“Trump 2020 Keep America Great” stickers are popping up on the backs of speed limit and stop signs all over town. Harmless? Not exactly.
The right to post lawn signs on public property is a First Amendment right and the Town does not regulate election signage unless they are impeding sight lines.
In Connecticut, a person who steals, defaces, or vandalizes lawn signs may be subject to criminal charges, including larceny and trespass.
Trump 2020 sticker on Field Point Rd. Sept 21, 2020Trump 2020 sticker at Hearthstone Drive. Sept 21, 2020Trump 2020 sticker on Hendrie Ave across from Riverside School. Sept 21, 2020Trump 2020 sticker on Hendrie Ave across from Riverside School. Sept 21, 2020
Putting stickers on traffic signs, purchased and placed with taxpayer dollars, is another story.
First Selectman Camillo mentioned the stickers in his Friday Connections e-blast, saying, “We are seeing a proliferation of political stickers being placed on street signs and road signs. Please do not deface public property when exercising your First Amendment right of Freedom of Speech in support of candidates. In doing so, you are breaking the law and anyone caught doing so will be prosecuted.”
On Monday he said the Town is removing the stickers, but they keep popping back up.
Greenwich Police Captain Mark Zuccerella said if police catch someone responsible for the stickers, the charge would be Criminal Mischief.
“The degree depends on the cost to replace. When you clean a sticker off, it ruins the reflective surface,” he said. “The best way to stop them is to keep replacing. The vandals always grow tired and stop.”
RTC chair Dan Quigley said the RTC has prioritized the importance of following the rules with regard to signs and stickers.
“We strongly urge that people respect the laws associated with any public displays of their political preferences during the campaign season,” Quigley said.
The small print on the back of town signs is explicit:
It is UNLAWFUL to deface, detach or remove any official road sign or traffic control device. It is UNLAWFUL to buy or sell this item for scrap or any other purpose, punishable by fine and/or imprisonment. Report sign damage or theft by calling (203) 622-8003.
Damage left to stop sign at Drinkwater Lane in Riverside where a sticker was removed.A warning on the back of a stop sign at Drinkwater says “It is UNLAWFUL to deface, detach or remove any official road sign or traffic control device. It is UNLAWFUL to buy or sell this item for scrap or any other purpose, punishable by fine and/or imprisonment. Report sign damage or theft by calling (203) 622-8003. Trump 2020 sticker sign at Bramble Lane. Sept 21, 2020Trump 2020 sticker at intersection of Locust and East Elm downtown. Sept 17, 2020Trump 2020 sticker on Stop sign at intersection at entrance to Quarry Knoll. Sept 17, 2020Trump 2020 sticker at intersection of Lincoln and East Elm downtown. Sept 17, 2020Trump 2020 sticker at traffic rotary by Mason St and Fawcett Place in downtown. Sept 17, 2020Trump 2020 sticker at intersection of Benedict and West Elm downtown. Sept 21, 2020
Monday night’s lengthy Representative Town Meeting Zoom webinar finished close to midnight with a motion from the floor from District 8 member Carl Higbie to consider a non-agenda item.
The item was a proposed town ordinance, titled, “My Body My Choice, My Business My Choice,” to make mask wearing optional for individuals and business owners.
Laura Gladstone seconded the motion.
Consideration by the 230-member RTM would require a 2/3 majority vote.
After Mr. Higbie read aloud his proposed ordinance, he said, “It’s about freedoms we enjoy that are uniquely American. This bill only seeks to govern what we can as a town. It does not circumvent State laws.”
He said his proposed ordinance did not ban masks or question their efficacy.
“If you want to wear a mask, fine. If you want to take precautions, go ahead. This is about the role of government and how far it can go.”
Carl Higbie, RTM District 8
For anyone offended by the name of his bill he said, “Offended is what people do when they don’t have a valid counter-argument.”
Higbie was interrupted by the moderator, Tom Byrne.
“All we need to know is generally what the bill is about, and you’ve done that,” Tom Byrne said.
“The Town of Greenwich can’t shut down (businesses) like it did last time,” Higbie said as Byrne cut him off.
While votes were tabulated, Zoomers listened to Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Pride and Joy.”
Then the results were announced.
The vote was 22-170-2, which fell short of the 2/3 needed.
To many the result might not have been a surprise. Last Friday, comments on Facebook in response to a story outlining Higbie’s proposal foreshadowed the vote.
Readers mostly criticized Higbie in comments including calling him a hypocrite for making an analogy of mask wearing and being pro-choice. They said using borrowed language from the pro-choice slogan – “My Body, My Choice” – made no sense.
“Total hypocrite, he’s pro life but that means you aren’t giving a woman the right to choose yet he says mask wearing is a choice? Shoot yourself in the foot there. (P)eople please vote this horrible person out, normally stay out of these things but this is infuriating,” wrote Jacqueline Partridge.
“Secondhand smoke is the reason for smoking bans in public. One person’s right to liberty does not … ummm.. trump another’s right to life,” wrote Rob Otto.
“Another candidate for His Malignancy’s Super Spreader Republican Death Cult!” wrote Daniel Shays.
“Since it is now clear Trump lied about the severity of the virus from Jan 28, and his lack of a national mask mandate has additionally hurt us, the RTM should vote this one into the trash,” Barry Ogdon wrote.
On Tuesday, Higbie said he was not surprised by the vote.
“I knew this vote was going to end similar to the way it did,” he said. “It was 11:30 at night and no one wanted to take on yet another bill to debate. The mission was accomplished though. People are talking about it, and when it is on the agenda in October we will have the full debate. Overall I’m glad we went forward. Governing is a slow process and this was the kickoff of limiting government intrusion.”
NOTE: Neither Moderator Tom Byrne nor Moderator Pro Tempore Alexis Voulgar voted because they moderate the meeting.
The record vote was as follows:
District 1: Andrea Anthony: Yes Katharine Ashworth: Absent Joshua Brown: No Carl Carlson: Absent Ed Dadakis: No Laura Feda: No Alison Ghiorse: No Dean C Goss: Absent Judith Goss: No Alanna Hynes: No Frederick Lee: No William B Lewis, Jr: Yes Elizabeth Mills Sanders: No Dan Quigley: No Helma Varga: No Marla Weston: No Lihong Zhong: Absent
District 2 Michael Basham: No Duncan Burke: Absent Nancy Burke: No Donald Conway: No Jessica DelGuercio: No Laura Gladstone: Yes Jill Kelly: No Michele Kosson: No Katherine LoBalbo: o Mary Ellen Markowitz: No Wilma Nacinovich: No Averato “Aldo” Pascarella: No Eileen Toretta: No Erika Walsh: No
District 3 Louise Bavis: No Martin C Blanco: No Elias Judd Cohen: No Thomas Conelias: No Ed Lopez: No Rosalind Nicastro: No Sylvester J Pecora Sr: No Adam Rothman: No Steven Rubin: No Alison Walsh: No
District 4 Javier Aleman: No Ronald Carosella: No Andrea Casson: No Elizabeth Eckert: No Robert McKnight: No Maria Popp: No Alex Popp: Absent Romuto Samaniego: No Diego Sanchez: No J Schaffner:-Parnell: No Samarpana Tamm: No John Thompson: No Robert Tuthill: No Donald Vitti: No Lucy von Brachel: No Bonnie Zeh: Absent
District 5 Joseph H Benoit Jr: Yes Edward Broadhurst III: No Nancy Cooper: No Stephen Dolan: No Allison “Icy” Frantz: No Lucy Krasnor: No Hale McSharry: Yes Paul Olmstead: No Danyal Ozizmir: No Christopher Parker: No Patricia “Patty” Roberts: No Allison Rogers: No Felix Rovelli: No Ashley Smith: No Joan Thakor: No Peter van Duyne: No Catherine Whitaker: Yes
District 6 Thomas Byrne: – Marilyn Cahn: No Robert Cenci: Absent Carol Ducret: Yes Candace Garthwaite: No Coline Jenkins: No Gunnar Klintberg: No Leander Kreuger: No Arline Lomazzo: Absent Brian Maher: No Janet McGuigan: No Stephen Meskers: No Jo Ann O’Hara: No Barbara O’Neill: No Monica Prihoda: No Victoria Quake: No Gary Segal: No David Snyder: No Alexis Voulgaris: – Victoria Martin Young: No
District 7 Debbie Appelbaum: No Kimberly Morgan Blank: No Ellen Brennan-Galvin: No Mary “Nanette” Burrows: No Thomas Cahill: Absent James Cecil: No Jill Cobbs: No Alice Duff: no Kimberly Fiorello: Absent Elizabeth “Betsy” Galindo: No William Galvin III: No Hilary Gunn: Absent Lucia Jansen: No Scott Kalb: No Elizabeth “Wyn” McDaniel: No Henry Orphys: No Doreen Pearson: No Elizabeth Perry: No Luke Szymczak: No Mike Warner: No
District 8 Hector Arzeno: No Lisa Becker Edmundson: No Peter Berg: Absent Francis J Burgweger Jr: No Jill Capalbo: Yes Randy Caravella: Yes Adele Caroll: Absent Neil Caton: Yes Irene Dietrich: No Philip Dodson: Abstain John Eddy: No Christine Edwards: No Jennifer Freitag: No Dana Gordon: No Carlton “Carl” Higbie: Yes Laura Kostin: No Richard Margenot: Absent Janet Lee McMahon: No Linda Moshier: No Cheryl Moss: No Robert Moss: No Andrew Oliver II: Absent Jonathan Perloe: Yes Caryn Rosenbaum: Absent Molly Saleeby: Yes Alison Soler: No
District 9 Phyllis Alexander: No Seth Becon: No Michael Brescia: Yes Claudia Carthaus: No Barbara Darula: No Patricia “Patti” DeFelice: No Melissa Evans: No Betsy Frumin: No Donna Gaudioso-Zeale: No Anne Jones: No Deborah Krautheim: No Abbe Large: No Brian Malin: No Lauren O’Keefe” No Brian Raney: No Ferdinando Schiro: Yes Jonathan Shankman: No Lillian “Sharon” Shisler: Absent Joanne Steinhart: No Jane Weisbecker: No Carol Zarrilli: No
District 10 Natalie Adee: Absent Gerald Anderson: No Granit Balidemaj: Absent Jude Collins: Yes Allyson Cowinn: yes Mareta Hamre: No Brooks Harris: Absent Katherine Hynes: No Sara Kessler: Absent Rachel Khanna: Absent Lawrence Malkin: No Nancy Marshall: Absent John Mastracchio: Absent Diana Singer: No Sheryl Sorbaro: Absent Jane Sprung: Absent Louisa Stone: No Joanna Swomley: No Sophie Veronis: Absent Svetlona Wasserman: No
District 11 Nancy Better: No Victoria Bostock: No Adam Brodsky: No Thomas Devaney: No Susan Fahey: No Tracy Freedman: No Karen Giannuzzi: No Margaret Heppelmann: No Susan Khanna: No Adam Leader: No Dana Neuman: No Richard Neuman: No David Oliver: No Gregg Pauletti: No Ralph Penny: No Brad Radulovacki: Yes Kimberly Salib: Abstain Michael Spilo: No Cathryn Fineman Steel: No Ronald Strackbein: No Elisabeth “Lisa” Stuart: No Thomas West: Yes Gregory Zorthian: No
District 12 Hajime Agresta: No Thomas Agresta: No Francia Alvarez: No Craig Amundson: No Glen Canner: No Jeffrey Crumbine: Yes David DeMilhau: Absent Ryan Fazio: No Mary Flynn: No Barbara Hindman: No Mary Keller: Absent Paula Legere Mickley: No Aaron Leonard: No Frederick Lorthioir: Yes Robert May: No Miriam Mennin: No Ellen Murdock: No Jocelyn Riddle: No Jane Sulich: Yes Donald Whyko: No Andrew Winston: No
During Tuesday’s Planning & Zoning meeting applications to redevelop 97 and 99 East Elm Street were combined and reviewed in tandem.
Two old single family houses have already been demolished on the properties.
99 East Elm Street where a single family house was demolished. Sept 22, 2020. Photo: Leslie Yager97 East Elm Street where a single family house was demolished. Sept 22, 2020. Photo: Leslie Yager
The applicant, represented by attorney Chris Bristol, seeks a final site plan and special permit to construct two, two-family houses. The properties are in the R6 zone.
The new two-family homes will have one garage space per unit and a shared carport structure with one for each unit. The proposal is to access both two-family homes by a single shared driveway between them.
The single family house at 97 East Elm Street has been demolished. The single family house at 99 East Elm has been demolished. Photo: Leslie YagerProposed new two-family homes will be accessed via a shared driveway between 97 and 99 East Elm Street. The curb cut and drive already exist on the 99 East Elm Street site and will be expanded and upgraded for access to both new two family dwellings.
Retaining walls are proposed along the front of the property. A sidewalk will be constructed. A 3 ft grass strip will be created along East Elm.
The neighbors, Andrea and Chris Semenuks, at 93 East Elm Street, had questions about the different grades proposed.
The commission explained there would be “cuts,” but no fill.
A total cut of 331 cubic yards is proposed with no filling over the two properties.
The Semenuks, who recently constructed their home at 93 East Elm noted they have an easement for a shared driveway between their house and 97 East Elm.
The applicant owns that driveway.
“The law entitles them to this,” P&Z chair Alban said of the Semenuks easement.
A question discussed was, if the applicant gives up use of that driveway, would they still be responsible for its maintenance, especially if snow falls off the roof of the new structure.
The neighbors said there were smaller setbacks for the new two-family house at 97 versus the previous single family house.
“The eaves and the gutter (will) pretty much overhang the driveway,” said Andrea Semenuk.
“We think the property is too close to the driveway,” said Mrs. Semenuk, who was also surprised to learn that the commission agreed with the applicant that two feet is considered adequate space to install evergreen screening.
“We planned locations to stockpile our snow when we built our house, but didn’t plan for their stockpile and their entire roofline,” Mrs. Semenuk said.
“You have a valid point,” commissioner Nick Macri said.
“You can’t put water on other people’s property and snow is water. You can’t dump your storm on somebody else’s,” Alban said.
Mr. Bristol said the applicant did not intend to use that driveway.
“I envisioned the maintenance obligations to run with the right to use that shared driveway on the west. We had no intention to use it as part of this development,” Bristol said. “DPW wants us to abandon the right to use that shared driveway on the west….We’re agreeable to foregoing use of that driveway.”
Bristol said there was a DPW rule about separation of curb cuts.
“The DPW prohibition is you have to have 50 ft separating driveway curb cuts on your own property,” Bristol said, adding that the shared driveway between 93 and 97 breaks the 50 ft rule.
The Semenuks asked about who would be responsible for maintenance of the driveway when the applicant gives it up.
“That is something you have to resolve with the attorneys when they abandon their right to (the shared driveway),” said commission chair Margarita Alban, who promised to visit the site.
There was a discussion about “snow slides” and “snow stops” on roofs.
In her comments on file, Aleksandra Moch, environmental analyst for the town, said that at the time of her field investigation in June, both houses had been demolished and just two trees were left at the site – a 16″ diameter River Birch and a Maple Tree.
She recommended lost trees be mitigated in a 1:1 ratio and that new trees be predominantly native species, supported by native shrubs and herbaceous ground cover.
The P&Z commission noted that there had been a great deal of construction on East Elm Street in recent years, and that it is narrow road that is difficult to maneuver when construction vehicles are present.
“It is very hard to get through when there are construction vehicles there,” Alban said.
Mr. Bristol said he assumed both two family homes would be constructed at the same time.
The commission asked him to submit a phasing plan.
Moch also noted the narrow road in her report and suggested parking for contractor vehicles be designated to ensure vegetated areas are not impacted.
Landscaping plans have been submitted and show two Dogwood trees in the front of the property, with a combination of shrubs and groundcover throughout the rest of the property.
Cross easements will be needed between the two properties.
The commission asked for a revised landscape plan that would include the proposed structures.
The commission asked the applicant to remove decks, screen the carports, and specify where refuse containers will be located.
Employees worked from home and were expected to be available by phone and email during business hours.
After a false start, at the end of May Camillo announced the building would partially reopen on June 1, by appointment only. Signage directs guests where to stand to social distance and instruct them that masks are required as they wait to be greeted at the door and escorted to their meeting.
On Thursday morning, Camillo said, “There are some smaller towns that have reopened. And there were one or two that never closed but they very small towns.”
“As far as we know, there are no towns the size of Greenwich, with 63,000 people, that have opened yet, but we think we are ready because we all have masks, and people will be required to wear masks,” Camillo added.
Camillo also said there are sanitary stations throughout the building and the option of making an appointment will continue.
He said during normal times about 500-600 people come through building, but he doubted there will be even 100 people at one time after the reopening.
“We’ll monitor it. Just like grocery stores or restaurants. We’ll make sure if it’s too crowded, we have a handle on it. You’ll just have to wait in line,” he continued.
He added, “but we think it will speed up government. It will also bring some sense of normalcy to town.”
On Thursday Governor Ned Lamont announced the Phase 3 reopening of Connecticut’s economy in the backdrop of the global pandemic.
The news is good for Connecticut residents as the state’s Covid-19 numbers remain low even though there was a small uptick last week.
“Phase 3 is coming about because Connecticut has earned it in terms of being able to maintain our low infection rates,” Lamont said during his Thursday press conference.
“A, led by public health and the metrics. And second, we have to rethink as the weather gets colder,” he said.
Lamont recalled how in Phase 1 and 2 encouraged outdoor dining and venues.
“A lot of those restaurants, maybe most of them, were able to get some capacity outside. I think a lot of people felt more comfortable eating outside,” he said.
He said since the weather is getting a little colder, the timing makes sense, and, “We’ve earned the right to do this.”
Changes go into effect on Oct 8, which is a little more than two weeks away.
Capacity for indoor dining will increase from 50% to 75%.
Personal services such as hair and nail salons, and barber shops will be upped to 75% capacity, as well as libraries upped to 75% capacity – all subject to the appropriate safety requirements, including social distancing, masks, and plexiglass partitions when 6 ft distancing is not possible.
“We’ve watched this carefully, and it’s been pretty successful, and hasn’t resulted in any spikes,” Lamont said. “I think this is something we ought to be ready to do.”
Outdoor event venues will increase from 25% of capacity to 50% capacity.
Ampitheaters, such as soccer stadiums and racetracks, are outdoor events that he said earned a bit more capacity, given masks and social distancing.
The governor said indoor performing arts venues are a more complicated situation, but will be allowed to open at 50% capacity.
“They can’t open at less than 50% capacity – the economics just don’t work,” he said, adding that the state will be very strict and, “If we have to change course we will.”
And, finally, he said, “Bars and night clubs remain closed for reasons I think most people understand.”
“Very soon, we’d like to think by the end of this year, we’ll see the vaccine and have the five minute testing and be in a different position then,” Lamont said.
David Lehman, the Governor’s Senior Economic Advisor, said in addition to business changes, social gathering sizes will be changed incrementally in Phase 3.
Private social and recreational gatherings, such as weddings and corporate events, which were previously capped at 25 people indoors, will be increased to 50% capacity, but capped at 100 people, assuming the event is held in a commercial establishment.
“If it’s a private residence or a house party, it will continue to be capped at 25 people,” Lehman said. “Outdoors it will go up from 100 to 150 people for private social and recreational events.”
Limits on graduations and religious gatherings are also due to change.
Currently graduations are not allowed indoors, but in Phase 3, both graduations and religious events, indoors, will be capped at 50% capacity, with a max of 200 – with masks and social distancing. (For religious gathering sites, that is an increase from 100 cap at 25% capacity.)
Lastly, for outdoors, realizing there is just a month or two left in the outdoor season, there will be uncapped events for graduations and religious gatherings.
We are targeting Phase 3 of Connecticut's reopening efforts to begin on October 8.
The changes will increase capacities for certain businesses, including restaurants, personal services, libraries and performing arts venues, while ensuring safety protocols are still in effect. pic.twitter.com/JWxRBIeIcx
Christine Ricciardi, a lifelong Greenwich resident, passed away Tuesday September 22nd. She was 81.
Born December 20, 1938 to Paul and Rose Smurlo; Christine was a graduate of the Fashion Institute in New York, where she received a degree in Merchandising. She also received a certification in floral design from the New York Botanical Gardens.
Christine worked in Real Estate as well as in her husband, Gerald’s, construction business for many years. She also volunteered at St. Paul’s Church, where she headed the Flower Guild; loved antiques as well as traveling.
Christine is survived by her beloved husband, Gerald; her devoted children Gerald (Diane), Michael (Lisa), Carrie (Robert); and her cherished grandchildren Connie, Zach, Cole, Wyatt and great-grandson, Jaxon.
She is also survived by her dear brother and sister in law Joey and Marie Ricciardi.
To honor her life, a memorial gathering will be held Sunday 2:00pm – 6:00pm at Coxe & Graziano Funeral Home 134 Hamilton Ave in Greenwich Tel. (203) 869-5968. A Memorial Mass will take place Monday 10:00am at St. Paul’s Church, Greenwich.
Inurnment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Greenwich. For more information or to place an online condolence, www.coxeandgraziano.com.
Greenwich voters recently received two important pieces of mail.
The Secretary of State’s office mailed out absentee ballot applications to all registered voters in Connecticut.
The second was a postcard from the US Postal Service that went to the entire country.
On a DTC forum Wednesday night, Connecticut Secretary of State Denise Merrill described the postcard mailing that suggested voters “add postage on the return envelope if needed” as “unfortunate,” but that Connecticut ballots will be mailed out with postage paid stamped envelopes.
“My question of course is, if you have enough money to mail postcards to every single citizen in the United States, can’t you pick up the mail? Really?” she asked, adding that the caveat about extra postage was perceived by some as voter suppression.
“With all the delays we know are there, despite whatever you hear from the national level – there will be a real challenge getting things in the mail in a timely way,” she added.
She said ballot boxes are popular and offer a good way to bypass the US Postal Service.
As for grant money for additional ballot boxes, she said the state purchased an additional 50.
“We’re giving out the extra 50 in order of population – to the top 25 largest towns, and Greenwich is one of them,” she said. “There are a few towns that might be willing to give up one of theirs for Greenwich, so we’ll look into it.”
The two existing ballot boxes are bot downtown – one outside Town Hall and one at Greenwich Police headquarters.
Merrill said, “faith in the electoral process is on the ballot.”
“I get up every day trying to make sure that we maintain the best, most fair, most transparent election process that we can in this terrible time,” she added. “It will be a challenge. I talk every day to my colleagues across the country…The pressure we are all under from legal challenges – my office has been sued already four times this year. This will be the most litigious election ever in the country, and it hasn’t even happened yet.”
Merrill said the other great threat to elections was Russian interference and technological threats.
“At the same time we’re fighting to make sure people have their voting rights on one front, we have to make sure we are fighting off these foreign interferences on another front,” she continued.
She said federal grant funding, about $15 million in Connecticut, was being used to target technical challenges and make sure every town has a secure voting system.
“We had to make sure people never have to make a choice between their health and their vote. That’s why we’re doing all this. It’s not just an exercise of trying to get everybody to vote by mail.”
Connecticut Secretary of State Denise Merrill
Merrill said she’d spoken to Greenwich’s town clerk earlier in the day who said her staff was ready.
Greenwich’s Republican registrar Fred DeCaro said in an email that he did not have an issue with the postcard mailing.
“In the case of Connecticut laws, the postcard is accurate, and I’m glad the post office is reassuring people of their commitment to Election Mail,” DeCaro said.
“I support all efforts to make people think and act promptly. That includes this postcard, and an email from Governor Lamont which came out the next day,” he added.
“It is surprising how many people don’t think about the basics of mailing a letter,” he continued. “We received back hundreds of ballots, which had no return address on the envelope. That made it impossible to track and contact many voters. While I don’t see much of a local story here, the main point is people should be smart and don’t delay if they want to vote by Absentee Ballot.”
The Democratic Registrar agreed time was of the essence.
“I believe the suggested time frames are adequate,” she said in an email. “Most mail will arrive if mailed at the suggested times, but we know from our analyses that some absentee ballots likely will not arrive in time to be counted if they are mailed just one week before election day.”
“The strong recommendation if voting by absentee ballot is do not dawdle at any point in the process,” she added. “Take advantage of Greenwich’s ballot boxes where you can deposit your absentee ballot application and ballot.”
In a Zoom forum on Sept 14, Hagerty said she recently attended a registrar of voters conference.
“The directive is to report, if possible, on election eve the tallies from polling places. There are extra days allowed for reporting absentee ballot totals in Greenwich. We’ve been working hard to plan for a large number of absentee ballots,” she said.
And while she acknowledged the ballots from the ballot boxes go directly to the Town Clerk, bypassing the US Postal Service, she advised voters who live in Greenwich but are out of town and must rely on the US Postal Service, to complete all parts of the process as promptly as possible.
She said in the Sept 14 forum that her understanding was the town clerk’s office was not planning on additional drop boxes. “I was hoping for at least one additional drop box,” she said.
Reached by phone on Friday, Sept 18, Assistant Town Clerk Kim Spezzano said each ballot box has to be well lit, bolted to the ground and monitored by surveillance camera 24 hours a day.
Also, she said staff from the town clerk’s office are required to have a police escort each time they empty the ballot boxes. For that reason she said it made sense to have the two ballot boxes located where they are.
Spezzano said her department is already stretched because five years ago Town Clerk office staff was cut from five to three. She said the Town Clerk’s office received over 7,000 absentee ballots for the August primary, which is a high number for a primary, especially considering the nominees for US President were already virtually certain.
“All the phone does is ring,” she said. “I had to explain over and over to people (that it was a Primary) who said, ‘I want to vote for President.’ They thought they were voting for President. There were irate people.”
“The reason why we put the second ballot box at Greenwich Police Dept was to have someone physically watching them in the police station. That makes people feel more secure.”
As for having additional ballot boxes she said, “For time’s sake, it’s not feasible.”
Ballot applications have been coming in since August, and as of Friday she said about 5,000 had been received.
“We just got dropped two trays of mail,” she said, adding that on Oct 2 the ballots will be mailed out.
On the Secretary of State website, voters can track their absentee ballot.
At Thursday’s Board of Selectmen meeting Fred Camillo brought up an ongoing issue concerning recreational vehicles (RVs) parked on Town roads and in yards in residential neighborhoods.
He said there he’d received reports of incidents across Town, and that some residents want to ban RVs on private property.
“I don’t know if we want to go that far,” he said. “But I think personally they take away from the aesthetics of a neighborhood. But I want to put it on everyone’s radar – whether we want to do something about RVs parked on roads in residential areas.”
“I know of two cases of people who do that – they’re great people. They’re not breaking any rules or ordinances now,” he said. “I thinking it’s something we should take up. If someone is selling their house, they’re upset because people are coming to look at their house, and it doesn’t look good.”
Camillo said there was a safety aspect involved because RVs sometimes block sight lines.
RV parked in Byram. Photo: Leslie Yager
An attendee on the Zoom meeting, Rob Kach, spoke about an RV parked in his neighborhood near the corner of Ivy Street and High Street in Byram.
Referring to the vehicle as an eyesore, Mr. Kach said the RV was the size of a tractor trailer.
“The property values are obviously going to go down,” he added. “Who wants to buy a house in that vicinity with that eyesore there?”
“To access the back yard to park this RV they had to put gravel on Town property,” he added. “The people who own the property – it’s not even their vehicle.”
“I totally understand yours and your neighbors’ point of view and I think it’s something we need to look into,” said Selectwoman Lauren Rabin. “I’m not equating it to the blight ordinance, but there is something impacting the aesthetics and potentially property values, so we need to understand what it is and what, if anything can be done.”
“To have these vehicles parked indefinitely – that’s the issue,” Camillo said. “Maybe we can come up with a policy that’s understanding, fair and reasonable and protects the integrity of the neighborhoods.”
The town municipal code includes a relevant ordinance – Sec. 6-193 Trailers Prohibited. “No premises shall be used for the parking or other accommodation of any automobile trailer, house car, or trailer coach being used as living or sleeping quarters, or for the preparation of meals or any combination thereof.
Because the Board of Selectmen is the traffic authority for the Town of Greenwich, they reviewed a proposed road closure and detour from Eversource for Monday, September 28.
Work has been ongoing for the electric utility’s new substation and underground line project for quite some time.
The new substation is on Railroad Ave at the former site of Pet Pantry Warehouse.
Tracy Alston from Eversource presented the road closure request, which she said was necessary to install the first of two new manholes.
The work requires the use of a “very large crane,” she said.
“There are a few work issues that have to be accomplished by distribution to finalize (the project) and get it ready to be energized,” she said. “Hopefully by the last week of October.”
She said Eversource will be responsible for repaving shortly after completion of the project. They hope to have it done before the asphalt plants close, which is is typically in November.
The manhole to be created on Monday, Sept will be in the area of Field Point Rd, Bridge Street and Railroad Ave.
The work will take approximately 2-3 hours.
Alston said she did was hoping not to subject the workers to night work again, if at all possible.
Alston shared the detour which she said had been suggested by Greenwich Police.
The Selectmen voted unanimously to approve the temporary road closure and detour beginning at 10:00am on Monday, Sept 28.
19 Weston Hill Rd, Riverside. Click on photo for details.19 Weston Hill Rd, Riverside. Click on photo for details.
Sophisticated casual elegance describes this stunning colonial perfectly situated on a quiet cul-de-sac. This home incorporates timeless architectural details with state of the art building materials and quality finishes. 7 bedrooms, 6.5 baths, 6,913 sq.ft. on .43 of an acre. Enter the foyer to view the beautifully detailed formal rooms. Enjoy the sunny and private backyard from the chefs kitchen with large breakfast area. Adjacent is the family room with vaulted ceilings and antique beams. Tucked away from the main rooms for privacy is a large office with built-ins . The master bedroom suite with spa bathroom is serene offering a walk in closet and balcony. 4 bedrooms and 3 baths complete the 2nd floor. Minutes away from Old Greenwich Village, Riverside School and Metro North.
There are 71 public open houses this weekend. Please bring a mask and gloves and plan to social distance.
Stefanie Lacoff is a licensed real estate agent with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services New England Properties in Greenwich, CT. Contact Stefanie for assistance selling your home or purchasing a new one. Text/call: 203-536-9403, email: slacoff@bhhsne.com, stefanielacoff.bhhsneproperties.com
The Round Hill Association invites the press and the public to a Virtual Candidate Forum for the candidates running for State Representative in the 149th District:Kimberly Fiorello (R) v. Kathleen Stowe (D).
This event will take place Wednesday, October 14, from 7:00 – 8:30 pm.
Registration is required for the press and the public.
The Zoom link to attend will be provided to attendees who have registered in advance. Members of the press and public may use this LINKto register.
The discussion will be moderated by John Conte, President of the Round Hill Association, with questions from the public submitted in advance.
The questions will be reviewed by one registered Republican and one registered Democrat.
In light of the rapid increase in new puppies due to the pandemic, Spot On Veterinary Hospital & Hotel in Stamford is now offering a Puppy Training Academy.
Sales and adoptions of new puppies during the pandemic have hit an all time high. As people are home more and feeling disconnected from others, more and more are adding four legged family members to their pack.
Because of social distancing requirements, many of these puppies have not had the opportunity for training or socialization.
In Spot On’s program, over the course of two weeks, three days per week, a limited number of puppies will work with a dedicated staff trainer from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on basic commands, socialization, and obedience training.
Go from saying “No, No, No!” to “Good Puppy!”
Families are able to watch the training sessions on our live webcams and to debrief with the trainer at the end of the day to ensure the best communication and teamwork.
For older dogs, or those wishing for more individual attention, Spot On is also offering packages or individual sessions of one-on-one training.
Our enthusiastic and energetic staff trainer, Janet Willhite has been training animals for more than 30 years and uses a training method of positive reinforcement and balanced training. Her passion is being able to enhance the relationship between animals and their owners through teamwork and she brings her enthusiasm and infectious positivity to Spot On to offer the most comprehensive training experience available.
The owner of Spot On, Dr. Philip Putter DVM said in a release he was thrilled about the new training program.
“Investing time now to create positive behaviors and skills early in your puppy’s life will help set up a lifetime of health, harmony & happiness for all of these new puppies & their families,” Dr. Putter said. “We are thrilled to be able to add training and the Puppy Academy to our repertoire of the highest quality services for all animals offered at Spot On.”
Space is limited in the Puppy Training Academy. First session begins 10/6 and waitlisted puppies can enroll in subsequent sessions. For more information and to enroll, you can call/text Spot On at 203-973-77689 or email info@spotonvet.com
Spot On Veterinary Hospital & Hotel is a first of its kind pet care destination in Stamford, CT, serving pets and their owners, in Fairfield and Westchester Counties. Located at 184 Selleck St, just minutes off of Exit 6 on the cusp of Stamford and Old Greenwich, the expansive 16,000 sq. foot, state of the art facility features a Veterinary Hospital, Pet Hotel, Day Care, Grooming Spa, Training Center & Valet Service.
For more information or to book a service, please visit www.spotonvet.com, email info@spotonvet.com or call/text 203-973-SPOT.
With the COVID-19 pandemic, many are concerned about voting safely in the upcoming election. Who can cast an absentee ballot? When does it have to be mailed to make sure it’s received on time? Are there other options? Is it safe? How does it work?
To answer your questions, on Tuesday, October 6 at 7:30 pm, Greenwich Registrars of Voters Mary Hegarty and Fred DeCaro will join Greenwich Reform for a Zoom discussion of the rules and procedures for absentee ballots and in-person voting.
They will answer your questions about voting in the 2020 election.
All are welcome to attend this free program via Zoom on Tuesday, October 6 at 7:30 pm.
For the Zoom ID, please contact Greenwich Reform Synagogue at 203-629-0018 or info@GRS.org.
Lenny’s Bagels at the Mill Pond Shopping Center celebrated its Grand Opening on Friday with a Greenwich Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting event.
Lenny’s is located in the former Rosie’s frozen yogurt in Cos Cob’s Mill Pond Shopping Center.
Owner Richard Damato is offering a full line of breakfast and lunch sandwiches, specialty coffees and a wide variety of bagels.
The eatery’s namesake, Richard’s father Lenny, operates Lenny’s Bagels locations in Rye Brook and Pelham, NY.
Richard Damato, Owner, with scissors, and Chamber President, Marcia O’Kane with Lenny’s staff. Contributed photoBack in March 2019 Steve, Lenny and Richard Damato celebrated signing their lease in Mill Pond with listing agent Diane Roth of Allied. With them was Anthony Longo. Photo: Leslie Yager
This article was updated to include a statement from Greenwich Police Chief Heavey.
This article was updated to include a statement from Selectwoman Lauren Rabin.
Last week, after Trump 2020 stickers began to appear on the backs of town owned traffic signs, Greenwich Police said anyone caught defacing town property with stickers would be charged with Criminal Mischief, with a fine depending on the degree of damage.
Patriot Front sticker on the back of a stop sign by the Senior Center at Greenwich Avenue. Sept 30, 2020 Photo: Leslie Yager
“The degree depends on the cost to replace,” said Captain Mark Zuccerella, who explained that stickers ruin the reflective surface on the signs.
This week “Patriot Front” stickers were spotted on Greenwich Avenue.
According to the Anti Defamation League, Patriot Front is a white supremacist group whose members maintain that their ancestors conquered America and bequeathed it solely to them. The group espouses racism, anti-Semitism and intolerance under the guise of preserving the “ethnic and cultural origins” of their European ancestors.
The Anti-Defamation League says on its website that the group spreads hateful propaganda through stickers, as well as banners, fliers and posters. They also use the Internet, and participate in “flash mobs” and torch marches.
A GFP reader said that last week she had removed several of the stickers herself, but other stickers were too high to reach.
She asked the Selectmen to act with urgency in removing the stickers.
Greenwich Police Captain Mark Zuccerella said the DPW highway division had been asked to remove all stickers on Town owned signs.
He said people should report stickers on town property to police.
“We never received a report of the stickers,” he said. “So, if someone removes them, that’s up to them, but we won’t know where they are or if they are there.”
Zuccerella said unlike campaign lawn signs, stickers on Town signs are not considered free speech under the First Amendment.
“No one is allowed to place stickers, of any sort, on street signs,” he said.
On his Friday WGCH radio show, First Selectman Camillo said, “It’s hard to catch them because it’s usually done at night, but it’s on the radar and police are looking.”
He said DPW employees had taken some of the stickers down, but they had reappeared.
“Whoever is doing it knows they’re doing something illegal,” he added.
Camillo said he had yet to see the Patriot Front stickers himself, but had seen the Trump 2020 stickers. He put out a public statement last week saying that no matter the message, stickers on public property are illegal. He said he planned to put out an updated message Friday evening (Oct 2) in his weekly Connections e-blast.
“As far as this new sticker from Patriot Front – whatever these groups are, whatever their targets are, you have to condemn them. A hate message delivered at any one group is a message delivered to everybody. If you turn your back and say, ‘Oh, I’m not involved, they don’t like other people, I’m okay,’ you’ll be next.”
Greenwich First Selectman Fred Camillo
Camillo said he was in the early stages of planning events to promote civility, inclusion and the welcoming nature of Greenwich, but did not elaborate on details.
Selectperson Jill Oberlander said Friday in an email that the white supremacist and racist group’s vandalism of town property was concerning.
“Greenwich is an inclusive community and our residents represent diverse origins, religions, and ethnicities,” she said. “We need to send the message – loud and clear – that hate is not welcome here.”
“To that end, I expressly and stronglydenounce racist messages and all hate speech, bullying, and intimidation, whether by implication or overt threats of physical violence, and ask all elected Town officials and other Town leaders to join me,” she added. “I also ask the Greenwich Police Department to fully and thoroughly investigate and prosecute these acts of vandalism.”
Selectwoman Lauren Rabin responded to a request for comment saying, “I am in agreement and alignment with the sentiments expressed by my fellow Board of Selectmen. I am committed to standing up against any group or person promoting hate or superiority over another. I also hope we can work together as a community to show supporters of these groups that they can take new paths.”
On Friday Greenwich Police shared a statement from Chief James Heavey, who said his department unequivocally rejects hate beliefs, including statements or actions that seek to encourage bias or violence towards any persons or groups based upon race, religion, national origin, sex, sexual identity or sexual orientation.
“We aggressively investigate crimes of hate and positively advocate for victims of such incidents,” Heavey said. “We have educated our officers on recognizing hate crimes and have partnered with groups such as the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) to provide us training.”
Town workers, along with Greenwich residents, have worked to remove the Patriot Front stickers. The placement of these stickers is illegal and Greenwich Police seek to identify the parties involved.
Police ask that anyone who has information on the placement of the Patriot Front stickers to contact their tip line at TIPS@greenwichct.org.
Patriot Front sticker on the back of a town owned sign on Greenwich Avenue. Sept 30, 2020 Photo: Leslie YagerPatriot Front sticker on the back of a town owned sign on Greenwich Avenue. Sept 30, 2020 Photo: Leslie YagerPatriot Front sticker on the back of a town owned stop sign. Sept 30, 2020 Photo: Leslie YagerPartially removed Trump 2020 sticker on Milbank Ave. Sept 25, 2020 Photo: Leslie Yager
655 River Rd, click on photo for details.655 River Rd, click on photo for details.
This contemporary home was designed to capture the light and create a seamless connection to the outdoors. Soaring ceilings and walls of windows and doors open to the vistas of this private three-acre retreat. Multi-functional living spaces offer flexibility and adaptability, including several work and learn from home areas. The main wing of the home includes the family room, dining area and custom Poliform eat-in-kitchen, each flowing from one room to the next. A wall of custom folding doors open completely to the rear terrace, perfect for entertaining and everyday family living. Six bedrooms and 5.1 baths include the luxury primary suite with a private terrace overlooking the pond with waterfall and perennial gardens. The professionally landscaped property has a heated pool and spa.
There are 75 public open houses this weekend. Please bring a mask and gloves and plan to social distance.
Stefanie Lacoff is a licensed real estate agent with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services New England Properties in Greenwich, CT. Contact Stefanie for assistance selling your home or purchasing a new one. Text/call: 203-536-9403, email: slacoff@bhhsne.com, stefanielacoff.bhhsneproperties.com
Richard William Hogan, longtime resident of Greenwich, passed away on October 2, 2020. He was 73.
Born in New York, NY, he was the son of Francis Xavier Hogan and Beatrice Busk Hogan.
He graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in History, where he attended on a full track scholarship and leveraged his track speed as a starting left cornerback for the FSU football team. At FSU, Richard became a member of Sigma Chi fraternity, where he made many lifelong, loyal friends whom he continued to meet every year in Tallahassee for one more big game. His fraternity brothers knew him as “Yank”—a New Yorker, unique from the southern gentlemen of Sigma Chi at Florida State.
After college, Richard served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army at the rank of First Lieutenant, Infantry Company Commander on the DMZ in Korea from 1969-70.
Richard spent most of his career at ABC Television, beginning with Channel 7 local sales and eventually moving to ABC Network Sales including Sports and Olympics in his early career and eventually News. He often bragged that he couldn’t wait to get to his job at ABC—especially when he was selling sports where every event he sold, he got to attend!
Richard’s interests were varied, but sports were front and center. He was a lifetime member of New York Athletic Club and active in its squash team through the early 90s when he converted his focus to golf. He was a NY Giants, Florida State University, and NY Yankees fan. Richard was a member of the Kiawah Island Club on Kiawah Island, SC, Anglebrook Golf Club in Westchester, The Kahkwa Club in Erie, PA, and the FSU Varsity Club (lettered for track).
Richard will be remembered as a man described by his friends as having a “larger than life” personality with a huge heart, and more so, as a staunchly loyal friend. Loyal, true friendships and long-term relationships were extremely important to him and he focused on cultivating strong bonds with the people he loved. He had a great sense of humor. A true reward for anyone who knew him was to hit his funny bone and hear one of those “Richard Hogan laughs”.
Richard is survived by his wife, Suzanne Bauschard Hogan and his cousin, Gail Busk Naylor. Richard’s extended family who survive him include Richard Bauschard, Frederick Bauschard, Laura Bauschard, Alex Bauschard, Maude Bauschard Trost, and Michelle Bauschard…and of course, his “foxhole friend” and unofficial brother, Tifton Simmons Jr, and his many brothers of Sigma Chi.
Richard’s funeral will be private with a memorial service planned at a future date.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Sigma Chi Foundation in memory of Richard Hogan at either 1714 Hinman Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201 or www.sigmachi.org/donate and select memorial gift option and reference Richard Hogan.
