Month: June 2014

First Selectman Jim Marpe announced today that as part of the YOUR DOWNTOWN campaign, a Downtown Visioning Workshop will be held on Saturday, June 7 from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Bedford Middle School. The workshop is a critical part of the development of the Downtown Westport Master Plan. “Westport residents, this is Your Downtown,” Marpe said. “Please mark your calendars to attend the June 7th of determining how Downtown evolves over the next 10 to 20 years.”

The workshop will be highly visual and interactive so that residents can discuss topics and share opinions with each other and make clear, thoughtful choices about what’s appropriate for Downtown, what might make it more successful and vibrant, and how it can better serve residents of all ages. The main, interactive part of the workshop – “Downtown 101: Streets, Buildings, Places” – guides participants through a roundtable exercise in which they will view and discucss various elements and concepts for Downtown Westport. Citizens will have the opportunity to discuss the workshop. This is a not-to-miss opportunity for you to participate in the process proposed ideas and rate their appeal or appropriateness to Downtown.

The workshop will also cover topics related to historic preservation in specific parts of Downtown, which is at the heart of the Town’s Village District Study. The Village District Study is being undertaken concurrently with the Downtown Westport Master Plan and the two efforts are being coordinated. The Village District Study is being funded by a Vibrant Communities Initiative grant from the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation.

Downtown Steering Committee Chairman, Dewey Loselle thanked the more than 700 residents who have taken the Downtown Survey since it was launched last week and encouraged those who cannot attend the June 7 workshop to make sure they respond to the survey, which can be accessed through www.downtownwestportct.com. Loselle added, “We are making a maximum effort to reach out and engage the Westport community and have set an ambitious goal of receiving 2000 completed surveys which would be more than 10% of the adult citizens of Westport.” Residents who have not yet taken the Downtown Survey online or on paper can do so until mid July. The survey, as well as detailed information on events for the Downtown Westport Master Plan, will continue to be available on the the Committee’s Downtown web site at www.downtownwestportct.com. Paper versions of the survey are located at Town Hall, the Library, and the Senior Center.

A Downtown Steering Committee (DSC) is providing guidance and technical assistance to the consultant team, led by The RBA Group, in developing the master plan. The full membership of the DSC can be viewed on the Town’s on the project website at (www.downtownwestportct.com)

 

First Selectman Mike Tetreau announced today that following a press release recently issued by Governor Dannel Malloy, which stated that the Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1, 2014 to November 30, 2014 with the possible principal threat period for Connecticut occurring between mid-August and mid-October, the Fairfield community is encouraged to take necessary precautions and be prepared. First Selectman Tetreau said, “While we hope no hurricanes or major storms come our way, it is always important for our residents to be proactive and be prepared as much as possible. Not only do I recommend the public starts now in following tips issued by the Governor and the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, but I also encourage anyone living or working in Fairfield to sign up for the Town’s CodeRED alert system so you may be informed and updated on storms or emergencies. To sign up or update your information, the public can visit www.fairfieldct.org and click on CodeRed which is located under “Popular Links” on the Town’s homepage or call 203-254-4830 for personal assistance.

The Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection’s three simple preparedness steps include putting together an emergency kit, making a plan and staying informed. Governor Malloy offers the following preparedness tips that include:

Recommended Items to Include in a Basic Emergency Supply Kit:

• One gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation

• At least a three-day supply of non-perishable food

• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both

• Flashlight and extra batteries

• First aid kit

• A whistle to signal for help

• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation

• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities

• A manual can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)

• Local maps

• Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger.

Family Emergency Plan:

• Identify an out-of town contact. It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than

to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate

among separated family members

• Be sure every member of your family knows the phone number and has a cell phone,

coins, or a prepaid phone card to call the emergency contact. If you have a cell phone,

program that person(s) as “ICE” (In Case of Emergency) in your phone. If you are in an

accident, emergency personnel will often check your ICE listings in order to get a hold of

someone you know. Make sure to tell your family and friends that you’ve listed them as

emergency contacts

• Teach family members how to use text messaging. Text messages can often get around

network disruptions when a phone call might not be able to get through

• Subscribe to alert services. Go to www.ct.gov/ctalert to register for emergency alerts.

For more information on hurricane preparedness, visit www.ct.gov/hurricane or www.ready.gov.