Westport in Brief!
EverythingWestport.com
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Quick Article Index . . .
|
EverythingWestport.com Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Thank you Leo for your bravery and humility,
and your outstanding service. In another surprise visit, Jordan's
Way residents, not having their way with A & E Metals Recycling and
Packaging and really heated, showed up in an unscheduled appearance before
last night's board meeting, and contributed to a near four-hour meeting
marathon. The group of disaffected homeowners
led by neighborhood's spokesperson, Joel Sullivan, complained vociferously of
a two-year battle with the town to address their concerns over noise,
suspected toxic smoke and foul fumes, and reported metal flakes of
apocalyptic proportions that are in the air. They criticized that the town
for dragging its feet while "we can't go outside our houses." "Our quality of life has been
lost" voiced one woman. "We can't use our back yard
patio."
"We don't
have the authority to issue a cease and desist," select board chair
Richard Spirlet told the group of irate Jordan's Way home owners. "We need to gather more
information." Selectmen unanimously approved a
motion to hold a public hearing with the abutters, A & E Metals, and with
representatives from the Board of Health, Conservation Commission, Zoning
Board of Appeals, and the Building Inspector. The hearing is set for Monday,
July 25th at 6 p.m.. The wind is up over the Central Village turbine. Westport resident and former Energy
Commission member Ed Goldberg's appearance before the board to discuss the
Energy Committee brought an immediate and irate objection by Energy Committee
member Brian Valcourt. Valcourt's threat to file an ethics complaint over a possible open
meeting law violation prompted Selectmen to ask Goldberg if he would care to
reschedule his appearance. Goldberg readily agreed and will appear at a
future Selectmen's meeting. Valcourt, in attendance with other Energy Committee members,
felt they couldn't engage Goldberg's presentation because they had a forum in
attendance and hadn't announced a meeting 48 hours in advance, breaking the
open meeting law. He demanded the Energy Committee receive a full review of
Goldberg's intended presentation material prior to the meeting. Goldberg is an
opponent of the Energy Committee's proposed wind turbine location (Central
Village) and has actively spoken against it in previous meetings.
Left: Diman Regional Vocational
Superintendent of Schools, Marta Montleon, received
a citation thanking the school's efforts for student activity performing
volunteer maintenance work on town and non-profit properties. Right: Westport's Veterans Agent Ron Costa
announced his retirement but said he would stay on until Labor Day. Westport's longtime Veterans Agent
to retire. Westport's Veterans Agent Ron Costa announced
his retirement but said he would stay on until Labor Day. Selectmen voted
to form a search committee consisting of a member from the Veterans of
Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Vietnam Veterans of America, the Disabled Veterans, one member of the Board of
Selectmen, Costa and Town Administrator Michael Coughlin. Costa said he
would wait until a replacement was chosen before leaving his post. The
embattled beachfront road to get a locked gate, for now. EverythingWestport.com Tuesday, June 14, 2011 Following the recommendations of the
Beach Avenue Subcommittee, Selectmen voted unanimously to allow the Westport
Harbor Neighborhood Association to temporarily install a locked gate with
keys available to the town's fire, police, and highway department personnel,
as well as land owners along Beach Avenue. Pedestrian traffic is open and
encouraged by the Selectmen and safety officials. Westport's Beach Avenue Subcommittee
is tackling anew the thorny issue of the shifting sands and shuffling
boulders of this picturesque seaside road that is pitting Acoaxet abutters
against the public's right of passage. Selectmen had again closed Beach Road
for 30 days on Tuesday, May 31 on a vote of 4 to 1. Acoaxet resident Tim
Agnew of the Westport Harbor Neighborhood Association made a compelling argument
at that meeting to restrict vehicular activity on the town road. But Westport
residents should have access said select board chair Richard Spirlet. Beach Avenue Subcommittee reports.
Jeff Bull of the Town's Beach
Committee said the road should be opened and the oceanfront enjoyed by all
town residents, as the area is easily assessable by both seniors and handicapped
individuals. Unfortunately, for now parking is an issue.
The Westport Land Trust's Director,
Peggy Stevens, said the Trust welcomes passive recreation on the conservation
land. The land was obtained through private donors, as was the town-owned
parcel (see picture right.) The Town Administrator and Highway
Surveyor sparred over the needed reconstruction of Beach Avenue with Jack
Sisson saying the Highway Department is backed up in road reconstruction and
needed funding, and Michael Coughlin saying that money had been allocated in
the budget for such an effort. Town Administrator Coughlin noted the
town is under a DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) consent order to
hire an outside consultant to create a set of guidelines to be used by the
Highway Department when doing road reconstruction in environmentally
sensitive areas like Beach Avenue and East Beach Road. Chairman Vieira put into motion plans
to investigate fulfilling that requirement and, with the unanimous agreement
of the committee, said he would put forth a motion in the upcoming
Selectmen's meeting (June 13) to have the homeowners' association install a
temporary gate with the intent to investigate reconstructing the road and
opening it to traffic with some parking available at the entrance and the
town landing.
Left: Beach Avenue looking east to the Nubble. Right: town landing at the intersection of
Beach Avenue and Acoaxet Road.
Beach Avenue past the temporary
rock blockade with the Nubble in the background.
- - - - - End - - - - - ©
2011 Community Events of Westport
All rights reserved. EverythingWestport.com |
