Darien Selectmen To Review Affordable Housing Trust Fund Commission, POCD And Year-End Budget Transfers

DARIEN, CT — The Darien Board of Selectmen is scheduled Monday to consider reconstituting the town’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund Commission, discuss proposed changes to Darien’s long-range planning document and review a series of year-end budget transfers.

The meeting is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 31, at 7 p.m. and will be held virtually via Zoom. Public comment is listed on the agenda, and residents may also submit written comments before the meeting.

The board is expected to discuss and take possible action on renewing the mission and membership of the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Commission. The town’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund is dedicated to supporting affordable housing in Darien, with funding coming primarily from fees paid by developers in lieu of constructing some or all required affordable units.

According to meeting materials, the fund’s last distribution occurred in 2019 and used all available assets. Contributions were received in 2025, with additional contributions expected in the coming months.

Town Administrator Jennifer Charneski has recommended updating the commission’s charge and membership, saying the town otherwise would be unable to spend money currently held in the fund for its intended affordable housing purposes.

Under the proposed structure, the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Committee would consist of five members appointed by the Board of Selectmen for one-year terms.

Members would be selected based on relevant experience in areas such as housing, finance, real estate, development, land use, law or municipal government. The first selectman and chair of the Darien Housing Authority would serve as ex-officio members.

The selectmen are also scheduled to continue discussing the draft 2026 Plan of Conservation and Development, or POCD.

Several fiscal year 2026 budget transfers are also scheduled for discussion and possible action. They include Department of Public Works year-end closeout transfers and requests to move $66,923 to Social Security, $46,531 to accrued leave redemption, $9,706 to telecommunications and $11,138 from Board of Finance contingency to land use consulting services.

The board is also scheduled to interview an assessor candidate in executive session before discussing and taking possible action on an appointment.

View the full agenda here.