Gordon Joseloff First Selectman

t’s early Saturday evening and yes, I’m in the office, trying to finish what I didn’t do during the week and trying to get a head start on next week.

Here’s a quick review of some of the things that I was involved in this past week:

--Sally Harold of the Nature Conservancy dropped by to fill me in on efforts being led by her group to protect the aquatic resources within the Saugatuck River Watershed. Westport is among the 11 towns in the watershed.

--I went across the street and toured the town-owned historic 99 Myrtle Ave. property which we will renovate and hopefully make a home for a town employee. Members of the Historic District Commission are working with the Public Works Department on developing a plan. We’ve formed a special committee to oversee the efforts.

--I swore in Town Clerk Patty Strauss for another four-year term. Patty has done a terrific job bringing the town clerk’s office into the modern age using technology to preserve important documents and records and make them easily available to the public.

--My efforts to bring Westport into the digital age took some tiny steps with a meeting with a manufacturer of equipment necessary for the broadband installation. There’s been a terrific response to my call for volunteers to work on a technology task force. Next step is to determine the best way to take advantage of all the available talent.

--Had a good discussion with Barbara Butler, director of the Human Services Department, and Steve Daniels on efforts to develop more senior, affordable, middle-income, and workforce housing in Westport. It’s tough to find suitable space, but the need is great. We want to do all we can to keep seniors and empty-nesters in Westport plus provide homes for municipal workers.

--Took a tour of the Aquarion Water Co. property on Canal Street. The water company moved out of the offices a year ago and they would be ideal for some Board of Education needs, especially for its maintenance workers and vehicles.

On tap for the coming week: a brown bag Wednesday (Jan. 11) at the Westport Center for Senior Activities where we’ll talk about our senior tax relief proposals. The same day there’s a Board of Selectmen meeting and a Board of Finance session. Hope you have a good week.