• Metro North--what can we do to get new/more train cars?
• Activities for Seniors...as need grows, are there any plans to expand facilities - and how about school use?
• Performing and Creative Arts Center process ("How come you are planning for something beyond the Referendum budget?");
• the 8-24 "complaint" regarding Town of Weston presentation to Planning and Zoning Commission--is there anything to this?
• Drinking and driving by youth--is there more the police can do by way of Town Ordinance to prevent it?
• Affordable housing;
• how will traffic and confusion during School Construction project-next phase (the actual building) be monitored to protect all--(everyone should work out alternate route from one side of town to another?);
• what about the reassessment--what did it mean to Weston homeowners--answered by Board of Assessment Appeals most thoroughly--with invitation to anyone with a complaint or question to sign up for an appointment for April "hearing."
• Why does the School Budget presentation get short shrift at Board of Selectmen?  What will the Board of Finance be looking for in re "presentation" and back-up?
• Why don't more people attend Speak Up? (Someone really asked that.)
• Why didn't the school plan contract when pupil projections shrank?
• More analysis of the Q&A as editing progresses on the video...but Weston FORUM reporter should have a good report Thursday!

"SPEAK-UP 2003"...the signature LWV of Weston event...broadcast on March 8, 2003 at 2pm, 5pm and 8pm on Channel 79;  available at Weston Library:
"The Town's Business Is Your Business:  Direction From The People To Their Government" talked money and affordability in 2003.

• ANNOUNCEMENT:  Congressman Christopher Shays to be at Weston Town Hall to speak with Westonites (and others) Saturday, February 15, 2003 at 12 noon;
• State Senator John McKinney and Representative John Stripp constantly up to respond...
• Senator McKinney remarked upon the paucity of power line questions...one of last questions called attention to upcoming 2004 removal of "standard offer"--which should lead to "spike" in power costs unless something is done this session in the Legislature to moderate this "California" effect (NOTE - these bills now under consideration in the Legislature: S.B.64, and S.B.733, "proposed bills" on these subjects).
• About 100 in the "Speak-Up 2003" audience;
• first question about whether Weston is too free with its money--questions why we are "Number One" on education spending and property taxes;  later questions revolve around doing the Referendum over in light of present financial situation and bad economy;
• most questions to the Superintendent of Schools or Board of Education or First Selectmen;
• School Building Committee called upon several times, Police Commission twice at least; Town Administrator, Library Board, Westport-Weston Health District, Town Engineer and Parks and Recreation Commission answered questions;
• no Conservation Commission or Planning and Zoning Commission questions, none to Board of Finance or Commission for the Arts or Septic Committee, Building Inspector;
• Senate Resolution No. 10 on Sheff settlement ($2,500,000 required) set for Public Hearing in Hartford Feb. 10 - no one asked about this!
• Remember  the last two "Speak-Up" events (see below)?  Have these issues disappeared? Not really--in fact, the condition of the Samuel Senior Dam came up again (flooding Main Street in Westport). within 20 minutes...) - First Selectman Woody Bliss explained that the structural condition of the dam was secure.

And indeed it was--from the first question (on making the School Campus bike-friendly) to discussion of a Town Cemetery, to external terror threats to zoning violations to greater attention to community artistic needs.  No mention of education issues other than the previously mentioned bike question.  No mention of taxes or spending.  School program on "civility" promoted (perhaps more school-centered Westonites should follow how the League manages to be civil)...and the biggest input came from State Representative John Stripp and Senator Judith Freedman on some of their ideas on power line issue (Public Hearing Tuesday in Hartford on Bill 307)...and then, to everyone's surprise, Congressman Christopher Shays arrived at this Weston League event (Weston will now [2002] be returned to the new 4th District--represented at this time by Congressman Shays), to great applause, as he is the modern leader of campaign finance reform (League's first and foremost issue to pursue)...

 
League Observer Corps (it even observes our own meetings!) recorded 19 different questions asked in the two hour "Speak Up 2002" session:  for clarity, these questions are color-coded--most in more than one color:

• infrastructure(power lines, roads, septic/sewer),
• school related,
• zoning/planning,
• "outside agency" out of our control,
• water,
• statement only.

1. BICYCLING ISSUE--how will school plans blend in this kind of recreation (for the community as a whole)?  How about updating the Town WEBsite for more useful notice of meetings?
2. Who owns the C,L&P Right of Ways?
3. WOODLANDS COALITION announcement (NOTE:  Since "Speak Up" WOODLANDS COALITION has made headway--gaining moratorium on power lines upgrade)
4. Who is responsible for preventing visual blight, zoning violations?
5. Is there an appeals process from zoning enforcement (if it isn't effective)?
6. What is the latest on the Midtown former Service Station?
7. Whose is the ultimate decision on the C,L&P issue?
8. What can be done about noise and neighborhood intrusion of development at Morehouse Farm Park?
9. Water supply endangerment--drought--to the amount available for residential use--what is the situation today?
10. Is there hope to ever see a Town Cemetery?  (Later information supplied by Dick Bochinski, from the audience)
11. What if there were a "dirty bomb" incident in N.Y.C.--how would Weston cope?
12. Will there ever be an arts center in town?  Perhaps at the Jarvis Military Academy?
13. Announcement of March 5 "Civility" presentation by consultant to schools...
14. Traffic...what can be done about it--especially at high volume intersections?
15. What can be done about Georgetown Road ("H") intersection?
16. Announcement of S.B. 343...pro-power lines bill
17. Will a large facility at Morehouse Farm Park be open to all (eg. like Greenwich Point Park case)?
18. How are things progressing on the septic-sewer front?
19. Can't getting a driver's licence be made more difficult?