Municipal leaders are divided over a plan to establish a regional governing council of mayors and first selectmen in southwestern Connecticut.
Some said it will give the area more clout with state and federal government while others said it is a step toward resurrecting county government abolished by the state legislature in 1960.
The Connecticut Post reports that a proposal would merge the South Western Regional Planning Agency, an alliance of eight towns focusing on transportation and development, with the South Western Region Metropolitan Planning Organization, a group of local elected officials.
Greenwich First Selectman Peter Tesei said such a move is not necessary.
Westport First Selectman Gordon Joseloff said southwestern Connecticut needs to regionalize and streamline policymaking.
Joseloff expects the eight towns -- Greenwich, Stamford, Norwalk, Westport, Darien, New Canaan, Wilton and Weston, according to the Post -- to vote on the plan in the spring or summer.
