Westport News: 2022 Fireworks Traffic Advisory


#Westport CT–The annual PAL fireworks display is set for Thursday June 30, 2022, with a rain date of Friday July 1, 2022. This is the largest annual Westport event featuring heavy vehicular and pedestrian traffic affecting all roads south of Greens Farms Road between Compo Road South and Hillspoint Road. It is recommended that spectators plan to arrive early as traffic delays are inevitable. Daytime Compo Beach visitors are reminded the beach closes at 4:00 PM. Only those vehicles with fireworks passes will be allowed to remain within the beach. We ask those with fireworks passes to be standing by their vehicles at that time so Parks and Recreation staff can collect their pass. The beach should reopen to ticket holders by5:00 PM, however this determination will be made by Westport Parks and Recreation staff. Pedestrians attending the fireworks are reminded not to walk on the roads and touse sidewalks when going to and from Compo Beach. It is recommended that pedestrians wear bright clothing and parents please always keep an eye on small children! For ticket holders:- Access to the PAL Fireworks display will be through South Compo Road only. Hillspoint Road south of Greens Farms Road will be open to residents with residences south of that intersection.- Firework attendees should display the ticket prominently on the dashboard so it can be seen clearly when traveling to the event. They will be collected upon entry into the parking area.- All ticket holders must be inside Compo Beach by 9:00 PM. No vehicular beach traffic will be allowed south of the Minuteman statue after that time. For those who do not have tickets:- Vehicles without a ticket will not be able to go any further towards Compo Beach than the Minuteman statue.- Those utilizing Uber, Lyft, or Taxi services will be directed straight past the Minuteman Statue on Compo Road South. There, visitors can walk from the area of Compo Road South and Soundview Drive to the beach. NOTE: If you choose to use this method of transportation return service.

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Westport News: Day Time/Early Evening Motor Vehicle Burglaries

(Westport, CT 6/27/2022) This past Saturday (6/25/22), the Westport Police Department
investigated several motor vehicle burglaries, which occurred during the late afternoon and
early evening hours. In all cases of vehicles being entered, which resulted in thefts, the doors
were unlocked. Traditionally, this type of crime was committed during the overnight hours.
However, Westport and other communities are now seeing this activity at varying times of the
day.


The car burglaries that occurred on Saturday are being investigated by the department’s
detective bureau. Furthermore, additional patrols will be deployed as a preventative measure.
The Westport Police Department would like to take this opportunity to once again remind
everyone to lock your car(s) and bring your keys/fobs inside. It is also important to remember
to take valuables out of your car, such as cash, purses, wallets, and electronics.
Should someone witness a person actively burglarizing a car, please call the police
immediately and provide as much information as possible. However, under no circumstances
should anyone confront the suspect(s).

GOVERNOR LAMONT REMINDS RESIDENTS THAT CONNECTICUT’S MINIMUM WAGE IS SCHEDULED TO INCREASE ON FRIDAY

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont is reminding Connecticut residents that the state’s minimum wage will increase from the current rate of $13.00 per hour to $14.00 per hour beginning on Friday, July 1, 2022.

The change is the result of legislation he signed into law three years ago that schedules several increases in the minimum wage over a five-year period.

“For too long, while the nation’s economy grew, the income of the lowest earning workers has stayed flat, making already existing pay disparities even worse and preventing hardworking families from obtaining financial security,” Governor Lamont said. “This is a fair, gradual increase for workers who will invest the money right back into our economy and continue supporting local businesses in their communities.”

“Governor Lamont and I are committed to making sure that our Connecticut economy works for everyone, and that includes our state’s low-income earners,” Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz said. “That’s why we voted three years ago to increase our state’s minimum wage at a steady rate, providing more financial security to families and providing residents the ability to continue supporting our local economy.”

Signed into law by Governor Lamont in 2019, Public Act 19-4 requires the minimum wage to increase five times over a five-year period, from the then-rate of $10.10 per hour to:

  • $11.00 on October 1, 2019;
  • $12.00 on September 1, 2020;
  • $13.00 on August 1, 2021;
  • $14.00 on July 1, 2022; and
  • $15.00 on June 1, 2023.

Ultimately, beginning on January 1, 2024, that same law requires the minimum wage to become indexed to the employment cost index, which is calculated by the U.S. Department of Labor, and for the first time in Connecticut the rate will grow according to economic indicators.

GOVERNOR LAMONT DIRECTS NEW CREDIT AND DEBIT CARD SERVICE FEES FROM STATE AGENCIES TO BE WAIVED

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is directing Office of Policy and Management Secretary Jeffrey Beckham to waive service fees that Connecticut state agencies are required to begin collecting on credit, debit, and charge card transactions under a state law that takes effect July 1, 2022.

Waiving these service fees will save Connecticut residents and businesses approximately $6 million during the 2023 fiscal year, which begins next week.

“Each of us is feeling the pressure of inflation, and I am committed to reducing costs for businesses and residents where the law allows,” Governor Lamont said. “By waiving these transaction fees, businesses and residents will save approximately $6 million. Our administration will be working with the General Assembly to revisit all such fees that are implemented by state statutes, and we will review arrangements that we have with credit card companies as we continue to streamline and modernize state government.”

Under Public Act 21-2 (June Special Session), state agencies that accept payments by credit, debit, or charge cards are required to charge a service fee to customers who pay by those methods beginning on July 1, 2022. Prior to this legislation, some state agencies already passed those costs on to customers, however many state agencies had not yet adopted that practice. This service fee requirement was intended to recoup the state’s costs for accepting these types of payments and would have imposed a new charge on customers who enter into transactions with state agencies that had not previously charged the fee.

That same law also includes a provision enabling the secretary of the Office of Policy and Management to waive those fees. Governor Lamont is directing Secretary Beckham to waive the imposition of any new fees though the end of fiscal year 2023.

Among the agency fees impacted are those from the Department of Motor Vehicles, Department of Consumer Protection, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and the Department of Public Health.

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Bridgeport News: Sanitation and Recycling Guidelines


Bridgeport, CT – Residents are reminded by the City of Bridgeport Department of Public Facilities to deposit only recyclable materials in their recycling cans for pickup. Non-collection items are reported by sanitation personnel as a result of the presence of the following non-recyclable materials in recycling cans:
· Plastic film of any sort (plastic grocery bags, trash bags, packing tape, bubble wrap, etc.)
· Cardboard not broken down and left bundled next to the can.
· Mixed trash with recyclables.
· Grass clippings.
· Styrofoam.
Do not bag your recyclables; instead, leave them loose in your recycling cans. In addition, never put trash in your recycling can. Any items, except cardboard, outside of your can will not be collected. Failure to follow these requirements will result in your recycling not being collected and/or a fine. Make certain that all recyclable materials are acceptable, clean, and free of food debris. Uncleaned recyclable items will not be collected, and personnel will leave a sticker on the can explaining why it was not collected. Sanitation personnel reject cans carrying these and other non-recyclables because mixing recyclables and non-recyclable items might result in the rejection of substantial amounts of the City’s recycling at the facility where it is processed.
Make sure to put your can out one day before your planned pick-up day. If your recyclable items are not picked up, you can take it to the transfer station at 475 Asylum Street for free.
If you require an additional recycling can, please contact the Department of Public Facilities at (203) 576 7124. The Department of Public Facilities or the recycling sanitation manager will provide the resident with a can at no cost. Recycling standards must be followed in order to obtain an additional can.
The Bridgeport Sanitation Division collects all general home solid garbage weekly curbside in accordance with all relevant City, State, and Federal health, environmental, and safety standards. For additional information on the trash collection schedule, please visit www.bridgeportct.gov/Trash-recycling.
As required by City statute, the Recycling Division collects recyclable items from the solid waste stream and transports them to a regional intermediate processing plant. Recycling collects glass, metal food containers, newspapers, HDPE and PETE plastics at the curb twice a week. For additional information on the recycling pick-up schedule, please visit www.bridgeportct.gov/Trash-recycling.This press release was made possible by:

STATE REPRESENTATIVES LEEPER AND FARRAR SECURE $1 MILLION IN STATE BUDGET FOR REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT SERVICES

(HARTFORD, CT) – Earlier this week, State Representatives Jennifer Leeper (D–Fairfield, Southport) and Kate Farrar (D–West Hartford) commemorated World Refugee Day by celebrating the inclusion of $1 million in the state budget to provide financial assistance to refugee resettlement agencies and to help close the ‘welcome gap’ faced by Connecticut’s refugees. The Representatives have worked directly with refugee assistance agencies across the state, including Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (IRIS), Connecticut Institute for Refugee and Immigrants (CIRI), and Jewish Family Services (JFS), in response to the influx of refugees arriving from Afghanistan and Ukraine and the crucial need for additional funding.

The funding secured in the state budget will provide each arriving refugee with a one-time grant of $1,000 to compensate for high costs of living in Connecticut by covering expenses such as rent, utilities, transportation, food, English language instruction, and job training. The funds will be directly allocated to the sponsoring refugee resettlement agencies.

The U.S. Department of State allocates a per capita allowance of $2,275 per refugee to resettlement agencies, with $1,225 supporting direct client expenses, including rental assistance. Connecticut’s high cost of living drains these funds during refugees’ first few months of living in the state, but it typically takes five months for refugees to find employment that will cover their living expenses. These interim months are known as the ‘welcome gap’. The additional funding in the state budget works to close that existing gap.

“I am so proud that we were able to secure this critical funding for our refugee resettlement agencies to support the influx of refugees arriving from Afghanistan and Ukraine and further work to close the ‘welcome gap’. We want to keep refugees in our state and ensure that they have the necessary resources to live fulfilling and productive lives here,” said Rep. Leeper. “Thank you to Governor Lamont for approving these funds. I look forward to continued work with State Representative Farrar and our resettlement agencies to see how we can further support our refugee communities.”

“As the wife of a refugee, I’ve learned firsthand how critical immediate resources and support are as families resettle in a new community,” Rep. Farrar said. “I am proud of our work to secure funding for hundreds of refugees to rebuild their lives and thrive in our state.” 

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