This column will run frequently each week, highlighting shorter announcements or updates, and help you get a quick start to the Wilton news of the day. 

Have a news tip, item or something you know people are chattering about? Email us at editor@goodmorningwilton.com.

Board of Selectmen Items of Interest on Agenda Tonight

  • Tonight’s Board of Selectmen meeting features something very interesting–a discussion on Solar Virtual Net Metering. Don’t know what that is? It has to do with community shared solar energy–often households or municipalities will ‘subscribe’ to solar power off-site, as in a solar garden or field, or on rooftops of a commercial building. The BOS members will hear from Cele Sinay-Bernie, the founder of Citrine Power, a company that develops and invests in larger-scale renewable energy systems. Also attending will be Weston’s town administrator, Johnathan Luiz.No details yet on a specific project or proposal, but this has us ‘buzzing’ with curiosity.
  • Also on the agenda–town counsel Ira Bloom will have an update on the permit application filed by Aquarion to remove water from a Wilton well and the Norwalk River.
  • Wilton Land Conservation Trust representatives will be presenting to the BOS about their efforts to secure a state grant to help purchase 183 Ridgefield Rd.; they’ll be asking for the selectmen’s support.

Board of Selectmen PAST Items

Before the December Break, the Board of Selectmen reviewed and/or approved some items up for their consideration:

  • After the co-chairs of the Police HQ/Town Campus Building Committee recommended an Owner’s Representative be named, the BOS members approved the selection of Colliers International to act as such.
  • First Selectwoman Lynne Vanderslice reviewed the agreement between the town and Berchem Moses, the law firm retained by the town. It is being extended one year to align with the remaining one year (ending Nov. 30, 2019) on the agreement with Ira Bloom, the Berchem Moses attorney who is Town Counsel for Wilton. While there will be no increase in the monthly retainer, excess billing rates will go up 4.0%. According to Vanderslice, Bloom has assured her that rates will not increase if he is reappointed for 2019/2020.
  • Suzanne Knutson was appointed as the BOS representative to the Tree Committee.

Thank You Lunch for Town Employees

We heard that First Selectwoman Lynne Vanderslice wanted to say, ‘Thank you’ to town employees, and hosted them–inviting more than 150 people!–for a personal ‘thank you’ lunch on Friday at Trackside in gratitude for their hard work.  She had it catered–but someone told us she baked all the desserts herself. Rumor has it the oatmeal cookies were the best–we were told they went like…hotcakes!

Speaking of lunch and food…

Wilton’s Best Eats

Connecticut Magazine has published its lists of 2019 Best Restaurants in the current January 2019 issue, and a couple Wilton restaurants made appearances on the lists. The magazine compiled ‘best of’ picks from foodie experts, including a former New York Times food critic, writers for CTBites.com and the host of “CT Style” on WTNH, as well as others. Among the Wilton eateries selected by the food experts as standouts were:

The Schoolhouse at Cannondale, Most Romantic
Aranci 67, Best Italian
Aranci 67, Best Desserts
Bianco Rosso, Best Desserts
The Schoolhouse at Cannondale, Best Vegetarian/Vegan Options

The magazine also included a tally of Readers’ Choice vote-getters, and we have to admit something very…unusual happened with Wilton’s own Heibeck’s Stand. The spot’s fans must be very supportive and dedicated voters, because the seasonal roadside restaurant took “best of” in several categories, including:

Best Hidden Gem (Winner of both statewide and Fairfield County)
Best Outdoor Dining (Fairfield County winner)
Best Value (Statewide Runner Up)
Best Fast Casual (Statewide winner)
Best Seafood (Fairfield County winner)
Best Fried Clams (Fairfield County winner)
Best Lobster Roll, (Fairfield County winner)
Best Burgers (Statewide runner up and Fairfield County winner)
Best Fries (Statewide winner)
Best Chili (Statewide winner)
Best Cheap Eats (Statewide winner)
Best Grilled Cheese (Statewide winner)
Best Hot Dog (Statewide winner)
Best Lunch (Statewide runner up, Fairfield County winner)
Best Roadside Spot (Winner of both statewide and Fairfield County)
Best BYO (Statewide winner)

The only other Wilton spot to make the Readers’ Choice list was Little Pub, which was the Fairfield County winner for Best Pub Grub (and statewide runner up).

Town Hall Meeting Calendar

Check out the complete meeting calendar on the Town Website. Upcoming committee and board meetings of interest:

  • Monday, Jan. 7:  Board of Selectmen (8 p.m., Town Hall room B)
  • Tuesday, Jan. 8:  Village District Design Consultant Committee Special Meeting (4 p.m., Town Hall Annex meeting room A)–Wilton Heights, LLC is the only discussion item on the agenda, to continue review of the project’s alternative design changes.
  • Tuesday, Jan. 8:  Conservation Commission (7 p.m., Town Hall Annex meeting room A)
  • Tuesday, Jan. 8:  Historic District and Historic Properties Commission (7:30 p.m., Town Hall Annex meeting room A)
  • Wednesday, Jan. 9:  Tree Committee (5 p.m., Town Hall Annex meeting room A)
  • Wednesday, Jan. 9:  Water Pollution Control Authority (6 p.m., Town Hall room B)
  • Wednesday, Jan. 9:  Economic Development Commission (7:15 p.m., Comstock Community Center, Rm. 18)
  • Wednesday, Jan. 9:  Parks and Recreation Commission (7:30 p.m., Comstock Community Center)
  • Thursday, Jan. 10:  Social Services Commission (6 p.m., Comstock Community Center)
  • Thursday, Jan. 10:  Inland Wetlands Commission (7:30 p.m., Town Hall Annex meeting room A)