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May 2022-First Selectwoman’s Update-Memorial Day, Gun Violence Awareness Day and More

Posted on: May 25, 2022 - 4:52pm

Memorial Day Observance

New to town?  There are many ways to observe Memorial Day in Wilton.  

  • 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.  Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast, Wilton Congregational Church, 70 Ridgefield Road.
  • 10:00 a.m.  Memorial Day Parade through Wilton Center to Ridgefield Road to Hillside Cemetery.  Hosted by the Memorial Day (volunteer) Parade Committee. 
  • Immediately following,  Ceremony at Hillside Cemetery, 168 Ridgefield Road.
  • Immediately following,  Ribbon Cutting for Never Forget Garden at Hillside Cemetery,  sponsored by Wilton Chapter of the DAR and the Wilton Garden Club.
  • Immediately following, Open House at Merwin Meadows with free admission and free hots dogs, grilled by the Parks and Rec staff. 

National Gun Violence Awareness Day and Wear Orange Weekend Observance

June 3rd is National Gun Violence Awareness Day and June 3rd to June 5th is Wear Orange Weekend.  The Town of Wilton will observe beginning with a ceremony at the front of Town Hall on Thursday, June 2nd at 11:00 a.m.  Look for further details in an upcoming e-alert and the media.  Sadly in 2019, when we last observed National Gun Violence Awareness Day, it was six days after shootings at a municipal building in Virginia Beach that resulted in the death of eleven city employees and a member of the public. Again, we will gather within days of more horrific shootings. Please join us. 

Parks and Recreation Summer Happenings

The Parks and Recreation Department is sponsoring summer concerts, movies, July 4th events and the return of Hideway Circus’s Above the Stars.  A downloadable/printable schedule is available here.  

The provider of the Parks and Recreation registration software recently implemented an update.  We are unhappy with the new version of the product.  We apologize for any difficulties or delays you might encounter while we address the matter.  

Townwide Clean Up Day Thank You

Thank you to the more than 100 residents who participated in Townwide Clean Up Day, including members of Wilton Lacrosse.  Long-time participants observed noticeably less trash on the roadways and parks.  We hope this is a new trend. 

Annual Town Meeting Results and FAQs 

Thank you to all who attended and/or voted in this month’s Annual Town Meeting.  Following the meeting, residents asked questions about the timing of the meeting and the manner of the vote.  Here is information:

  • The Town Charter states the Annual Town Meeting shall be held during the first seven days of May.  A timing change can only occur due to extraordinary circumstances.
  • The Town Charter states at the conclusion of the Annual Town Meeting,  “Voting on the budget shall be by machine voting. Each voter may vote (a) to approve the budget, (b) to reject the budget because it is too high, or (c) to reject the budget because it is too low.”
  • “Machine voting” is defined as immediately following the Annual Town Meeting and the following Saturday. 
  • Under Connecticut statutes, any consideration of amendments to the Town Charter requires the appointment of a Charter Commission and required procedures, including public hearings and a town meeting vote to approve.  Generally, the process takes up to 18 months.   
  • Connecticut statutes do not allow for online voting.
  • Connecticut statutes define the absentee voting rules.   

ARPA and Infrastructure Fund Funding Approvals

Earlier this month, the Board of Selectmen approved the following for funding from either the federal ARPA grant or the Board’s infrastructure fund.  Consideration of other requests will continue at our June 6thmeeting:

  • $3,097,000 for a new Emergency Communications System.
  • Up to $240,000 as a contingency for the Emergency Communications System.
  • $173,000 for drainage upgrades at the WHS Complex.  (We applied for a grant for the cost of the recommended installation of new drainage at the WHS Complex.  We received encouraging feedback and await an award decision.) 
  • $293,000 for drainage maintenance in the area of the Cider Mill School and WHS.
  • Up to $250,000 for column and possible stair replacement at the front exterior of the Town Hall building. 
  • Up to $150,000 for electrical system repairs at Cider Mill and Middlebrook schools should the repairs not be funded by insurance or a third party.

Mark Your Calendar

  • Thursday, June 2nd: National Gun Violence Awareness Day and Wear Orange Weekend Ceremony, Town Hall at 11:00 a.m.
  • Friday, June 3rd:  Police Special Olympics Torch Run, Wilton Center and Route 7.
  • Saturday, June 4th:  Hazardous Household Waste Event, Bethel.  Wilton residents welcome.
  • Sunday, June 5th: Zero Waste Faire.  Event offers a number of free recycling options.
  • Saturday or Sunday, June 4th or 5th: WYC’s Big Block Party Weekend.
  • Friday through Sunday, July 29th- July 31st:  The return of Hideaway Circus, Stars Above.  Last year’s shows sold out early.

As always, please contact me with questions at lynne.vanderslice@wiltonct.org.

Lynne A Vanderslice

First Selectwoman