Westport Patch: Newest Local Facts

Second Selectwoman Shelly A. Kassen

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:53:23 -0500

Shelly Kassen has served Westport since 1997, first as a Board of Finance member until 2005 when she was elected to Second Selectwoman. She was re-elected to the Board of Selectmen Nov. 3, 2009.

She is a Wellesley College graduate and holds an MBA from Harvard.

She has lived in Westport since 1989 and is married with three daughters.

What are you most proud of accomplishing as a selectwoman?

"I am most proud of my dual efforts regarding enhancing the spirit of this community and moving us in the direction of a greener Westport--and these two efforts are linked," she said. "We made a promise four years ago to bring a farmers' market to Westport--primarily as a weekly event that would bring people together and bring back the small town feeling that brought so many of us here in the first place. The Westport Farmers' Market has been a tremendous success, voted Best of the Gold Coast Connecticut 2009. It was the first effort of our Celebrate Westport initiative, which has evolved into monthly meetings of the Downtown Merchants, the Chamber of Commerce and many of the non-profits in town. Our CW group works collaboratively to provide wonderful events that draw the community together, focusing on our shared goal of revitalizing our downtown. At the same time, the Farmers Market has informed us about what we eat and how we live--and the town's involvement in creating the market has led us to work closely with the Westport Green Village Initiative on further efforts, such as having an organic farm on town property, the Wakeman Farm."

What will you tackle in your next term?

"I've been working intensely on a plan to develop senior housing, with a health care component, on Barons South. If re-elected, bringing that plan to the public and to the Planning & Zoning Commission will be my main focus. Our goal is to get this project going in our next term. I will also continue to focus on the town's green initiatives, as well as a host of financial matters and Celebrate Westport."

What are the most pressing issues going into the next year?

"The most pressing issues are financial-- making the difficult choices and finding the right efficiencies so that we can continue to fund our future obligations and maintain our triple A bond rating. This year will be especially difficult as non-tax revenues are weaker than the past. We also have to recognize that many in our community are unemployed or underemployed and we need to harness the resources, public and private, to help them."

Third Selectman R. Gavin S. Anderson

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:45:18 -0500

Gavin Anderson was born in England.

He was sent to boarding school at age 8, then at 13 to Repton (a British ‘Public School’, - but in fact a private school). Contrary to family wishes, he enlisted in the Royal Navy where he quickly earned a rarely awarded Commission and was appointed as a junior officer to a Minesweeper based in Malta. From there he spent time on active duty, combating significant terrorist activities in Cyprus.

After the navy, Anderson joined an accounting firm (now KPMG) and, in five years, worked his way to becoming a professional ‘Chartered Accountant’. Three years after that he joined Colgate Palmolive. During this same period, he completed his time with the Royal Naval Reserve, qualifying for small ships command.

Colgate promotions took him to positions in Portugal, Venezuela, Brazil, Jamaica, Thailand and then, after many adventures, to the company’s headquarters in New York. Volcanoes, landslides, earthquakes, riots and revolutions, floods, hurricanes, and many extraordinary experiences occurred as he explored the globe.

After nearly 30 years with Colgate, and now an American citizen, Anderson retired to Westport, his home since 1977. Here he raised 3 adopted children and continued to serve on a number of Boards of Directors – the U.S. National Foreign Trade Council, The US/South Africa Business Council (his creation), The Council on Economic Priorities (a social responsibility non-profit where he was Chairman), as well as consulting for Colgate, while being elected to serve first on Westport’s RTM and then Board of Finance (7 years).

He is married to Kendall Gardiner, a distinguished U.S. Army Combat Nurse and Vietnam Veteran, who worked at Hallbroke Hospital (Westport) for many years.

Along the way, Gavin has competed in three sports at an international level, Ocean Racing (a member of the British team winning the Admiral’s Cup in 1965), Field Hockey, and Squash. He is a poet, a numismatist, military historian, enjoys playing the piano, and has a strong interest in worldwide folk music cultures and theater. Though no longer fluent, Gavin speaks some French, Spanish, Portuguese, and a little Thai.

First Selectman Gordon F. Joseloff

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:30:10 -0500

Gordon F. Joseloff has served as First Selectman since 2005. He was re-elected to another four-year term Nov. 3, 2009.

Here is his biography as written on the town's Web site:

Joseloff is a Westporter whose family ties to the town go back 90 years. Born in New York City on May 13, 1945, Joseloff moved with his family a short time later to Westport. He attended Saugatuck Elementary School and Bedford Elementary School (now Town Hall) and was among the first students to attend Coleytown Elementary School when it opened in 1953.

Joseloff's award-winning, around-the-world journalism career began in his hometown. In 1961, he and three other teenagers began a student-run radio station in Westport, WWPT. With studios in the Westport YMCA and transmitter at Compo Beach, the station broadcast music and news with Joseloff as its 16-year- old news director.

The next summer, Joseloff was hired by the Westport Town Crier, Westport's only weekly newspaper at the time. His beat included coverage of the Representative Town Meeting (RTM), where he observed Moderator Ralph Sheffer in action. That memory was instrumental in his decision 30 years later to run for the RTM.

After graduating from Syracuse University in 1967, Joseloff spent more than two decades with United Press International and CBS News in New York, London, Moscow, and Tokyo covering many of the world's major news events. In 1984, he was awarded an "Emmy" for his coverage of the assassination of India's Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He returned to Westport in 1989.

In 1991, he was elected a member of the RTM from District 8. Two years later, he was elected RTM Deputy Moderator. In 1995, his fellow legislators elected him Moderator, a post to which they re-elected him annually until his recent election as First Selectman.

During his tenure on the RTM, Joseloff served as chair of its Education Committee, Computer Committee and Rules Committee. He also served on the Public Protection Committee, Environment Committee, Ethics Committee, Long-Range Planning Committee, and Ordinance Committee.

Among Joseloff's many initiatives was creation of the citizens' School Building Committee, which oversaw the multi-million dollar building, renovation and expansion of the Westport school system since 1997. A firm believer in open government, he launched the town's "town hall" electronic mailing list initiative in 1998, a first among Connecticut municipalities. And he was instrumental in establishing live television cable coverage of Westport town meetings, starting with the RTM.

As both a state-certified volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician since 1991, Joseloff has worked side-by-side with the town's police, fire, and emergency medical service personnel.

Joseloff serves on the Westport Historical Society's Advisory Board and was an advisor to author Woody Klein for his 2000 book, "Westport, Connecticut: The Story of a New England Town's Rise to Prominence." He is also a member of the Westport/Weston First Night Advisory Board as well as a member of the Westport League of Women Voters, the Westport Arts Center and the Westport Rotary Club.

In 2003, Joseloff launched a local community news Web site for Westport, WestportNow.com. Upon taking office, he turned over editorial control to others but retained a financial interest in the company.

The Joseloff family has a 90-year association with Westport. Robert Joseloff, Gordon's grandfather, purchased a downtown property adjacent to the old Westport Town Hall in 1915 from William Nash and opened Westport's first movie house there in 1916, the Fine Arts Theatre. The property remains in the Joseloff family.

Joseloff is the divorced father of two, both of whom went through the Westport school system. Daughter Anna-Liisa, a 2002 graduate of New York University, obtained her law degree in May 2005 from Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Conn., where she was editor of the law review. She is currently employed at the Law Office of the Capital Collateral Regional Counsel - South in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., a state-funded office that represents death row inmates in state and federal post-conviction proceedings. Son Benjamin, a 2004 New York University graduate, received his law degree from Stanford University Law School in May 2008. He has just completed a year as law clerk to U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in Bridgeport, Conn., and currently is program director of the Stanford University Law School program at the American University in Kabul, Afghanistan.

What are you proud of accomplishing as a first selectman?

"I'm very proud of our environmental initiatives. ... We have two Farmers Markets. We greened our town buildings and added hybrid cars to our fleet. We encourage the use of solar. We banned the use of plastic bags. I'm very proud of the greening of Westport."

Joseloff also spoke of efforts in bringing affordable housing to seniors, making Westport "storm ready" in the event of a hurricane, adding wireless Internet at town facilities and modernizing the town.

What are your goals for Westport?

"To continue to deliver excellent services in a cost efficient manner."

Tax Collector Peggy Klein

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:02:38 -0500

Peggy Klein has been serving as the tax collector since Oct. 5, 2009.

She's been working in the department for 23 years.

The mission of the Tax Collector's Department is to collect all taxes and other debts owed to the Town of Westport, and to properly account for them in a timely manner.

In addition, the Tax Collector's Department applies all state and local statutes equally, without favoritism or prejudice to its citizens, according to the town's Web site.

Police Chief Alfred R. Fiore

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:56:57 -0500

Chief Alfred R. Fiore has worked for the Westport Police Department for about 31 years.

He started his career as a patrolman in 1978 and worked his way up the ranks. He's served as chief for six years.

He manages a department of 70 full time sworn police officers, 18 part time special police officers, 39 traffic agents and 24 civilian employees.

Fiore said the perception of the most important issue facing public safety in Westport would be motor vehicle enforcement, including speeding, red lights and cell phone usage.

"But there's a lot more to this job than writing speeding tickets," he said. "We enjoy a fairly low crime rate in this town due to high visibility patrols that make sure homes and businesses are safe."

Fiore oversees all police services including:

A traffic enforcement unit, motorcycle and bicycle patrols and K-9 units
The detective bureau consists of general investigation, burglary squad, youth services, Drug Abuse Resistance Education and Officer Friendly
A Marine Division staffed throughout the boating season and a joint Police/Fire Dive Rescue Team.
A public safety office, animal control officers, railroad services at both train stations and a Citizen’s Police Academy.

Fiore invites the public to call the department anytime at 203-341-6000.

In the coming year, Fiore said the department will be working on accreditation.

Town Clerk Patty Strauss

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 13:24:27 -0500

The Town Clerk is an appointed and salaried official who serves at the pleasure of the First Selectman. The Town Clerk is also required by State law to be bonded.

Patty Strauss has been working for the town for the past 11 years. She is involved in the Connecticut Town Clerk's Association and chairs its legislative committee. She was nominated for town clerk of the year in 2009. She has been married for 17 years to her husband Ed. They have a 14-year-old son, Greg, who attends Staples High School.

The Town Clerk has four main responsibilities:

Maintaining the public records of the town as required by Connecticut State Statutes, including land records and town meeting notices.
Acting as registrar of vital statistics for the town and certifying and maintaining records of all births, marriages/civil unions, deaths, and burials involving Westport residents as well as those of non-residents occurring in Westport. These records are essentially complete and date back to the time of the town's incorporation date of 1835.
Tallying official election results by district.
Issuing all licenses, including marriage/civil union licenses, dog licenses, and fish and game licenses.

Connecticut’s Freedom of Information laws require that most of the town records, with the exception of births and veterans discharge papers be open for public inspection.

Westport Center for Senior Activities

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 11:58:48 -0500

Who to Call: Contact the Westport Center for Senior Activities at 203-341-5099. The center director, Susan Pfister, can be reached at 203-341-5098.

The Westport Center for Senior Activities center offers a host of recreational and educational programming for seniors from yoga and physical health classes to crafts, languages and computer classes. The center also offers a nutrition program that includes home-delivered meals.

Superintendent of Schools Elliott Landon

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 11:37:28 -0500

Who to Call: Dr. Elliott Landon can be reached at 203-341-1025.

Dr. Elliott Landon has served as superintendent of Westport schools for 11 years.
He oversees the district's five elementary schools, two middle schools and Staples High School.
Dr. Landon's current priorities include resolving budget issues, improving education services, enhancing guidance support for students, and adding Mandarin Chinese and financial literacy classes to the middle schools and high school.

CT Rep. Kim Fawcett, 133rd district

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:20:43 -0400

State representative Kim Fawcett serves the 133rd Assembly District of Fairfield and Westport.

A Democrat, Fawcett was first elected in 2006 and reelected in 2008.

She serves on the Appropriations, Environment and Transportation committees. In Fairfield, she is a member of the PTA.

Before she became a mom, Fawcett was a Youth Project Director for the National School Health Education Coalition in Washington, D.C. The coalition worked to promote health education programming for children through 12th grade.

Fawcett was born and raised in Montgomery County, MD, and lived in Annapolis for five years after college with her husband Rick. They have three children (Kylie-12, Cassie-10, Nicholas-8).

Fawcett became a stay-at-home mother after the birth of her first daughter Kylie in 1997. She and her family relocated to Connecticut with her family in 1999 and currently lives in the Stratfield community in Fairfield.

Fawcett earned a Master of Arts in Legislative Affairs from George Washington University in Washington DC. She graduated from Towson University in Baltimore Maryland with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.

In 2005, she graduated from the Women’s Campaign School at Yale University.

What are you most proud of in your capacity as a state representative?

"I've had a good time and I've been fortunate to have some successes," Fawcett said. "This year, by far, my biggest success was the bill on Lyme's Disease. ... We established in statute that doctors diagnose the disease clinically and treat the disease as they determine is best. ... Doctors couldn't do this before. Now, no one can threaten pulling a doctor's medical license for treating outside the box."

Some doctors believe Lyme's Disease is a chronic problem. Others do not. The new law allows doctors to prescribe long-term antibiotics if they deem necessary. Fawcett's husband was diagnosed with the disease 16 months ago.

What are the primary issues facing the state and Westport?

"The No. 1 issue here is transportation. ... The economy and jobs has also changed the conversation. That wasn't a priority in Westport a year and a half ago."

To contact her, call 800-842-8267 or 203-368-1872 or e-mail Kim.Fawcett@cga.ct.gov

CT Rep. Joe Mioli, 136th district

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:53:02 -0400

Representative Mioli was born in Italy in 1938.
He served for two years in the United States Army after being drafted in 1962.
He co-founded Westport Pizzeria along with his brother, Mel, in 1968.
Mioli was elected to the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) in 2003 before he was elected as the state representative for the 136th district in 2004.
He serves on Environment and Transportation committees.

To contact him call the Westport office at 203-226-9166 or the Hartford office at 800-842-8267 or e-mail Joe.Mioli@cga.ct.gov.