Darien approves $85,000 holiday‑lighting contract despite historical society concerns about artificial tree

The Darien City Council approved a consent‑agenda resolution June 3 authorizing the purchase of holiday lighting and decorative displays from Mosca/Moscow design at a cost not to exceed $85,000, drawing sustained public comment from the Darien Historical Society and other residents about tree removal and the appearance of the chosen artificial tree.

Kathleen Weaver and Nick Daren, board members of the Darien Historical Society, told the council they were not aware that both the historic locust tree and the second tree would be removed and that the school district (the property owner) needed to be consulted. “She only found out about [the locust tree being included] on Friday,” Weaver said, asking that the city consult the district before removing the tree.

Board members also said they had agreed to an artificial tree in principle but expected a more realistic appearance. Several speakers said the synthetic tree in the procurement packet looked overly stylized and not like a pine; they worried a smaller live tree would not serve for a tree‑lighting ceremony. City staff and the mayor explained procurement details: the chosen vendor visited sites, designed displays, and lead times are six to eight weeks. Staff advised that very tall live spruce transplants often fail due to shallow roots and wind.

The item had been carried over from last year’s budget, staff said, and the vendor’s design allows adding sections in later years to increase display size. The council approved the consent agenda by roll call (seven yes). The council did not delay the contract award at the meeting; staff said they would verify school‑district approvals where property ownership required it.

No formal amendment was made to the item at the June 3 vote; council members said they would consider design tweaks in future procurement cycles and ensure communication with the Historical Society about location and ceremony plans.