Falling rain all day,
Treading water and asking
Will the sun emerge?

         

We found this on our own...and this.  Not to mention this:  http://trendct.org/2016/05/25/connecticut-middle-class-losing-ground-as-in-most-of-the-nation/.
From Urban Core to Wealthy Towns:  Nonschool Fiscal Disparities across Connecticut Municipalities
Bo Zhao, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston (click here for full report)

Abstract:

Using a cost-capacity gap framework, this paper is the first study to quantify nonschool fiscal
disparities across Connecticut municipalities. In the absence of a Uniform Chart of Accounts for
municipalities, the paper uses a newly assembled dataset of multi-year local financial records,
adjusted to be comparable across municipalities and therefore suitable for regression analysis.
The paper finds significant nonschool fiscal disparities among Connecticut municipalities. Fiscal
disparities are driven primarily by the uneven distribution of the property tax base across the
state, while cost differentials also play an important role. State nonschool grants are found to
have a relatively small effect in offsetting municipal fiscal disparities. Unlike previous research
focused on a single state, this paper also conducts a comparison between Connecticut and
Massachusetts.

10-7-15
10-28-15
11-18-15 (cancelled)
12-15-15
1-29-16
2-3-16;
3-23-16 at 6pm;  we forgot to attend - but watched it online!  Thank you,Town of Weston!!!
4-6-16 at 7:30pm - notes.
5-16-16 at 7:30pm - notes.
9-7-16 and now 11-29-16;

12-3-15 Subcommittee "GenX" - our notes, Town Hall Annex.
12-7-15 Sub-Committee "Communications&Marketing" 7:30pm Town Hall
12-9-15 Sub-Committee "GenX" 11am at Town Hall - link to DRAFT minutes.
12-10-15 Sub-Committee  ("Seniors") 7:30pm at Town Hall.
12-11-15 Communications/Marketing GOALS statement.
12-23-15  Sub-Committee ("Seniors") 7pm at Town Hall
1-6-16 Sub-Committee (GenX) - 11am Wednesday Town Hall
1-6-16 Sub-Committee ("Seniors") 7pm at Town Hall (cancelled)
1-12-16 Subcommittee ("Seniors" - Empty-nesters & elders) 7pm Commission Room - agenda.
1-20-16 Subcommittee "GenX" - 8:30am, Town Hall Commission Room
1-21-16 Subcomittee "Marketing and Communication" 7:30pm, Town Hall Commission Room
2-1-16  Subcommittee (Seniors-Empty Nesters) - but we;re going to this meeting - 7:15pm in the Town Hall annex for discussion of Receipt of Application:  Petition to amend the zoning regulations
to create proposed Section 323 - ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITY DISTRICT.
2-22-16 Subcommittee (Seniors-Empty Nesters):  http://www.westonct.gov/media/file/Agenda_Feb_22.pdf
3-1-16,  3-16-15,  Marketing alternate, 8:30am Town Hall Commission Room.
3-2-16, 3-9-16, 3-23-16, GenX same time of the morning, location.
3-23-16 GenX, 8:30am, Town Hall.
4-6-16 GenX, 8:30am, Town Hall
5-18-16 GenX, 8:30am, Town Hall
8-25-16 Empty Nesters 8pm Town Hall
8-31-15 GenX. 8:30am Town Hall
9-1-16 Marketing 7:30pm Town Hall Commission Room
thewestonway.com gets town funding (1-5-17)
And we haven't been following closely, but this subcommittee (Marketing Weston) just met Tuesday, June 21, 2017...and here too.

Membership
SUBCOMMITTEES
Observations

 

Strategic Planning Committee

Discussion of "environmental cluster" and planning for the next Town Plan of C&D update.  Capital Budget.


  
"STEEP" SIDEWALKS?
Sidewalks on School Road again.  Who p[ays for the sidewalk, how do you get state or federal funds if you are...Weston?




INSPIRED BY THIS DISCUSSION, ABOUT TOWN IS EMBARKING ON A STUDY OF "DOWNTOWN" FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

The Strategic Planning Committee and the Planning and Zoning Commission desire to survey the community professionally to find out what this generation wants its Town to be now.

Also, consideration of how to "survey" the community as to what they would like to see as improvements to Weston - and if the newest generation of Westonites are significantly different from previous generations.  And if so, how.

Next meeting of full body not until we think mid to late January.

Monday, May 16, 2016 meeting of full Strategic Planning Committee notes and pictures

DISCUSSION
Committee of the whole meets.  Goes into next steps for Town Square idea.


DATA
Surveys to those who have recently bought, sold or otherwise have interest in Weston real estate

in the group who might be interested in moving to Weston presented.



AMBASSADORS
An idea that is gaining traction to teach people about the special places in Weston.


1987 photo of "Downtown" Weston.

Committee of the whole meets April sixth in new venue - Daugherty Commission Room.

• Most impressive presentation by GenX - after deep discussion of making sure community is on board with what is being done - and hoping to reach out to everyone soon.
  

• Presentations by subcommittees included ongoing actions described for assisting the Board of Education and those engaged "selling" real estate.
  

• THE WESTON WAY suggested as a brand.  Portal for those seeking info on the town almost ready to "launch."

       

STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE AGENDA FOR WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016
Town website being revamped for the data collection process...


    

     
       


  

• EVERYONE THINKS THE TOWN NEEDS A NEW WEBSITE, THEY SEEM TO AGREE THAT CHANGING EVERYTHING, TO USE THE LWV'S EXPRESSION, IN WESTON'S DNA, AS REPRESENTED BY THE TAX BASE, IS NOT THE WAY TO GO...
• The meeting took 2 hours and covered review of subcommittee SWOT analyses for all three entities - the 10 slide presentation by "GenX offered above. 
  
• In addition, the Superintendent of Schools handed out demographic information about enrollments past, present and future.  See above.
  
• No hard data gathering yet by SPC, but they are coalescing on their research needs - or at least exploring for assistance from groups the Town belongs to that have this capability.

SPECIAL MEETING?

The parking lot was bare of cars.  One showed up @6:55pm.  No thers had arrived by 7pm, so I left at 7pm, figuring that the Strategic Planning Committee Special Meeting needed 9 people to make a quorum.

Without nine people, if that is a quorum of the full Committee now, no action can be taken plus the agenda indicates the purpose was for "coordination of the Sub-Committee chairs."
No actions or voting indicated and no items can be added to the agenda of a Special Meeting.

Prior to that About Town waited, after looking in the side entrance which did not appear to be open. 

December 15, 2015
Announced now 17 members total.  Meeting lasted 90 minutes.  More members of the general public than last time!



Very interesting meeting.  Reports from 3 sub-committees, scheduled meetings for 2016

Seventeen out of a possible 19 members present.  Meeting lasted a bit over an hour. 



LINK TO About Weston reports;  watched the six hour meeting of the CT Tax Panel Oct. 27.
PLEASE VISIT THE CT TAX PANEL DISCUSSIONS ON RELATED MATTERS.  SEVERAL REPORTS RELATED TO THE ITEMS BELOW BEING DISCUSSED THERE.

------------------------


Crafting A Strategic Plan Part One




SECOND MEETING WEDNESDAY OCT. 28, 2015:  AGENDA INCLUDES POWER POINT FROM FIRST SELECTMAN...will the Power Point work???  YES!!!  More than that, the Skype worked to get Co-Chair. (who was at home, ill), to be able to participate, too!

A picture story below of the play-by-play of this efficient meeting on a rainy/stormy night!  First some questions from newer community members asking about relationship to Westport;  why we can't be like Greenwich;  how about hiring staff;  and then there were some longer term residents who spoke to have all sub-committees begin with "SWOT" exercise (and presumably then have an agreed upon strengths/weakness/opportunities/threats calibrated work exercise).  And a suggestions for a view of Weston from someone with a weekend home here.

   

STRATEGIC PLAN, GOVERNMENT-STYLE
We got the impression that after the First Selectman described the process of F.O.I. laws ("what is a meeting?"), posting notices, taking minutes and the snail's pace, these volunteers were having second thoughts.
Need for minutes mentioned, too.  We asked if all meetings would be posted on the website.  First step:  Subcommittees to adopt goals - that are consistent with one another.


 
STILL THINKING ABOUT FOCUS GROUPS
When someone asked about affordable housing without exactly saying "8-30g" some looked guilty - are we inviting a law suit with this kind of Committee?  Future need for discussion of need to work with P&Z, housing regulations,  real estate market, private equity viewpoint.

October 7, 2015
     
FIRST MEETING SNAPSHOT SERIES
Co-Chairs pleased they got the process moving forward.  Strategic Planning Committee minus one appointee present for first meeting (c).  Reflection of the other end of the long table.

FIRST MEETING WAS ONE HOUR, WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 7, 2015 AT 7:30PM, TOWN HALL MEETING ROOM - AGENDA

The Strategic Planning Committee (SPC) met for an hour.  It was being recorded on the Town TV Channel.  The next two meeting dates are Oct. 28 and Nov. 18 (Wednesdays, at 7:30pm).  After that time, there are to be three subcommittees which have members assigned (we didn't catch their names - I assume this information will be in the minutes).  The 3 are:

• Communications/marketing;
• Seniors longtimers (concerns);
  
• Newcomers. 
  

*



Dennis Tracey, Co-Chair., Selectman


Jane Connolly, Co-Chair., Vice-Chair., P&Z

Christopher Spaulding - background in research techniques;  volunteer government experience on Conservation Commission.  Now resigned, member of Board of Selectmen.

David Levy - home office, investments.  Resignation on Selectmen's Agenda Dec. 22 - for business scheduling reasons.

**
Keisha Biggs Fink - professional planner, resigned to accept professional position elsewhere.

    
Larry Roberts - Captain, Weston Volunteer Fire Dept. had to resign;  replaced by Catherine Revzon.



**
Michael Carter - business, ex-Board of Finance



Thomas Glass - business - instrumental in Weston Community Center attempt years ago

**
Anita Dinwoodie - outreach to generation of families with children and neighboring communities.



Barbara Reynolds - real estate

Glenn Major - lawyer, former Selectman

Jonathan Moffly - publisher from...Westport?



Lucy Bowden - long-time resident



**
Kerry Brock - artist

Bill Douglass - writer

**
Charlie Shipman - financial advisor

Marc Karasu - 1-year resident



Michael Imber - deal maker, municipal finance specialty




Richard Frisch - communications/internet/resigned 4-4-16.

THE THREE "SPC" SUBCOMMITTEES ARE:

1. Communications/marketing;
   
2. Seniors long-timers (concerns) - their meeting Dec.10 produced the above chart.
   
3. Newcomers. We attended first "newcomers" (as well as meetings of full Committee) because of our interest in DEMOGRAPHICS.

"...The committee recommends these action items for researching and attaining its goals:

"Create a data subcommittee of experts to collect and interpret information for the SPC. Charlie Shipman
offered to be a member and will reach out to Michael Carter to determine his interest.

"Schedule presentations from land developers, newcomers, WPS administration, BOE members, real estate agents, telecommuters and marketing experts who can match their statistics to the unique attributes of a Weston homebuyer.

"Meet on a weekly basis at 11am Wednesdays starting January 6 and include 20 - minute presentations from the professionals named above.

"Develop short, mid and long - range goals..."

      

Town of Weston Strategic Planning Committee/Generation X & Newcomers Subcommittee
December 3, 2015 at 1:30pm
Town Hall Annex Conference Room

Agenda for "GenX"

The Sub-Committee elected a  Chair. and set a "goal" as was noted that it might do on the agenda:  "(Something to the effect...) Make Weston a desirable place for future generations."

#4 on agenda is "Discussion of known and suspected obstacles to goals and how we might approach them."  The answer was "as a group."

Next meeting:  Wednesday Dec. 9, 2015 at 11am, Town Hall.  DRAFT minutes here.

Based on what we know or found out in an Internet search that is relevant to this matter.
**  Members of "GenX" Sub-Committee present at 12-3-15 meeting.

PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION PREPARING TO PROPOSE REVISIONS TO ZONING REGULATIONS???
Since there is a conflict between the Special Board of Selectmen's Meeting and P&Z Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016, About Town will not be able to hear what transpires Tuesday at 7:15pm in the Town Hall Annex. 


If there is anything in writing produced as a result of this meeting, here is a link to communicate with them:  http://www.westonct.gov/townhall/27652/28677/29272

      

• Population migration A.P. story Dec. 24, 2015..."Last year, Connecticut had its first population loss since 2008. At the time, officials said the improving economy might partially be to blame because people postponed retirement during the last recession and now they are able to retire, often to Florida.  This year's statistics show that Connecticut lost 3,876 or -0.11 percent last year to a total population of 3,590,886..."  That's two years in a row, which means demographers are taking this seriously.  One year could be a "blip" but two years is a real number!
  
• Population projection story:  http://ctbythenumbers.info/2015/12/07/cts-dropping-college-enrollment-expected-to-rebound-with-different-demographics/
  
• Reminder that there is a specific order to rigorous study in planning...
  
• About Weston "Central Part of Town 2015" page here.
• How does the Town Plan itself approach "centrality" and "sustainability" of our present development form?  Community tragedy?  (In good taste, we will not discuss earlier as well as recent event.)
  
• ABOUT TOWN'S OWN "STRATEGIC PLAN" OBSERVATIONS AT INTERVIEWS.
• What sewers cost:  http://www.aboutweston.com/seattle.html#sewers
• More on septic rules in Washington State:  http://www.aboutweston.com/seattle.html#septic
• Bridgewater CT goes from dry to wet - first proposal involves "new sewage disposal system."  We assume this means an enlarged septic system to take care of higher usage at existing facility.
  
• Community center planning elsewhere - Newtown - story:  http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Newtown-seeks-common-ground-for-community-center-6562533.php
• Weston zoning regs as of 2011 permits it in my interpretation;  Airbnb & Uber and zoning regulations:  http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/10/your-money/new-worry-for-home-buyers-a-party-house-next-door.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=c-column-middle-span-region&region=c-column-middle-span-region&WT.nav=c-column-middle-span-region
• Will this come into play?  New rules for home care pay:  http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-home-health-workers-live-in-pay-rules-20151008-story.html
• A question:  How is Connecticut like Alaska?  Ans. - they both have Legislatures.  A land use example:  http://www.adn.com/article/20151013/anchorage-assembly-tweaks-land-use-regulations
• OWNERSHIP OF LAND:  http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/01/business/international/in-china-homeowners-find-themselves-in-a-land-of-doubt.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=second-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news