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October 27, 2022
Dear Darienites,
We are fortunate to have the opportunity to go to the polls and vote on November 8, 2022. Voting is a privilege, enabling each citizen to use their voice to help establish the priorities of our elected leaders. The people we elect are entrusted with making decisions that impact many areas of our lives including the economy, social issues, and the environment. Please join me on November 8th at the polls, as we exercise this right.
In response to the proposed rate increases by Aquarion Water Company, I submitted a letter of opposition to the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Agency (PURA). The letter can be viewed here. The proposed rate increase of almost 27% over a three-year period will have a negative impact on homeowners, businesses, and municipal operations.
In early November, we will host a “Celebration of Service” honoring all Town employees, with special recognition for those having reached milestone years of service to the Town of Darien. Thank you to each of them for their many years of hard work and dedication to Darien residents. Three long-time employees deserving of our gratitude are Angela Clark for 30 years and Marc McEwan, and Geoffrey Gilbert for 25 years of service.
As always, please contact me with questions, comments, and concerns.
Sincerely,
Monica McNally
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RESIDENT REMINDERS, NEWS, & TIPS | |
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NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE BACK DAY
Saturday, October 29th, is the DEA’s 22nd annual NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE BACK DAY. National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is a major part of the DEA’s commitment to Americans’ safety and health, established to encourage the public to remove unneeded medications from their homes to prevent medication misuse and the potential for opioid addiction. The DEA, in partnership with local law enforcement agencies, is committed to making communities safer and healthier, by reducing overdoses and overdose deaths. Removing unwanted and expired prescription drugs from homes is one way of combating the opioid epidemic. One year ago, in October 2021, 372 tons of prescription drugs were collected on National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
The Darien Police Department has a secure permanent drop-off box located in the lobby of the Darien Police Department for citizens who wish to anonymously dispose of unwanted, excess, and expired prescriptions, as well as over-the-counter medications. The lobby of Darien Police Headquarters is open to the public, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please do not bring liquid medication or needles.
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DARIEN EMS POST-53 HAUNTED HOUSE
On Sunday, October 30th, Darien EMS Post 53 is hosting its annual Haunted House from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM at their headquarters, 0 Ledge Road. Ambulance tours, pumpkin decorating, face painting, games, and treats are available. CPR/AED training will be offered to interested adults or children. There is a suggested donation of $10 per child. All donations will support Darien EMS-Post 53, Darien’s Volunteer Emergency Medical Service.
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TRAIN STATION PARKING PERMITS
Parking permit renewals are due on Monday, October 31, 2022. A late fee will be assessed beginning on November 1st. Changes in contact information, or license plate additions and deletions, should be emailed to Anne DiCeglie, Parking Administrator, at adiceglie@darienct.gov along with a copy of the new registration(s). Up to 4 license plates can be registered to the address on your permit, but plates must be registered before parking at the station or cars may be ticketed. Renewals will not be issued to accounts that have outstanding parking tickets and/or past-due motor vehicle taxes until the delinquencies are resolved.
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SEWER BILLS
Sewer bills are due to the Tax Collector on Monday, October 31, 2022. Current bills cover the period of October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023. The amount of the bill is based upon the homeowner’s average water usage, according to Aquarion, during the non-irrigation months of November 2021 through March 2022. Minimum statement amount will be $267.36. Bills over $500 will automatically be split into two equal installments, the first due October 31, 2022, and the second due April 30, 2023. Reminder cards will be sent in March for the second installment. Payments may be made in person in the Tax Office at Town Hall (Monday-Thursday, 8:00 AM - 5:15 PM), online through the Town website www.darienct.gov, or by mail. Checks should be made payable to Darien Tax Collector.
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LEAF PICK-UP SCHEDULE
The Public Works Department’s Annual Leaf Pick-up Program:
Pick-up # 1:
Monday, October 31, 2022, North of Railroad Tracks
Wednesday, November 2, 2022, South of Railroad Tracks
Pick-up # 2:
Monday, November 14, 2022, North of Railroad Tracks
Wednesday, November 16, 2022, South of Railroad Tracks
Pick-up # 3:
Monday, November 28, 2022, North of Railroad Tracks
Wednesday, November 30, 2022, South of Railroad Tracks
Please note the following important reminders:
- Leaves will be picked up in paper bags only. Loose leaves or leaves in plastic bags will not be collected. Paper bags commonly purchased from suppliers such as Home Depot, Lowes, Rings End Lumber or other suppliers are acceptable.
- Bags must contain leaves only; bags containing brush, grass clippings, garbage, or other material will not be collected.
- The Town leaf pick-up is a service to Residents, participation is not required. Residents are encouraged to compost leaves on their property.
- Bagged leaves should be at the curb by 7:00 AM on the first morning of the date listed in your area.
- Dates listed are start dates; please note once leaves have been collected, no return trips will be made until the next scheduled pick-up.
- Leaves will be collected on public roads only. Residents of private roads should make their own arrangements for leaf collection.
- Residents with a proper permit may also dispose of leaves at the Town of Darien Transfer Station.
As an important reminder, please do not deposit leaves in wetlands or watercourses. Depositing leaves or lawn debris in these areas negatively impacts natural water flow and adds pollutants to the water.
The leaf pick-up schedule is subject to minor variations due to the volume of leaves encountered, snow storms, or other unforeseen circumstances. We appreciate your patience as no other specific information will be available regarding leaf pick-up times. Please call 203-656-7346 with questions or visit us online at www.darienct.gov.
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FLU PREVENTION PROGRAM
There are two upcoming Flu Vaccine Clinics, at Town Hall in Room 119:
- Tuesday, November 1, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
- VOTE & VAX, Tuesday, November 8, 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Appointments are still available for scheduling through the Darien Health Department: www.darienct.gov/flu. The vaccine is preservative free and available to those over 3 years old. The cost is $40, payable by check, cash, ConnectiCare insurance or Medicare Part B ONLY. The Health Department does not participate with any Medicare Advantage Plans.
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MS4 GENERAL PERMIT
The General Permit for the Discharge of Stormwater from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4 General Permit) is the product of a mandate by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as part of its 1999 Stormwater Phase II rules. This general permit requires municipalities to take steps to keep stormwater entering its storm sewer systems clean before it enters bodies of water. One important element of the permit is the requirement that towns implement public education programs to make residents aware that stormwater pollutants result from many of their everyday living activities, and to inform them of steps they can take to reduce pollutants in stormwater runoff.
The Public Works page of the Town website has detailed information about what residents can do to help keep stormwater clean, and how to reduce water run-off. The draft of the most recent report has been submitted to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and can be found on the Department of Public Works page of the Town website. The annual report is completed and posted for public review/comment prior to February 15th and submitted to DEEP by April 1st each year.
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HALLOWEEN SAFETY SUGGESTIONS FROM THE POLICE | |
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In order to assist our community in enjoying this fun-filled holiday as safely as possible, the Darien Police Department has compiled the following list of Halloween safety tips:
PARENTS
- Always escort your children and carry a flashlight.
- Be familiar with the neighborhood where your children will be trick-or-treating.
- Set a specific time for your child/children to be out.
- Always know who is trick-or-treating with your children.
- Walk on the sidewalks and not in the middle of the street.
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Instruct your children never to enter any homes.
- Stay in well-lit areas.
- Inspect all treats before allowing children to eat them.
- Choose fireproof comfortable costumes made of light-colored material so they can be easily seen in the dark.
- Consider placing reflective or ‘glow in the dark’ tape on your children’s costumes.
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Have children avoid wearing eye makeup or masks which will restrict their vision.
- Avoid having children carry replica firearms, swords, or toys that can be mistaken for the real thing.
- Give out only commercially wrapped candy.
- Teach children their home and/or parent’s cellular phone number in case they get lost.
- Consider a Halloween party at your residence instead of going out to trick-or-treat.
TRICK-OR-TREATERS
- Do not trick-or-treat by yourself.
- If props are carried, they should be made of soft rubber, Styrofoam, or other pliable material.
- Do not take shortcuts, especially through alleys.
- Obey all traffic signals and look in all directions when crossing the street.
- Don’t run! Walk to your intended destination and don’t dart in and out of cars or driveways. If there are no sidewalks stay as far left of the roadway as possible.
- Walk in the direction facing traffic.
- Only trick-or-treat at homes with their porch light on. Never approach a car offering candy.
- Wait until you get home before eating any treats.
HOMEOWNERS
- Turn on your porch light so children know it is all right to visit your home.
- If you are placing a Jack-O-Lantern on your porch, place a glow stick inside instead of a candle.
- Hand out only commercially wrapped candy.
- Never invite children into your home.
- Keep pets away from children.
- Maintain clear walkways that are free from obstruction.
- If using candles, keep them away from the path of children.
- Immediately notify the Darien Police Department of any suspicious activity (203-662-5300.) Dial 9-1-1 in case of an emergency
MOTORISTS
- Drive slowly and cautiously.
- Look for children walking on the street, running, and darting in between parked vehicles.
- Be extra careful when entering and exiting driveways.
- Play your music at a reasonable volume so you can listen for potential children crossing your path.
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Do not use your cell phone and never drink and drive.
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OUT OF THE DARKNESS WALK
Darien residents and the “WAVE STRONG” team were well represented in last weekend’s OUT OF THE DARKNESS Suicide Awareness and Prevention walk in Westport. Several hundred Darienites joined together to walk in solidarity in support of loss survivors and raised approximately $12,000 for suicide prevention education.
SURVIVOR DAY PROGRAM
The Mental Health Task Force along, with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), will host a SURVIVOR DAY program on Saturday, November 19th. Survivor Day is an event where suicide loss survivors can come together to find support, understanding, and hope through their shared experiences. To register to attend, please click here for the AFSP Connecticut page.
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VOTER REGISTRATION
- Eligible individuals may register to vote in CT online via the CT online voter registration site if they have a CT DMV ID; by completing a paper registration card in person at the Darien Registrars of Voters office; or by printing a registration application online and returning it to the Darien Registrars of Voters.
- In order to vote in the November 8, 2022 election: hand delivered registration applications must be received by the Registrars of Voters by November 1; mailed-in registration applications must be postmarked by November 1; and online voter registration via CT online registration site must be completed by 11:59 PM on November 1.
- November 1, 2022: last regular in-person voter registration session for voters who become 18 years of age, U.S. Citizens, or residents of Darien on or before November 1, 2022. Registrars of Voters Office, Town Hall, Room 106, 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM.
- November 7, 2022: limited in-person voter registration session for voters who have become 18 years of age, U.S. Citizens, or residents of Darien since November 1, 2022. Registrars of Voters Office, Town Hall, Room 106, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
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Registrars of Voters office regular hours are M-TH, 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM. In the event that the Registrar’s office is closed, the Town Clerk’s office has a supply of voter registration applications and will accept completed voter registration applications.
ABSENTEE VOTER REGISTRATION: Two-step process
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The application for an absentee ballot must first be completed. Applications are on the Secretary of State’s website accessible through the Town Clerk page of the Town website or are available in the Town Clerk’s office.
- Once the application is received, an absentee ballot will be mailed or given to the voter; ballots can only be mailed or given to the person whose name is on the application.
ABSENTEE VOTING
- Only complete ballots received before the close of the polls, 8:00 PM on the day of the election will be counted
- Ballots can be returned via the United States Postal Service, in person in the Town Clerk’s office, or via the secure drop box outside of Town Hall.
- Absentee ballots are given to the Registrars of Voters beginning at 10:00 AM on election day
- Absentee ballots are checked against polling place voter check-in lists before they are canvassed. If the voter who returned the absentee ballot on Election Day has voted in person in a polling place, the absentee ballot is not opened and is rejected. This procedure ensures that no voter can vote twice, even by mistake.
VOTING INFORMATION
Polls will open at 6:00 AM and close at 8:00 PM. In-person voting will take place in Darien’s six polling locations listed below. Signage will be placed at all poll locations, directing voters to their respective voting districts.
POLLING LOCATIONS
- Districts 1, 1-01, 1-02: Darien Board of Ed Building, 35 Leroy Avenue
- District 2: Darien Town Hall Gymnasium, 2 Renshaw Road
- District 3: Noroton Heights Fire Department, 209 Noroton Avenue
- District 4: Hindley School, 10 Nearwater Lane
- District 5: Darien Town Hall Gymnasium (upper level Town Hall), 2 Renshaw Road
- District 6: Mather Senior Center, 2 Renshaw Road (lower level Town Hall)
To look up your voting district please refer to the Registrars of Voters page of the Town Website or the Secretary of State Voter Registration Lookup page.
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ELECTED OFFICIAL HIGHLIGHT: CHRISTA SHEEHAN MCNAMARA
Christa was appointed to the Town Clerk position by the Board of Selectmen in June 2021 and was then elected in November 2021 by the Town of Darien to serve a two-year term. The Town Clerk is elected in November of every odd-numbered year to serve a two-year term.
The breadth of services provided by the office was a factor in drawing Christa to the position. “Since 2007, I have served Darien as an elected official in both a policy and legislative capacity; the Town Clerk role enables me to engage in the workings of Darien government now from an operational perspective to complement my previous experiences.” Christa was elected to the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) in 2007 and served on the Education Committee until 2013 when she was then elected to two terms on the Board of Education. In 2019 she joined the Board of Selectmen with Jayme Stevenson’s team before her appointment to the Town Clerk role.
The fall is a particularly busy time for the Town Clerk’s office as it is responsible for creating and ordering all the ballots for the elections, as well as issuing and processing absentee ballots. Many of the Town’s most important documents are entrusted to the Town Clerk. Birth certificates, marriage licenses, and death certificates are processed through the office and kept in a vault at Town Hall, along with land records documenting the purchase and sale of properties and changes of ownership. Dog licensing kicks off every June and the recordings of all municipal meetings are under the watch of the Town Clerk’s office. The Town Clerk also serves as the Clerk for the Representative Town Meeting and works with the Moderator in preparing for each meeting.
“I work with an amazing team, and have the citizens of Darien as my customers – it doesn’t get much better than that!”
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PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION | |
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ACCESSORY APARTMENTS: SOMETIMES CALLED ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS (ADU’s)
Within the past month, both the Darien Planning & Zoning Commission and the RTM voted unanimously to “opt-out” of the State mandate requiring municipalities to permit accessory apartments on all residential properties. An accessory apartment (sometimes referred to as an ADU) is a separate living unit, which could be an independent structure or part of an existing structure that includes a 2nd cooking facility. The State mandate, as outlined within Public Act 21-29, allowed for municipalities to opt-out of the requirement before December 31, 2022. During 2023, the Planning & Zoning Commission will begin discussions about the possibility of allowing accessory apartments/ADUs in Darien. The discussions will require extensive study of current planning and zoning regulations, parking requirements, traffic, etc. Look for more news on this topic next year.
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