THE TOWN'S BUSINESS IS YOUR BUSINESS:  Direction From the People to Their Government
Silver Anniversary Speak Up...at the Weston Library's Community Room!!!  Watch the video above!!!

LWV of Weston SPEAK UP #25 - PICTURE STORY
Weston Library Community Room
Saturday, February 27, 2016;  10:30a.m. to 12:20p.m.


Joan Lewis photograph

COBB'S MILL INN:  Sympathies to family of owner who passed away suddenly, information given by First Selectman with moment of silence.







PICTURE STORY HERE:  This was the twenty-fifth annual event - one that is unique to Weston, CT.



17 QUESTIONS/STATEMENTS, ONE HOUR AND FIFTY MINUTES.
Before the event, before coffee, there was hope for a terrific turnout and piercing questions.  And then as copious amount of coffee appeared, so did the crowd!!!  When 12 noon came, there were still some in a queue at the mic in the rear of the auditorium, so our  Moderator, as is done at elections, permitted all those in line at the official "end" time of the event, to get their chance to ask a question...
 


     

FYI - PLANNING AND ZONING QUESTIONS ANSWERED CAREFULLY SOME "HOW IS THAT AGAIN?" KIND OF QUESTIONS...
Above, Moderator Laura Smits handling the second question, about procedure.  Town Clerk, who knows the Charter, offered some facts.  Excellent answers by all on stage!  Be sure to watch the opening words of Weston LWV Moderator Laura Smits, who was standing up, but in explaining Speak Up "rules" also almost doing stand up re: Politics in America 2016.


      
THERE WERE THEMES:  Police/public safety, schools and school budget from both sides of any argument - and a new idea on housing.  Did we mention that local finances played a large part?
Did we mention turnout?  We had about seventeen (17) elected and appointed officials on stage, all but 3 chairs taken plus standing room numbers that  draped around the seated audience  and  extended out the Community Room and into the library proper.

      
HOW DO YOU ANSWER THE QUESTION ABOUT BUDGET INCREASES ALMOST SINCE THE TURN OF THE CENTURY?
Relationship between school and town a topic that was interspersed among other issues, lots of them, all morning...very nice review of data previously prepared about school budgets earlier in the century.  These reports were very subtle...if memory serves!

        
BUT YOU CAN'T BE TOO SUBTLE WHEN ANSWERING A DIRECT QUESTION...AND 2ND SELECTMAN TOLD IT LIKE IT IS...AND THEN THE FIRST SELECTMAN REPORTED ON ACTION THURSDAY...
And there was review of previous actions by the Board of Selectmen, and reviews of Town Attorney - defended by returning member of previous board...and explained very clearly, to, we think, the questioner's satisfaction.  It was a surprise to those who were not at the
Selectmen's meeting just 2 days before, but if new plan on renovation of Police Station can work into existing space at Town Hall, Weston is on the cusp of being able to fit in to historic corners and created sidewalks linking all parts of "downtown" Weston together for foot traffic!!!

 
     

THERE WAS A CAPACITY MAXIMUM - MEANING "SEATED."  IT APPEARED THAT EVERY AGE GROUP TOOK THEIR TURN AT THE MIC - EXCEPT FOR THE VERY YOUNGEST, WHO APPEARED TO BE READING ON HER TABLET...
We note that both advocates for and against any new zoning text amendment to include a new "Special Permit" category for Active Adult Community District, scheduled to come for public hearing on April 4th before P&Z were out in representative force but only proponents spoke.

                 
WELL SAID BY SENATOR, AND REMINDING EVERYONE THE FEDS HAD ALREADY DONE THIS BUT IT WOULDN'T HURT TO DO IT BY CT ANYWAY.
And close to the end, Senator Boucher stood to respond to question about dis-investment movement on the left re:  State of Israel.  Last two questions involved 1)traffic light/turn signal on state highway and  2)reviving Sustainability Committee.

NOTE:  Video to be online by end of the weekend.

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