RCA Committees  

Website
Kelly Brewer

Currents Newsletter
Jennifer Hassell, Ali Kreiter

Database, Volunteer Cards
Karen Casey

Decals Distribution
Karen Casey

Land Use
Patrick Steele

Marketing/Fundraising Committee
Kat Curtin, Jill Klein, Ted Hildner, Barbara Yallop, Andy Schadt, Kelly Brewer, Lori Goertz

 

RCA Events

Easter Egg Hunt 
T.G. Diamandis

Comedy Night
Kat Curtin, Jill Klein

Spring Spruce-Up
Wendy Ford

Memorial Day Parade
Lynne Pratt

Summer Music Festival    
Chris Sovak, Andy Meyerson

Father’s Day Fun Run   
Erica Merrill, Gail Jaques

Fireworks
Greg Saum, Wendy Ford

River Ramble    
Carlyn Painter, Ginny Grant,
Kelly Brewer

Ladrigan Swim Races
Ted Hildner

House Tour
Barbara Yallop, Jill Klein,
Ali Kreiter

Halloween Party
Barbara Yallop, Peter Gatt

Holiday Lights
Patrick Steele, Wendy Ford

Santa Run 
Ginny Grant

Nativity Pageant 
Greg Saum

Soccer Program
Dan Scovel, Andy Schadt,
Peter Gatt

Underground
Youth Center
Ted Hildner

 

Rowayton’s official name is the Sixth Taxing District of the City of Norwalk (6TD) and I am one of the three Commissioners that are elected to run the 6TD. In the past, our local government operated to keep the “ship steady” with as little change as possible. Your current Commissioners believe we need to plan and invest for the future and, as such, we have been renovating our assets for the long term while using creative ways to fund this work (so minimizing the financial burden to taxpayers).

• We started in 2006 with the renovation of Pinkney house (built in 1820) into the headquarters for the Rowayton Historical Society and rebuilt the 100+ year old sea wall to last another century. This work was funded with an asset sale.
  
  
• In 2008, the 6TD formed a long term planning committee to develop a renovation plan for the Community Center. This property, built in 1910-12 and bought by the 6TD in 1966, has been almost untouched – except for the recent interior renovation of the Library.
  
  
• Residents voted last year to proceed with the first phase – the restoration of the original 100 year old slate roof – and this work was completed this summer. The project was partially funded by a matching grant from the State of CT Historic Restoration Fund. The winning bid came in 20% under our estimates and allowed for incremental work on the outbuildings. The next phase is now in the works and will address the replacement of the Center’s windows and doors (many original, few insulated). The third phase will look at the role of the building and the needs of the community going forward.
  
  
• At Bayley Beach, the projects are smaller but no less important. We have built bathrooms for the Little League, put in a tennis patio, replaced dead trees, installed new curbing, constructed a safe barbeque area, rebuilt the boardwalks, installed kayak racks and contributed to the re-surfacing of the hard tennis court. These projects were funded by a combination of monies from local organizations, a memorial fund, users and the 6TD.
  
  
• We are not resting on our laurels and continue to plan for the future. In addition to Phase II of the Community Center, projects we are currently working on include a 6TD website (to be up and running this Fall at www.rowayton6td.com), a virtual human resources department (to provide needed administrative support to our employees), an improved drainage system at Bayley and proper offices for our 6TD employees.
  
  
• Do you know our 6TD employees? We are lucky to have a dedicated and hard working group of employees. Their responsibilities include looking after our properties, maintaining our financial records, scheduling the use of our facilities, issuing beach permits and running Bayley Beach. If you have had any interaction, I think you would all agree that we have a great team providing residents with user friendly quality services!
  
  
• One issue in Rowayton that generated some serious discussion this summer was Shakespeare on the Sound (SOS). While a movie paid for this spring’s re-seeding of the grass at Pinkney, this subsequently got damaged by SOS. They have since paid for this to be fixed. More importantly, there was debate about the role of SOS in Rowayton. The Commissioners heard both strong support and opposition at their July monthly meeting. We continue to believe that a dialogue needs to be built and that, similar to the parking issue we faced a few years ago, these differences can be worked out.
  
  
• All Rowayton residents are urged to vote in the upcoming local election Tuesday, November 8th. We will be voting for Mayor of the City of Norwalk, our Norwalk Common Council representatives (Rowayton is in District E) and a member of the Board of Education. Most importantly, we will be voting for a Commissioner of the 6TD.
  
  
• With shorter days, cooler temperatures and the arrival of Fall, we might not be running into each other as often but do get in touch with your ideas, thoughts and concerns regarding Rowayton and your local government.

Thank you.

Mike Barbis
Commissioner, Sixth Taxing District
mbarbis@sixthtd.com