Greenwich Residents Weigh-In On Proposed 2022-2023 Budget

GREENWICH, CT — There was standing room only inside the Greenwich Town Hall meeting room on Monday night, as residents participated in a public hearing before the Board of Estimate and Taxation on the proposed $464 million fiscal year 2022-2023 budget.

Over 70 speakers touched on a variety of topics, but several items related to pedestrian and public safety dominated the lengthy meeting.

Opposition To Bump-Outs

Residents voiced opposition over $2.8 million earmarked for intersection improvements at the Arch Street/Havemeyer Place intersection on Greenwich Avenue.

The town completed a similar intersection improvement at Elm Street last year, which included bump-outs to increase sight lines and improve crosswalk safety for pedestrians. Green space.

The projects have been criticized by some residents, especially since police officers aren't directing traffic anymore. But First Selectman Fred Camillo has championed them as important safety and aesthetic upgrades.

"The police presence on Greenwich Avenue was comforting and made our town distinctive, but that ship has sailed," said Greenwich resident Laura Darrin. "I urge you to kill the bump-outs, and put that money toward more vital projects."

Alyssa Kaleshian, a property owner in the downtown area, said the intersection improvements would take away valuable parking spaces, which would leave a "barren downtown and not the vibrant town we so desire."

Glenville Beautification & Lighting Project

There was support from residents for $500,000 for the Glenville lighting project, which piggybacks off the Glenville Traffic Corridor Project and funding from the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grant.

The project is a public/private partnership with the town.

"The timing for inclusion in this year's budget is essential. The roadways will be open for the Glenville Corridor project, and this is a unique time to place underground conduits, wiring and lights in a cost efficient manner," explained Abbe Large, co-chair of the Glenville Beautification Task Force.

"Once the construction is complete, we have lost the opportunity to place historic lighting, to improve pedestrian safety, and walkability, help define and energize the central business district, and aid in traffic calming," Large added. "This really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Glenville."

Town Planner Katie DeLuca spoke in favor of the funding.

"We are at the finish line and we just need this one little bit to push us over," she said. "It would really be a shame if it didn't go through this time."

Pedestrian Safety, Traffic Calming In Byram & Old Greenwich

Several residents spoke in favor of building sidewalks on Shore Road in Old Greenwich — a roadway many said is a danger and a threat to public safety.

Liz Johnson, an Old Greenwich resident, said she has been riding her bicycle down Shore Road for 34 years. Over that time, she has noticed traffic pattern and driver attitude changes.

"Shore Road has evolved into a toxic blend of joggers, pedestrians often with baby carriages, dog walkers, children who often must walk in the road alongside speeding cars, distracted drivers, ubiquitous online delivery trucks, heavy construction vehicles, moving vans, public buses, cement mixers and huge 18-wheeler trucks that are too tall and too heavy to go under or over the railroad bridges," she said.

Resident Maggie Bound said the idea for sidewalks on the road have been discussed before, but now is the time to act.

Members of the Byram Neighborhood Association (BNA) urged the BET to keep $300,000 in the budget for pedestrian safety and traffic calming measures in Byram.

"Byram, the densest part of the town, is 1.3 percent of the town's area, but accounts for 5.3 percent of the total crashes in town, and 10.7 percent of the total pedestrians injured or possibly injured," said Joe Kantorski, chairman of the BNA, noting that speeding is rampant especially on Delavan Avenue.

Lucy von Brachel said there are no buses for children in her neighborhood, but it's too unsafe to let them walk to school.

"Public safety should be paramount. There have been too many residents hit and injured by cars in our neighborhood, and we are facing ever-9ncreasing traffic volume with the thousands of units in development in neighboring Port Chester. Do not cut this funding," she said.

School Infrastructure

Von Brachel also spoke about funding some of the town's schools, which are in need of repair after years of delay.

"As we all know, our school facilities are in need of significant renovation, but year after year, this board cuts or defers funding for [Board of Education] capital projects," she said. "Meanwhile, we spend a growing fortune on preventable crises and repairs. This is not sustainable nor is it fiscally prudent. I implore you to fund and move ahead with Central, Old Greenwich, and Julian Curtiss so we can start to make a dent in this need."

Clare Kilgallen agreed, and said the town can handle multiple parallel projects at the same time.

"Stop sacrificing the town's reputation for excellence in its schools and town services at the altar of a mill rate," she said.

The BET is expected to discuss the budget and vote on the spending plan on April 19.

The Representative Town Meeting will then vote on the budget in May. The RTM is only allowed to make cuts.