DARIEN, CT — Darien’s Board of Selectmen is scheduled Monday to consider whether the town should join a regional coastal water testing initiative aimed at expanding monitoring for harmful bacteria beyond the town’s two public beaches.
The board is set to meet at 7 p.m. Monday, June 1, in Room 206 at Darien Town Hall. The meeting is scheduled to be held in person, and public comment is listed on the agenda.
One of the meeting’s agenda items involves possible participation in the Pathogen Monitoring Network, a regional program supported by the Environmental Protection Agency, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Harbor Watch and the Maritime Aquarium.
According to agenda materials, the program would expand bacteria monitoring efforts to 12 existing water sampling locations throughout Darien Harbor, Cove Harbor and the Ziegler’s Cove and Scott Cove areas.
Currently, the town primarily tests for harmful bacteria at Weed Beach and Pear Tree Point Beach.
Materials included in the meeting packet state the town would receive free laboratory testing services and $18,843 in grant funding intended to help identify and investigate potential pollution sources if elevated bacteria levels are detected.
The proposal states the program is intended to help monitor water quality in "broader" areas along Darien's coastline, often used for swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, clamming and other recreational activities.
The agenda also includes discussion and possible action on settlement of a tax appeals matter.
The Selectmen are additionally scheduled to consider a request to approve the 2026 Push Pull Parade. Event materials state the parade is expected to involve about 1,000 participants and would require temporary closure of Noroton Avenue on July 4 from approximately 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
Another item calls for possible reappointment of Kathy Conlin as constable for the Tokeneke Tax District and Association for a term ending June 30, 2028.
Under old business, the board is expected to revisit a temporary assessor appointment.
The meeting also includes Parking Authority business involving a proposed revocable parking license agreement template for organized use of town-managed parking lots.
According to a memo from Town Administrator Jennifer Charneski, the proposed agreement would establish operational requirements and restrictions for organized events using municipal parking lots on weekends and holidays.
In addition, the board is scheduled to receive DarienTV’s annual review presentation. Materials in the agenda packet state DarienTV is seeking to modernize aging equipment and transition toward more automated operations.
The agenda also includes an inventory update on charter and ordinance changes, as well as an update regarding the town’s agreement with Post 53.
The full agenda and meeting materials can be found here.
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