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. I trust that all of our residents had a terrific summer and were able to enjoy all of the District’s assets including Bayley Beach, Pinkney Park, the Community Center and the Arts Center.

During this much loved time of year, your local government continues to work – from handling projects, to making decisions, large and small.

One of our most visible decisions was the issue of the fence at Pinkney Park for the Shakespeare on the Sound (SOS) performances. SOS approached both the immediate neighbors of Pinkney and the Commissioners about potentially installing something that would prevent people (especially children) from running out of the Park and into the street at the end of performances. This has presented a serious hazard in previous years and the thinking was that this was an accident just waiting to happen. The idea was to be proactive here and prevent an accident from occurring.

SOS hosted a meeting to discuss this with us and we debated various options including screens, as well as flexible and/or permanent fences. In the end, it was determined that, due to the conditions at the site (especially gusty winds), a temporary fence could be installed along Rowayton Avenue. The Commissioners did decide that this fence could only be 4 feet in height versus the original request of 6 feet. Our decision was made for (1) safety reasons and (2) as a one year experiment.

The fence generated some very strong opinions within our community. The fence did go up earlier than it might have needed to (10 days before the first performance) but did come down right after the last performance. This was a one year experiment that the Commissioners, neighbors and the entire Rowayton community will want to review before plans are made for 2011.

Another new experiment is the Farmers’ Market at Pinkney Park. This Market had been voluntarily run for the last five years by Peggy Carlson and, this spring, she decided it was time to pass the reins. Residents Maggie Trujillo and Regina Matson heard about the opportunity and signed up. Held for a decade at the Community Center, the new organizers decided to change the venue, enlarge the roster of vendors and potentially create some type of a business. With the Commissioners consent, another Rowayton experiment was born.

The range of vendors and products has surged and the interest and number of shoppers is off the charts. Downtown Rowayton on a Friday is hive of activity. The organizers adjusted the hours (now noon to five) with feedback from residents, shoppers and merchants. Almost all of the opinions we’ve heard have been positive but, in true Rowayton fashion, not everyone is in agreement. Some miss the Community Center, others are concerned about the parking and congestion, while some wonder if today’s Farmers’ Market shouldn’t be a full fledged non-profit operation. Once again, we as a community will need to review this as we go into next year.

One set of projects you most likely noticed were the improvements at Bayley Beach. These included new plantings and curbing in the parking lot to a new patio and walkway around the tennis courts. The bulk of these improvements were the result of contributions made in the memory of long time Rowayton resident Shelley Trubowitz. While his daily visits to Bayley Beach continue to be missed by many, the generosity of his friends and family will ensure that his memory is never forgotten.

All Rowayton residents are urged to vote in the upcoming local election Tuesday, November 3th. 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 new Commissioner of the 6TD with only the second contested election in the District’s history.

We need to thank Ed Kweskin, our departing 6TD Commissioner, for his 16 years of service to the District. This has been a most impressive commitment to our community. Ed has been a fixture in Rowayton and I will remember not only his hard work but his leadership during periods of major controversy. Ed, you will be missed!

The 6TD's Commissioners have a public monthly meeting on the second Wednesday of every month at 8 PM at the Community Center – all residents are encouraged to come, participate and see your local government in action. The agenda for each upcoming meeting is posted at this page on the RCA's website.

Please feel free to contact our District Clerk, Andrea Woodworth, at 854-5066 to schedule use of District facilities, get on the agenda for our monthly meetings or ask any District related questions.

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