Dominique Johnson

Dear Neighbor,

Happy Friday! I hope you have been enjoying your summer.

Heavy rain storms on Sunday and Monday led to flooding throughout the state. Governor Ned Lamont  has submitted a request to President Joe Biden and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) seeking a federal emergency declaration for Fairfield County, New Haven County, and Litchfield County. 

If you are a homeowner or a business owners who experienced damage to their property from this storm, I  strongly urge you to contact your town’s local emergency management office as soon as possible so that their damages can be documented as part of this effort. Click here to visit Norwalk's emergency management website, and click here to access Westport's. You can also reach out to me and my team if you need any additional assistance. 

The New Haven and Danbury Lines have also been impacted by the floods. Please check the Metro-North Twitter page for updates. 

Please read below for information on public hearings, protections against card skimming, and more!

The Representative Policy Board (“RPB”) of the South Central Connecticut Regional Water District will hold public hearings to consider the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority’s Application for approval of bid submission and, if successful, the Acquisition of the Aquarion Water Company (“Application”).

The public hearing times will take place on the following dates:

- Thursday, August 22, at 7:00 p.m.; and

- Tuesday, August 27, at 10:00 a.m.; and

- Tuesday, August 27, at 6:30 p.m.

Members of the public may attend the meetings in person at Hotel Marcel, 500 Sargent Drive, New Haven, Connecticut, or via remote access. For information on attending the meeting via remote access and to view the application and accompanying information, please go to http://tinyurl.com/yyxk7xcs. The Public Hearing is being held pursuant to Sections 10 and 19 as well as 43, and 52, of Special Act 77-98, as amended.

The Application contains confidential information subject to protection under C.G.S. Section 1-200(6)(E) for matters covered by Section 1-210(b)(5)(A)(B), pertaining to trade secrets and commercial and financial information. Portions of the public hearing will be held in protected confidential session. Members of the public will be asked to leave the public hearing during the confidential discussion and may rejoin after the confidential discussion has ended.

All users of the RWA and Aquarion Water Company water supply systems, owners of property served or to be served, and other interested persons shall have an opportunity to be heard concerning the matter under consideration. Questions may be submitted in writing to the board office by emailing jslubowski@rwater.com or by calling (203) 401-2515.

CTDOT is holding an in-person meeting on Tuesday, September 10, at 6:00 p.m.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) will conduct a public information meeting concerning the conceptual improvements proposed for Route 7 from Grist Mill Road to Kent Road in Norwalk and Wilton on Tuesday, September 10, at 6:00 p.m. at the Cranbury Elementary School at 10 Knowalot Lane in Norwalk.  

The public information meeting is being held to provide the public and local community the opportunity to offer comments or ask questions regarding the proposed project. A question and answer (Q&A) session will immediately follow the presentation. For additional information regarding the meeting and ways to provide comments and ask questions, please visit http://portal.ct.gov/DOTNorwalkWiltonPP-102-020.  

There are right-of-way impacts associated with the proposed improvements. Two total acquisitions may be needed on the northwest corner of the intersection of Grist Mill Road and Main Avenue. Partial minor acquisitions may be needed in other project areas to construct turn lanes and to provide a continuous sidewalk network throughout the project limits.

The proposed project is in the early stages of development. No funding has been identified and no schedule has been determined.  

Language assistance may be requested by contacting the CTDOT Language Assistance Call Line (860) 594-2109. Requests should be made at least five business days prior to the meeting. Language assistance is provided at no cost to the public and efforts will be made to respond to timely requests for assistance.  

Members of the public can submit comments and questions during the two-week public comment period following the meeting. Please submit comments and questions by Tuesday, September 24, to DOTProjectPP-102-020@ct.gov or (860) 594-2020, or Andrew J. Correia at Andrew.Correia@ct.gov or (860) 594-2586.  Please reference Proposed Project No. PP-102-020 in the e-mail or voicemail. 

Make sure you project yourself when making a purchase. Before using a credit, debit, or EBT card, you should: 

• Visually inspect the card reading device to see if something looks off or abnormal, such as sticky keys, an added bulk, or mismatched colors.
• Give the device a wiggle before using it to make sure it is intact.
• Inspect the card slot before inserting a card to see if it appears to be different or heavier than usual, or if any components seem loose or altered.

I encourage you to report suspected skimming devices or fraudulent purchases to store managers and law enforcement, and file a complaint with the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection through ct.gov/DCP.

• Making older homes where children or pregnant people live lead safe
• Collecting information on all known lead service water lines in Connecticut
• Replacing lead pipes that bring water to homes, childcare centers, and schools
• Supporting families who find lead in their home or water
• Offering funding to get Connecticut communities lead-free
• Having all Connecticut children tested for lead
• Raising awareness of lead testing and safety among parents
• Educating communities, contractors, and landlords on lead laws and safety

To learn more, visit LeadFreeCT.org

Connecticut's annual Sales Tax-Free Week runs through Saturday, August 24. It provides a chance to save money, whether it is taking the kids back-to-school shopping or treating yourself or your loved ones.
 
Retailers throughout the state offer additional discounts on clothing and footwear during Sales Tax-Free Week, providing consumers with even more ways to stretch their spending power.

During this tax holiday, most clothing and footwear items priced less than $100 are exempt from Connecticut's 6.35% sales tax. The exemption applies to each eligible item costing less than $100, regardless of how many of those items are sold to a customer in the same transaction. It applies to purchases made in-store, online, mail-order, and over the phone.

Click here for a list of exempt and taxable items. 

Shop smart – and locally whenever possible to support small businesses – to save during Connecticut’s Sales Tax-Free Week!

ATTENTION: The East Norwalk Train Station will be temporarily closed through  September 6. Trains will NOT stop in East Norwalk. A special rush hour commuter shuttle offered Monday - Friday.  Please see the graphic below for more information.