Government

Republican Candidates for Town Council Face Off in Second Debate

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Republican candidates for Town Council offered their views on on some of the town’s most controversial planning and zoning applications during the Republican Town Committee’s second candidates’ debate held at Town Hall Wednesday. Currently there are six Republican candidates for Town Council: Roy Abramowitz, Tom Butterworth, Mike Mauro, Rich Townsend and incumbents Penny Young and John Engel. They are jockeying for seats opening up on the Town Council this fall and thus are seeking party backing. When asked for his opinion on the Planning & Zoning Commission’s recent approval of the Merritt Village redevelopment downtown, Engel, who missed the first RTC debate in June, said, “Real estate is what I do—and I have a deep understanding of the Merritt Village project.”

“Number one, I respect the process,” he said of the recent approval. “We heard earlier that the Town Council doesn’t get involved in what P&Z should do—just like the first selectmen doesn’t tell them what to do—and I don’t think we should have a thumb on the scale with P&Z.

News

Letter: Town Council Candidate Roy Abramowitz Has Key Professional Experience

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Voters of New Canaan,

This caucus to endorse candidates is not a popularity contest, although some of what I have read is filled with very nice compliments regardless of the skills or past experience of the party involved. Past elections have given us good people with great intentions but we have, due to the lack of expertise, found ourselves faced with problems, especially financial that have taken much work to resolve. In Roy Abramowitz we have a man with years of experience in working with financial matters, past, present and future. He is a man of integrity, a tireless volunteer for community, the Greenwich Council of the BSA, The Starlight Children’s Foundation, etc. He was a pioneer in the establishment of the town’s Audit Committee and instrumental in establishing the guidelines for its operating procedures.

News

Op-Ed: Abramowitz on ‘Why I Am Running’ for New Canaan Town Council

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I offer my constituents “real reform” and a “real voice.” I have shown that I can identify and outline procedures to implement “best practices” into the Town’s financial, accounting and managerial systems.

My family and I have been town residents for 21 years. My daughter graduated New Canaan High School this past June 20. I believe it is time for the Town Council to have a “practicing attest and forensic CPA” seated. I have been on point for a decade with my financial analysis and suggestions pertaining to Best Practices in accounting methodology, internal control changes and budgetary analysis as relates to town operations. Many of my suggestions have been implemented as “Best Practices.”

News

Letter: Town Council Candidate on Placement of Cell Towers Near Schools

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As a candidate for Town Council, I wish to clarify that I agree with “parents’ health concerns and would prohibit placement of a cell tower within 1,500 feet of a school.”

I agree that cell coverage is a major issue for New Canaan. My home is located in the northeast quadrant of town and my family and I have bad cell coverage. I agree that proper cell coverage is necessary for the safety of the town’s first responders and residents. However. with approximately seven school locations in New Canaan, my position is that there are ample alternative locations other than school sites.

Government

GOP Candidates For Town Council Spar Over Cell Service, Transparency During Debate

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Five of six Republican candidates seeking seats on the Town Council in the upcoming November municipal elections debated a range of topics—from cell towers to land acquisition to transparency in local government—during a lively and well-attended debate hosted by the Republican Town Committee at Town Hall last week. Four Republican seats on the Town Council are up for grabs in the upcoming fall election. The six candidates seeking nomination from town Republicans in the upcoming caucus, to be held July 18, include incumbents John Engel and Penny Young, as well as Roy Abramowitz, Tom Butterworth, Mike Mauro and Richard Townsend. Engel was unable to attend the debate. Recently, the town Utilities Commission, which is searching for ways to improve cell service in town, issued a report proposing that cell towers be erected in Irwin Park and near West School.