Darien Patch: Newest Local Facts

Our Government

2009-12-07T09:23:57-05:00

REPRESENTATIVE TOWN MEETING

Since 1951, Darien has operated under a Representative Town Meeting (RTM) form of Government.
Unlike a traditional town meeting where every registered-to-vote resident can vote on town issues, legislative powers in the RTM are vested only in its members.
The RTM is a legislative body. Members are responsible for making, amending and repealing laws and ordinances.
The RTM is made up of 100 members from each of the Darien’s six districts, where each member represents approximately 100 registered voters. Each member serves a two-year term and can run for re-election.
All registered voters in Darien are eligible to run for election as a member of the RTM. Prospective candidates must get at least 25 voters in their district to sign a petition. For more information contact the town clerk at 203-656-7307.
Meetings are held six times a year, but special meetings are also called. All meetings are open to the public.
Regularly scheduled meetings begin at 8 p.m. in the Town Hall Auditorium

MAJOR GOVERNMENTAL COMPONENTS

The Board of Selectmen

Chaired by the First Selectman, the Board of Selectmen is the Town's executive body.
The board is made up of five members, all of whom are elected in odd-numbered years. Each member serves a two-year term, including First Selectman.
The Selectmen have the authority to appoint all members of non-elected Boards and Commissions. Candidates for these positions are sometimes recommended to the Board of Selectmen by the Democratic and Republican Town Committees.
The Board of Selectmen has approval authority on all appropriation requests from all town departments including the town's annual budget, before forwarding them to the Board of Finance.

The Board of Finance

The Board of Finance is responsible for the annual budget reviews and approvals, approving account transfers and special appropriations and bond issues.
An elected board, the Board of Finance is made up of seven members.

The Board of Education

The Board of Education is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Darien public school system.
There are nine members, each of whom is elected by the Town.
Each member serves a three-year term; three new memeber are elected each year.
The board typically meets twice a month. All meetings are held in the Darien Board of Education meeting room at the town hall at 7:30 p.m.

Taxes

2009-08-18T12:38:27-04:00

Who to Call: Call 203-656-7310 to reach the Assessor's Office; 203-656-7314 for the Tax Collector.

Taxes

Taxes support all Town services including schools, police, road improvements and debt payments. The annual town report includes a detailed account of how collected taxes are spent.
The current tax rate in Darien for all property is $14.55 for each $1000 of assessed property value.

Tax Assessment

Responsibilities of The Assessor's office include discovery, listing, valuation and equalization of all town properties.
The Tax Assessor is also responsible for administering exemption programs for the blind and disabled, veterans, those in active duty, senior citizens, etc.
The Assessor's Office also maintains assessment records and annually calculates the Grand List—the town tax base—using figures from the office's most recent valuation.
In accordance with State law, property assessments occur once every five years. The next is scheduled for 2013. This assessment will include a full revaluation of town properties, meaning that every single property will be inspected.
Full revaluations alternate with statistical revaluations, the next of which will be five years after the 2013 assessment, in 2018. Statistical revaluations inspect properties only according to sales permits issued during the revaluation period.
To appeal a property assessment, you must submit an appeal application between to the Board of Assessment Appeals.
- The Board meets in March to hear real estate and personal property appeals; motor vehicle appeals take place in September.
- Property owners who want to appeal need to schedule an appointment and file an application at least a month prior to the Board’s hearing. Forms are found at the Assessor's office, to which you also return them.

Tax Collection

The Tax Collector handles billing and collection of various taxes including real estate, personal property, and motor vehicles.
While real estate taxes are billed and collected twice a year (July 1 and Jan. 1), taxes on motor vehicles and personal property are charged annually (July 1).
Taxes can be paid by mail or in person at the Tax Collector’s office.
To avoid paying penalty interest, payment must be received by within 30 days of the due date.

Emergencies

2009-09-17T14:14:22-04:00

Who to Call: In the event of an emergency, call 911.

Hospitals

Darien is served by five hospitals:

Norwalk Hospital 203-852-2000
34 Maple St., Norwalk, CT 06856
Established in 1893, Norwalk Hospital is a private, not-for-profit, acute care community hospital.

Stamford Hospital 203-276-1000
30 Shelburne Rd., Stamford, CT, 06904
Stamford Hospital is a not-for-profit, teaching hospital founded more than 100 years ago. The hospital has a capacity of 305 inpatient beds in various departments including medicine, surgery, obstetrics/gynecology, and psychiatry.

Greenwich Hospital 203-863-3000
5 Perryridge Rd., Greenwich, CT 06830
Greenwich Hospital is a 174-bed hospital, which serves lower Fairfield County and Westchester County, NY, and is an academic affiliate of Yale University School of Medicine.

Bridgeport Hospital 203-384-3000
267 Grant St., Bridgeport, CT 06610
Bridgeport Hospital is a 425-bed not-for-profit acute care hospital primarily serving patients from Fairfield and New Haven Counties. The hospital's burn center is the only burn center in Connecticut. It is a member of the Yale New Haven Health System.

Silver Hill Hospital 866-542-4455
208 Valley Rd., New Canaan, CT 06840
An academic affiliate of Yale University School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry, Silver Hill specializes in mental illnesses and addictions.

Ambulances

Darien EMS – Post 53 203-655-8980 (non-emergency)
Zero Ledge Road, Darien, CT., 06820
Post 53 will take patients to either of the two closest hospitals: Stamford Hospital or Norwalk Hospital.
Darien EMS does not charge for its services.

Police

Darien Police Department
25 Hecker Ave., 203-662-5300 (non-emergencies)
Duane J. Lovello is the chief of the department.

Fire

Darien Fire Department 203-655-1216 (non-emergencies)
848 Post Road, Darien, CT., 06820
Chief Rick Weatherstone is responsible for all actions, incidents, and activities of the department.

Noroton Fire Department 203-655-0653 (non-emergencies)
1873 Post Road, Darien, CT., 06820
Chief Michael Vitti is responsible for all actions, incidents, and activities of the department.

Noroton Heights Fire Department 203-662-0682 (non-emergencies)
209 Noroton Avenue, Darien, CT., 06820
Chief Alan Hyatt is responsible for all actions, incidents, and activities of the department.

Potholes and Street Repair

2009-08-18T12:40:14-04:00

Who to Call: For information on potholes and street repairs, contact Highway Maintenance at the Department of Public Works, 203-656-7346.

Highway Maintenance, part of the Darien’s Department of Public Works, is responsible for maintaining 81 miles of streets and 30 bridges in Darien.
The Department of Public Works repaves about three miles of town roads each summer.
A sign upgrade program brought about by changes in national standards for street signs is ongoing and will continue for a few years. The program will result in twice as many larger, clearer cross street signs.
Beyond the pavement, the Highway Department deals with general masonry repairs, drainage, roadside vegetation control, road stripping and a number of “cleanup” programs throughout the year.
The State Department of Transportation is responsible for maintaining numbered routes and highways.

Garbage and Recycling

2009-08-18T12:42:28-04:00

Who to Call: For waste and recycling issues contact the Department of Public Works at 203-656-7346

There is no municipal garbage collection for Darien residents. There are many private carters that serve Darien.
The Refuse Disposal Area—the dump—at 126 Ledge Rd. accepts most household waste and construction debris.
- There’s also a recycling center which accepts newspapers, mixed papers, cardboard, glass or metal food and beverage containers, plastics, and scrap metal.
- Anything hazardous, liquid (paint), or medical in nature may not be disposed of at the dump. For more information on the disposal of hazardous waste call the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection at 203-424-4193.
- There’s a $15 fee for the disposal of refrigeration equipment.
- Residents can help themselves to the leaf compost and wood chips at the dump.
- A yearly sticker, valid July 1 through June 30, is required to use the dump. Fees are as follows:
  - $110 for residents without garbage collection
  - $34 for residents with garbage collection
  - $55 for residents in the tax abatement program
  - $50 for seniors over 65 without garbage collection
  - Seniors over 65 with garbage collection get one free dump sticker per vehicle.

During the months of November and December, leaves packed in biodegradable paper bags may be left on the street for pick up by the Department of Public Works.
The Department also picks up Christmas Trees in early January.
Spring cleanup takes place during specific weeks in March. Residents can leave household debris on public roads for pickup.
Any sandblasting, power sanding or power washing requires a permit from the health department 203-656-7320.

Pets and Animals

2009-08-18T12:57:08-04:00

Who to Contact: The Town Clerk handles all licensing issues related to pets. The Town Clerk's office can be reached at 203-656-7307. For other issues, contact the dog warden 203-656-8686 or the state Department of Environmental Protection 860-424-3333.

Licensing

Each owner or keeper must obtain a license when the dog reaches an age of 6 months from the Town Clerk's office.
Dogs must be license by July 1, and there is a $1 penalty for each month past July the dog is unlicensed.
Except for the requirement to vaccinate cats for rabies, current laws and ordinances do not pertain to cats.
The charges for licensing are:
- $8 for neutered/spayed dogs
- $19 for non-neutered/non-spayed dogs

Roaming

In accordance with Connecticut state law, dogs cannot roam on someone else’s private property or public highway when not attended by an owner.
If there’s a dog on the loose on your property call the dog warden 203-656-8686.
Dogs are allowed at most town parks; they are not allowed at the beaches.

Care

Ox Ridge Obedience Training offers a number of classes for dogs 203-966-3851; so does All for the Dog on Hoyt Street 203-327-3157
The VCA Darien Animal Hospital is located on the Post Road 203-656-1547. You can also board your dog at the Hospital.
The Sitting Service on the Post Road offers pet sitting services 203-655-9783

Commuting

2009-10-21T11:02:45-04:00

Who to Call: For questions about rail service, call MTA Metro-North Railroad at 212-672-1290. For questions about commuter parking permits, call the Town Hall Receptionist at 203-656-7330.

Trains

Darien’s two train stations serve Metro-North Railroad’s New Haven Line.
Darien Station is on West Avenue and is is 37.7 miles from Grand Central Terminal. Noroton Heights is located on Noroton Avenue and is 36.2 miles from Grand Central.
The nearest handicap-accessible stations are in Stamford and South Norwalk.
Fares from both Darien stations to Grand Central are the same, but they are significantly higher when purchased on-board. There is a staffed ticket office at Darien Station, and both Darien and Noront Heights have ticket machines. You can also purchase your tickets online at mta.info.
- One-way (at station): peak $12.35; off-peak $9.25; senior $6; child $11
- Monthly ticket: $264
Train schedules are available at both station, by calling 800-638-7646, or online at mta.info.
Cabs meet most trains
Parking at the both station is limited and there’s a long list for permits.
- The cost for a permit is $315.
- Parking vouchers are available for designated spaces and are sold for $3 each or a $30 book of 10. They are sold at both stations, Darien Produce, Station Variety and Leary’s Liquor.
- At Darien station, commuters can park in the West Avenue lot for a daily rate of $7. Monthly and quarterly rates are also offered.

Limos & Taxis

There are many limousine services and a handful of taxi services that provide transportation for Darien residents:
- Regency Limousine 203-6369
- Kerry Limousine 203-975-7400
- Lloyd’s Taxi of Darien 203-656-3621
- Everready 203-655-0016
- Darien Taxi 203-984-1616
- Lloyd’s Taxi of Darien 203-656-3621

Airports

The closest airport is Westchester Country Airport, a regional airport in White Plains, New York, which provides flights to much of the Eastern United States and additionally, Toronto.
Many Darien travelers also utilize the three major airports in the New York City Area: JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark.
Some drive up I-91 to Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, CT.

Better Business Bureau

2009-08-18T13:03:58-04:00

Who to Call: For issues related to local businesses, call the Connecticut BBB at 203-269-2700.

The physical address of the Bureau is 94 South Turnpike Rd., Wallingford CT 06492-4322

Chamber of Commerce

2009-08-18T12:11:45-04:00

Who to Call: You can contact the Chamber of Commerce by phone 203-655-3600, by email darienchamber@optonline.net, or in person at 10 Corbin Dr. The Darien COC President is Carol Wilder-Tamme.

Organized in 1957, the Darien Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit business, which relies on membership dues for financial support.

The primary goal of the COC is to support the business community and quality of life in Darien. There are a number of ways the COC works to reach that goal which include:
- Informing Darien businesses about local, state, and national legislation that will directly impact our business community
- Providing networking opportunities to help local businesses grow
- Promoting and broadening awareness of Darien's business community
- Addressing Darien citizens’ requests for specific products or services
- The Member Benefits Program
- Coordination or sponsorship of town-wide events including the sidewalk sales and the annual tree lighting

Departments

2009-08-18T12:34:15-04:00

Buliding Department

The Building Department is responsible for issuing building permits and certificates of use and occupancy, ensuring code compliance and has the power to condemn unsafe structures. The Department is also the custodian of all land use records.

Finance Department

The Finance Department accounts for all Town funds and financial records and prepares financial reports.

Health Department

The Health Department deals with all public health concerns in town from the food you eat to your yearly flu shot. Department officials track all communicable disease reports and serves to keep our town healthy and safe.

Parks & Recreation Department

The Parks and Recreation Department deals with the care, management, maintenance and control of all Darien parklands. This includes playgrounds, sports fields, nature preserves, beaches, and swimming and boating areas.

Planning & Zoning Department

The Planning and Zoning Department monitors Darien land use and serves four all-volunteer local land use boards: the Planning and Zoning Commission, the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Environmental Protection Commission and the Architectural Review Board.

Public Works Department

The Department of Public Works is responsible for the construction and maintenance of most of Darien’s infrastructure. This includes roads, railroads, bridges, refuse disposal, recycling, and sewer systems.

Social Services Department

The Social Services Department works to promote the physical, emotional and economic well-being of Darien residents.

Tax Department

The Tax Assessor and Tax Collector share the same office. While the Tax assessor is responsible for the values assessed to your property, the Tax Collector is responsible for the billing, collection and enforcement of property taxes based on that value.

Youth Services Department

The Darien Youth Commission advocates the development and coordination of programs and activities for the middle school and high school aged children of Darien.