WESTPORT–Westport’s challenges and accomplishments took center stage when First Selectman Kevin Christie and Board of Education member Abby Tolan delivered the State of the Town addresses yesterday.

“Westport thrives because of its people – the community,” Christie told the audience in the Westport Library’s Trefz Forum. “And local government exists to support that community.”

In his first State of the Town address since taking office in November, Christie gave a detailed look at town services and the benefits they provide. Tolan began with a list of accolades, honors and firsts that Westport students and faculty have achieved, and discussed capital plans and the ongoing budget season.

“I think that you’ll find our schools continue to excel while acknowledging areas that continue to need improvement and that the (Board of Education) and administration is working thoughtfully on developing a budget that allows continual excellence while being fair to our taxpayers,” she said.

Christie is the first Democrat in Westport’s top elected position since 2013. After the addresses, the Westport Town Republican Committee issued a statement that said, “we remain hopeful for true bipartisan efforts that boost affordability in Westport, keep our mill rate steady, and deliver top-notch education for our kids.”

Christie backed his praise of town operations with numbers. The Police Department handled more than 27,000 calls, including more than 5,500 traffic stops. The Fire Department responded to more than 4,000 incidents, with an average response time under four minutes. And the Building Department issued 3,045 permits and generated more than $2.6 million in revenue.

The audience applauded specifics Christie spotlighted, including Police Chief David Farrell and Human Services Director Elaine Daignalt, and town staff for its response to the recent snowstorm.

 While people may think of government budgets and meetings, Christie said, “most residents experience town government in a much simpler way. They experience it when something works. When a call is answered. When a road is passable. When a permit is issued. When a parent drops off a child at a program, or a senior gets a meal.”

It was also a first for Tolan. She spoke in place of Board of Education President Lee Goldstein, who was attending an education conference in Washington D.C. Tolan mentioned district capital plans, including the construction underway on the new Long Lots Elementary School and the creation of a team room for girls athletics at Staples High School as a step toward equity with boys sports facilities.

After their talks, Christie and Tolan answered questions that the sponsors of the event – the Westport Rotary Club and the Westport Sunrise Rotary Club – collected from audience members on written cards. Those watching on YouTube also submitted questions via email.

In response to the questions, Christie and Tolan offered updates on plans being considered or explored, including a combined fire-police-EMT headquarters, a new parks and recreation maintenance facility, school redistricting, a community garden and ways to improve traffic in town.

Several residents said after the talk that Christie appeared to be off to a good start.

“I think he’s starting off on the right foot,” said Goldie James, past president of the Rotary Club of Westport.