RIDGEFIELD — The first meeting of the Western Connecticut Council of Governments had a strong turnout of elected officials from the newly formed regional council’s 15 members.
WCCOG was formed through the merger of the Housatonic Valley Council of Elected officials and the Southwest Regional Planning Authority. Its first meeting was held in Ridgefield Oct. 23.
Three communities in the newly formed region have yet to join: Sherman; Danbury and Norwalk.
An executive director has been hired for WCCOG, Craig Leiner, from Massachusetts. Leiner previously worked on the formation of a council of governments in New Hampshire and for 10 years at MassPort. He will be on a 90 day probationary period.
WCCOG members are: New Milford; New Fairfield; Brookfield; Bethel; Bridgewate;, Newtown; Ridgefield and Redding from HVCEO and New Canaan; Wilton; Weston; Westport; Stamford; Greenwich; Darien from SWRPA.
WCCOG meeting 10/23 (left to right) first selectmen from: Bill Tinsley, Brookfield; Pat Llorda, Newtown; Peter Tesei, Greenwich; Jayme Stevenson, Darien; Jim Marpe, Weston; and Rob Mallozzi, New Canaan.