, 1 ladder truck, and the shift commander. Firefighters arrived and found smoke throughout the basement and first floor of the house. Firefighters found a small in fire in the basement due to combustibles being stored too close to a gas fireplace. The fire was quickly extinguished.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends keeping anything that burns at least three feet away from heating equipment including fireplaces.
Morning Weather Report
Today
Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 43. Northwest wind 9 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 28. Northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tomorrow
Rain, mainly after 1pm. High near 42. Light south wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Tomorrow Night
Rain likely, mainly before 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 40. South wind 10 to 14 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Westport Grand List Released with 1.9% Increase
Westport Town Assessor Paul Friia announced today that he signed the October 1, 2022 Grand List as required by state statute.
The net 2022 Grand List of $11,312,004,303 represents an increase of approximately 1.9 percent from the net 2021 Grand List of $11,100,020,664. The Grand List is the sum of the net assessed value of all taxable property – real estate, motor vehicles, and personal property. Motor vehicles and personal property are valued annually, while real estate is updated based on the market values determined as of the town’s last revaluation date of October 1, 2020.
The current adjusted 2022 Grand List totals. Increases in the Grand List were in all three categories to include real estate, motor vehicles and personal property. The 1.4 percent increase in real estate assessment is a result of continued residential and commercial new construction as well as renovation activity that occurred within the last assessment year. Construction continues on the 32 condominiums located at 41 Richmondville Ave and the 12 condominiums at 60 Wilton Road. In addition, improvements to buildings on Main Street and the construction of approximately 66 new homes contributed to the increases in the 2022 real estate Grand List. Personal Property increased approximately 14 percent, suggesting a reinvestment in local new and existing businesses to include equipment and leasehold improvements. Motor Vehicles increased a total of 4.7 percent. Although less of an increase than the previous year, it reflects a return to a more typical market. This year’s overall increase is an indication that Westport continues to remain a community of great interest to businesses and new residents.
The Grand List will be used for fiscal year 2023-2024 town budget calculations. The above figures are subject to change based on the outcome of the Board of Assessment Appeal hearings in March and further changes due to corrections or pending lawsuits. The above figures reflect an adjustment made to the Grand List after the signing due to an error discovered in a personal property account.
The top 10 taxpayers in Westport. Contributed