Category: Westport

2022-11-15@2:22pm–#Westport CT– #cttraffic– A crash between a car and tractor-trailer on I-95 southbound near exit 17 is backing traffic up.

(Westport, CT) – On Saturday, October 29, 2022, from 10:00am to 2:00pm, the Westport Police Department will again partner with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration for the twenty-third National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The event will be held at the Westport Center for Senior Activities located at 21 Imperial Avenue.

According to a report published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the majority of people who misused a prescription medication obtained the medicine from a family member or friend. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that last year, more than 93,000 people died of drug overdoses in the United States, marking the largest number of drug-related deaths ever recorded in a year.

In the words of DEA Administrator Anne Milgram, “Take Back Day is a critical effort to curb the historic surge in U.S. overdoses. We know prevention starts at home. The simple step of clearing out medications that are no longer needed makes our homes safer, prevents prescription drug misuse, and, ultimately, can help save lives.” Since its inception, the take back program has removed almost 16 million pounds of medication from circulation.

Please note that collection sites cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps, only pills or patches. Vape pens where the batteries can be removed, can be disposed of at the drug take back. Vape pens where batteries cannot be removed will not be accepted at the drug take back. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Residents are also reminded that a year-round collection bin is installed in the lobby of Westport police headquarters, where prescription drugs can be properly disposed of at any time rather than waiting for designated collection dates.

For those seeking more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the October 29 th Take Back Day event, visit https://takebackday.dea.gov/

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#Westport CT– On October 12, 2022, at approximately 8:25 p.m., an officer on routine patrol pulled a car over for a motor vehicle violation in the area of 379 Post Road East. The driver was identified as Juan Velasco. Mr. Velasco reportedly admitted that his license was currently suspended and that the car he was driving was not registered. Additionally, the officer observed drug paraphernalia in plain view. A search of the car yielded additional paraphernalia as well as a pair of homemade nunchucks.

Mr. Velasco was arrested and charged with Weapons in Vehicles, Misuse of a LicensePlate, Operating a Motor Vehicle Under Suspension, Operating an Unregistered Motor Vehicle, Failure to Display License Plates, and Failure to Wear a Seatbelt in the Front Seat. He was held on a $5,000.00 bond and transported to Stamford Superior Court the morning of October 13 to be arraigned.

Two other individuals who were in the car were also taken into custody. RobertKonigsberg, had multiple outstanding warrants for Failure to Appear and the other had an outstanding warrant issued by the Torrington Police Department. However, neither passenger was charged in relation to the Westport incident.

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2022-10-11@5:45pm–#Westport CT–Westport Police put out a “be on the lookout” for a gray Honda CRV with New York plates. A woman in the car attempted to change the child’s clothes when the child screamed you are not my mother.

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Westport, CT – The Public Works Department announced that the Town’s Fall Paving Program has started. The program will continue through the end of September until mid-October, weather permitting. The following Town roadways will be paved, though not necessarily in this order:

Hunt Club Lane	Tiffany Lane
Imperial Avenue	Broad Street
Jesup Road	Main Street
Taylor Place	Northfield Drive
Bay Street	Brooklawn Drive
Marion Road	Meadow View Drive
Hillyfield Lane	Cypress Pond Road
Oakwood Lane	Barbara Place
Charcoal Lane	Bowling Lane
Charcoal Hill Common	Avery Place
Old Road	Broad Street

Drivers and pedestrians residents are urged to use caution around work sites and allow extra driving time.

Questions regarding the project can be referred to the Public Works Office at (203) 341-1120.

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2022-09-27@3:24pm–#Westport CT– Firefighters are on the way to Cobb Drive for a 16-year-old who fell through the attic and is now stuck in the ceiling.

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2022-09-24@6:09#Westport CT– #cttraffic– A crash in the right break-down lane of I-95 southbound near exit 18.

Master Plan for Downtown Parking and Pedestrian Areas: 

Open House Charrette on September 29 & Online Survey Now Available on Website

Westport, CT – First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker has announced that the recently awarded project to develop and design a master plan for key Downtown parking and pedestrian areas, called Reconnecting the Riverfront, is moving into its initial public engagement phase.

Design and engineering firm, Langan Engineering and Environmental Services, Inc.(Langan), has partnered with Connect the Dots to develop and manage the public engagement scope of this project. This will include both virtual and physical opportunities to engage, including public meetings, a visioning charrette, location-specific pop-up displays, and a survey. 

The Downtown Plan Implementation Committee (DPIC) is coordinating the project along with Langan. Chaired by Randy Herbertson, DPIC includes Town department heads and resident constituents. DPIC holds a public monthly meeting on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 8:30 AM. Meeting notices can be found on the Town calendar on the Town website, westportct.gov.

The public survey is now open and can be found on the DPIC website, downtownwestportct.com  All are invited to provide feedback, both on the survey and on an ongoing basis in the comments section.

On Thursday, September 29, from 7-9 pm, there will be a visioning charrette and Open House in Brooks Place at the Westport Library (20 Jesup Road). Residents and stakeholders are encouraged to attend. Throughout the fall, there will also be pop-up displays in various Downtown locations.

First Selectwoman Tooker stated, “This is an important step in the development of specific plans, which will include design concepts and cost estimates for the Jesup and Imperial Lot areas and design and construction documents for Parker Harding. The Parker Harding project would be the first of these projects to be advanced through the appropriate Town planning and funding bodies.”

She continued, “Continuing to revitalize and energize Westport’s central business district is a key focus of my administration. It is very important to invite and consider public opinion in these efforts, and I appreciate the hard-working team that is managing this project. I encourage everyone to take an interest, participate in the survey, and attend the Open House Charette on September 29.”

Westport, CT – Westport Officials have been notified that Aquarion Water Company recently-filed a rate case before the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA).  The proceeding, PURA Docket No. 22-07-01, Application of Aquarion Water Company of Connecticut to Amend its Rate Schedule, was initiated on July 1, 2022 when Aquarion Water filed a Notice of Intent, and continues with the receipt of the company’s formal application, which was filed on August 29, 2022. 

A regulated utility may recover costs incurred to provide safe, reliable service plus a reasonable rate of return. Such utilities may file an application with PURA with proposed amended distribution rates, which initiates a rate case.  PURA has 200 days to complete a water utility rate case, whereby the final step includes a decision that will be voted on by the three PURA commissioners. Parties in the rate case include the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and the Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC), along with other interested parties that may include municipalities and organizations representing specific classes of customers. 

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2022-09-07@9:40am– #Westport, CT– 9/7/2022) An officer conducting traffic enforcement on the Sherwood Island Connector pulled a car over for a motor vehicle violation. Upon approaching the car, the officer saw that there were four men inside. As the driver was retrieving paperwork from the glove compartment, the officer observed a plastic bag that contained several red capsules. He knew that capsules of that type are typically used to package crack cocaine. At this point, the officer called for additional units to assist him with this investigation. Seconds later, the person sitting in the front passenger seat ran from the vehicle and fled into the woods adjacent to the commuter parking lot. The officer chased the individual and saw him discarding items as he ran. The passenger was taken into custody after a brief struggle with officers. The other three occupants remained with the car and did not attempt to flee. The evidence that the passenger discarded during the foot chase was suspected narcotics and a scale. The suspected narcotics were tested and determined to be cocaine and crack. Both were mixed with fentanyl. The crack cocaine weighed twelve grams and the cocaine weighed sixty grams. The passenger who ran was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance With Intent to Sell, Illegal Operation of a Drug Factory, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Tampering With Evidence, Assault on a Public Safety Officer, and Interfering With an Officer. He is currently being held on a $75,000.00 bond. The driver was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance With Intent to Sell, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Interfering With an Officer, Criminal Impersonation, Misuse of a License Plate, Operating an Unregistered Motor Vehicle, Operating a Motor Vehicle Without Insurance, Illegal Tinting, and Operating Without a License. He is currently being held on a $51,000.00 bond. The rear passengers were not charged. However, one was taken into custody as he had outstanding warrants in other jurisdictions. The identities of the two parties arrested will be released at a later time, as the investigators are still working on confirming their identities.