A guide to Darien’s Town Government

MY TOWN – NEW MILFORD

DEMOGRAPHICS LOCATION: New Milford is located in Litchfield County on the western border of Connecticut in the beautiful Housatonic Valley. To the west is the Town of Sherman and Candlewood Lake. To the south are Brookfield and Danbury. Kent and Warren are north; Washington, Bridgewater and Roxbury are east. For you astronomers, New Milford is located at 41:35N, 73:24W. AREA: New Milford is the largest town by area in the state, consisting of approximately 40,321 acres or 64 square miles. ALTITUDE: Highest point: 1281 Feet on top of Bear Hill Lowest Point 200 Feet along Housatonic River Village Green: 260 feet POPULATION: Approximately 28,000 ROADS: There are approximately 175 miles of improved or paved road and 26 miles of unimproved or gravel road. TRANSPORTATION: New Milford is a few miles north of I-84 and is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes from Manhattan.

GOVERNMENT – MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL Was selectmen/town meeting

Darien Demographics Darien is a town of 20,452 residents. Houses go for a median price of about $1,000,000 Population is approximately 96% white. Families in Darien earn roughly $195,000

Town Government Breakdown Darien’s Town Government is classified as a Representative Town Meeting or RTM for short. This form of government, has many similarities to state and federal governments including the use of different branches, representatives, and of course checks and balances.

Democracy in Action – A Breakdown of the Town’s Branches Darien’s Government is broken down into three basic groups- Executive Branch – The Five member Board of Selectmen Legislative Branch – 100 member Representative Town Meeting Boards and other elected officials– Elected Boards of Finance, Education, Planning and Zoning, Clerk, Tax Collector, Etc.

Who am I? DHS Parent Long Time Darien Resident Recently Elected Could be considered most powerful woman in town government

Board of Selectmen The Board of Selectmen acts as the town’s Executive branch, much like the country’s President, a state’s governor, or a city’s mayor Of the BOS only the First Selectman is paid, all others are volunteer. The BOS cannot have more than 3 members from any one party.

Key facts about your Board of Selectmen Elected to a 2 year term 5 members Powers General Overseers of the Town Control appointments to numerous Boards (Zoning Board of Appeals, Architectural Review Board, Commission on Aging, Youth Commission, over 20 other Boards) Hiring of 9 Town officers such as Fire Marshall, Town Counsel, Finance Officer, others.

Who am I? Darien Resident DHS Graduate Former Student of Mr. Devlin, Clarke, Balazs, Dipasquale Elected Official Could be least powerful person in Darien government.

Representative Town Meeting The RTM acts as the Legislative arm of the Darien Town government. Members are all volunteer Members are elected to a 2 year term

Key facts about your RTM Any expenditure over $50,000 must be approved by the RTM Most importantly being the budget All decisions of the RTM are subject to town-wide referendum if 5% of the town petitions All RTM members serve on at least one committee designed to monitor and report on town activities. RTM Committees – Education Finance and Budget Public Safety Planning, Zoning and Housing Health and Social Services Park and Recreation Public Works Town Government Structure and Administration

Other Key Political Offices Board of – Education – makes financial, curriculum, and other crucial decisions about your education (also over 60% of town budget) Finance – approves any financial decision, including budget, appropriations, etc Planning and Zoning – determines rules, regulations, and approval of new buildings and renovations in town

Be an informed citizen! Learn the key issues in town, such as: “The Shuffle” Affordable Housing Flooding Property Taxes Education Spending How? Darien Times Darien News Darientimes.com League of Women Voters Contact your representative Ask the people around you!