June 2023-First Selectwoman’s Update

Yesterday's June 2023 Update has been updated to reflect the fact that taxes due on July 1, 2023 may be paid through August 1, 2023 without being considered delinquent.  Unpaid July 1, 2023 taxes become delinquent on August 2nd with interest payable back to July 1, 2023.  Please adjust your calendars accordingly.  Apologies for any confusion. 

Development Activity.  Last night, the Planning & Zoning Commission:

• Approved the application for the 120-bed hotel at I-Park on Cannondale Way.
• Approved the application for the 40-unit apartment building at 12 Godfrey filed under CT statute 8-30-g.  The statute allows the applicant to override the zoning regulations in exchange for 30% affordable units and only permits the Commission to deny the application if there are specific health or safety concerns significant enough to override the need for affordable housing.  The burden of proof is placed on the municipality.  All Commissioners expressed frustration with the statute, as they did not support the application as presented, but noted there wasn’t expert testimony to support a significant health or safety concern.  If built, the apartment building will have 40 one, two- and three-bedrooms apartments, with 40 parking spaces plus two handicapped spaces.  34 of the spaces will be onsite and  8 will be located across the street. The building will have 12 affordable units, six at 80% of the state median income and six at 60% of the state median income.  The Commissioners and residents have expressed concerns that the parking is inadequate and will mean tenants and their guests will park at the library, the post office and abutting retail areas creating parking problems in Wilton Center.  
• Indicated their intended approval of the application for 88 Danbury Road.  The building will serve as the home of Ortho Connecticut-Coastal Orthopedics, which intends to move from i-Park in Norwalk. 
• Approved applications for ASML at 77 Danbury Road to facilitate their expansion. 

Adopted Housing Legislation.  In the final days of the session, both the Senate and House approved a bill which included partial language from the proposed Fair Share Bill. The bill requires the Office of Policy and Management to implement the first steps of a fair share policy by determining the number of required housing units and a method of allocating each municipality’s fair share of those units. 

Prior to the vote, House leadership announced they wouldn’t bring the Fair Share bill to a vote.  But that same evening, they took up a Senate bill that had been amended to add fair share language. The House then passed the bill in the wee hours of the following morning primarily along party lines, with some, including our representative Keith Denning, voting against the bill.  The bill returned to the Senate where it passed along party line, except for one democratic senator from outside of our area. 

Most of us following the housing proposals never expected the legislature to choose this direction. Fair Share was the most onerous on municipalities and has never been willingly implemented by a state. 

Municipal Elections.  The deadline for party candidates is in July. The deadline for those petitioning on the ballot is in August.  Any candidate considering running for first selectman/woman is welcome to reach out to me and/or Town Administrator Matt Knickerbocker to understand more about the position and how we currently operate and interact. 

Vacancies on Land Use Boards.  

• Planning and Zoning Commissioner Florence Johnson announced her intention to resign from this elected Commission.  Once her formal resignation is received by the Town Clerk’s Office, the Commission has 30 days to fill the position.  Look for an upcoming press release from the Commission. The appointment is for approximately five months until November 30^th, as the position should be on the November ballot.  
• Zoning Board of Appeals Alternates.  There are two vacancies in these elected alternate positions. Both appointment would also be for approximately five months.  Because these positions have been vacant for some time, interested candidates may email the First Selectwoman’s Office at Jacqueline.rochester@wiltonct.org.
• Conservation Commission.  There are two vacancies on this Board of Selectmen appointed commission. Appointments are available for approximately 1.5 and 2.5 years. Because these positions have been vacant for some time, interested candidates may email the First Selectwoman’s Office at Jacqueline.rochester@wiltonct.org.

Applicants to land use boards/commissions are entitled to a fair process, which means all members must have an open mind when considering an application.  Members with a predisposition must recuse themselves, otherwise an applicant is likely to file a legal appeal of a negative decision citing the member’s documented predisposition.  Appointed candidates are expected to not require an unusual number of recusals. 

Year-End Projections.  The Board of Selectmen actual FY2023 results are projected to be $200,000 under budget. This is primarily due to continued greater than expected vacancies in the police department.  Town wide revenues are expected to exceed budget by $700,000 primarily due to commercial building permits, particularly ASML, additional grant proceeds and excess interest earned on investments.  

Infrastructure Projects:

• The Parks & Recreation Commission recommended a supplier for the replacement aged 5+  playground at Merwin Meadows.  See here.  The Commission expects to make tweaks to the design while keeping within the bid price.   The recommendation is expected to be approved at tomorrow’s Board of Selectmen meeting.
• The completion of the new parking lot at Schenck’s Island is delayed due to delays with electrical supplies.  The new timing for completion is the end of August.
• Last week, the town received seven bids for the police headquarters.  The bids are being vetted and will be presented at a future Board of Selectmen meeting.  
• This month, the Board of Selectmen approved a consultant to perform a needs assessment for Cider Mill, Middlebrook and Wilton High School.  Next month, we will do the same for municipal buildings.  The two reports should be complete before the end of October. 

Tax Bills.  FY2024 tax bills are being mailed tomorrow and will be available online on July 1^st.  The town is not legally allowed to collect payments for FY2024 until July 1^st.  Motor vehicle, personal property and one-half of real estate bills may be paid by August 1st without being considered delinquent and subject to interest back to July 1.  Read more here. 

Reminders:

• New Permit Fee to Use the Transfer Station, Effective July 1, 2023.  Information about obtaining permits, including online payment is available here. 
• Dog License Renewals.  Dog licenses must be renewed by Friday.  Information is available here.  
• CT DOT Nighttime Milling and Paving of Danbury Road (RT 7). Paving began on Sunday, June 25^th.  Read more here. 
• July 4^th Celebration. 
  • Freedom Run 5K Road Race, 8:30 am, WHS track. Race registration can be completed on the Parks and Recreation Online Registration System.
  • Fireworks and DJ, 5:00 to 9:00 pm,  WHS Complex.  Fireworks expected to begin at 8:30 pm.  Parking passes for Route 7 Tennis Courts, Cider Mill School, Wilton Board of Education parking lot, and Lilly Way athletic fields may be purchased online on the Parks and Recreation Online Registration System. Passes may also be purchased at the Wilton Parks and Recreation Department office, 180 School Road through Friday.  Passes will not be available for purchase on the day of the event. Vehicles without a valid parking pass will not be allowed to park in any of the aforementioned parking lots period. Ancillary parking outside of the pre-paid parking lots will only be available on a first come, first served basis. Rain date for the fireworks is July 5th.

Mark Your Calendar. The Parks and Recreation Summer Events schedule is available here.  Please note, all concerts have been moved to Merwin Meadow due to the delay in the construction of the Schenck’s Island parking lot. 

Please email me at lynne.vanderslice@wiltonct.org with any questions.  Please, no questions via Facebook.

Lynne A Vanderslice

First Selectwoman