Darien Times
Klein touts record: Won’t say if she’s running (but it sounds like it)
Jul 19, 2007

Evonne Klein won’t say if she is running for a third term as Darien’s top elected official. But during an hour-long interview with The Darien Times, it sounded like she is.

Klein and Selectman Barbara Thorne, the only Democrats on the Board of Selectmen, came to The Darien Times office to tout the work accomplished over the past term, which ends in November.

“Under my leadership, we’ve become more constituent focused,” Klein said. “We are giving constituents several opportunities to address the selectmen on issues important to them.”

She pointed right to the public comment period that is now part of all regular Board of Selectmen meetings. “It wasn’t there when I joined the board,” Klein said. “Now, residents can come to the meeting and tell us their issues.” She noted that the comment period is at the top of the agenda so residents can say their piece and go home without waiting through what can be lengthy meetings.

Along with this, Klein said, the government has become more accountable and is working to address “important issues” including transportation, housing, traffic, downtown, the environment and other issues.

When asked if she is running for re-election, Klein said: “Come to the caucus.” When asked who else is running, she said: “Come to the caucus.”

Thorne also wouldn’t say if she is running again but did say it is time to get the future leadership on the board.

The Democrats hold a caucus on Tuesday at 8 p.m. The caucus will consider nominations for the following municipal offices: first selectman, Board of Selectmen, Board of Education, Board of Finance, Planning and Zoning Commission, Tax Collector, Treasurer, Town Clerk, and Constable.

Darien voters who are registered Democrats may vote in the caucus. Participants should bring identification so that voter registration can be checked at the door in a procedure similar to that used at the election polls.

“I have lived in Darien 31 years and have observed many changes in our region,” Thorne said. “Increased populations has put added pressure on limited resources, on land, transportation, schools and other services. For example, the median age [in Darien] is now 38 and the largest age group is the 25 to 49 year olds. When I moved here, the 50 to 64 age range was the largest. Changes create challenges and opportunities and require leaders who are innovative, proactive, creative and at tune with the times.”

Thorne said during her five terms as a selectman, “evolutionary changes have occurred in the nature of that job as well. Each year more has been expected of the first selectman and board members. The job, starting with Bob Harrel and then under Evonne, has taken on a high level of professionalism and accountability. We are all asked to have a vision, set priorities and step up to action, to work harder, smarter, longer and be better prepared. We are asked to consider best practices and to think creatively. As a result, our government is becoming more constituent focused, action oriented and results based.”

Thorne said she has really seen the town government grow under Klein’s leadership — and before that under Harrel’s. And the Board of Selectmen, she said, has been taking the lead on town issues. She came with a list of many of those issues, including environment and open space, downtown, housing and state and regional projects.

For the environment, Thorne noted constituent issues such as Long Island Sound, Gorham’s and Holly pond repairs, improvements to Weed and Pear Tree Point beaches and flooding. There is now a Weed Beach Master Plan in progress, the dam at Holly Pond was repaired, and a flood gate was designed for Gorham’s Pond. There have been many meetings on flooding and the town is working toward a solution. [See story page 9A.]

For downtown, Thorne noted constituent issues like traffic, pedestrian safety, parking and business development. This past year, the town has added motorcycle police to help with traffic and there are traffic studies in the works. Also, more crosswalks are planned for downtown. And the selectmen have supported the Darien Revitalization initiative, which is catching on downtown.

“The conversation about downtown has changed,” Klein said. “Rather than people saying ‘why can’t we have a nice downtown?’, the conversations is ‘wow, I love what is going on downtown.’”

Regarding housing, the town looks to be moving closer to having a plan to address affordable housing needs in Darien. [See story page 2A.] This past year, the selectmen have focused many of their meetings on affordable housing and eventually created the Darien Affordable Housing Advisory Commission. The town is buying the library property with plans to turn it into affordable housing after the library opens at its new home down the street. And with a new Housing Authority in place, the redevelopment of the Allen-O’Neill Moderate Income Family Homes is again in planning stages.

“In the past,” Thorne said, “There hasn’t been the energy to push forward these issues but there has been under Evonne. I think it comes from the philosophy of bringing it all to the Board of Selectmen to deal with. In the past it was more administrative — either the first selectman or the town administrative officer took care of it.”

On top of those issues, the town is moving forward with a new senior center. The selectmen recently voted to hire a firm to develop a site plan for the property. Klein said the town has a great senior center with strong programs. “We now have an opportunity to improve on what we already offer.”

Transportation is one of Klein’s biggest issues. She has regular meetings with state Department of Transportation representatives, who in the past have looked past Darien’s needs, she said. “Now they know who we are and what our issues are.”

“The Darien Police Department and the Police Commission are finding creative ways to deal with congestion,” Klein said. She pointed to the motorcycle officers, which have added to the police presence downtown and on other roads. And the police are developing a downtown traffic education program.

Rail station improvements are continuing. And now the town keeps the money it receives from rail parking fees, which used to go to the state. That money, which is about $100,000 per year, goes into a capital account for station improvements. The pedestrian stairs will be replaced soon at the Noroton Heights station.

And the town is getting $200,000 from the state for a Route 1 traffic study. Klein hopes that will be underway soon.

E-mail Darien Times editor Joshua Fisher at editor@darientimes.com.

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