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Firefighters’ Union Takes ‘Vote of No Confidence’ in Chief

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Saying the head of the New Canaan Fire Department committed an ethics violation, unduly influenced promotions and has failed to address problems with equipment, the local firefighters union last week took a vote of no-confidence in the fire chief. In a letter dated Nov. 24 (available here and below in full), New Canaan Firefighters Local 3224 said the Fire Commission’s five-day suspension last month of Chief Albe Bassett—a matter addressed in executive session, out of the public eye—was related to “outside business activity,” representing “a profound breach of trust that the Union cannot ignore and will not minimize.”

“The report specifically states ‘Chief Bassett’s failure to disclose his financial interest and recuse himself from the examination process constitutes a violation of the Ethics Code,’ ” the union’s letter said. “He was subsequently suspended for five days without pay by the Fire Commission.”

It wasn’t immediately clear what business the letter referred to. The Fire Commission during a Nov.

Government

Wet Weather Delays Work on Alley Between Playhouse and LPQ

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Town officials say they’re trying to wrap up work on the alley between The Playhouse and Le Pain Quotidien so that it’s open to shoppers during the holiday season. Closed for the past month, the alley—or ‘allée,’ as it’s called by the Department of Public Works—is getting a new ramp and staircase connecting the Playhouse Lot to Elm Street. In addition to making the alley traversable to those with mobility challenges, the ramp is expected to help move delivery trucks off of Elm Street itself—part of a multi-phased plan to help traffic flow in the heart of downtown New Canaan. Yet the project is still “at least two pours away,” Public Works Director Tiger Mann said, referring to concrete. “They’re getting close to the secondary pour for the staircase itself,” Mann told members of the Board of Selectmen during their regular meeting, held Tuesday at Town Hall and via videoconference.

Business

Local Holiday Shopping: New Canaan Music [Q&A]

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[This is the first installment of our annual guide to local shopping. Please note the Holiday Stroll will be held this Friday and Saturday.]

New Canaan Music, located at 90 Main St., offers not only instruments for rental and purchase, but also lessons for all levels. We stopped in to talk to owner Phil Williams and store manager Gaby Beecher about what’s on offer for this holiday season. Here’s a transcription of our interview. ***

New Canaanite: It’s early, but how are things going at the start of the holiday shopping so far? 

Phil Williams: There seems to be a lot of traffic in town.

Government

Town Adds ‘Veterans’ Category to Discounts at Popular Facilities

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Municipal officials are adding a new category to those who get discounted fees for using popular town facilities such as the Steve Benko Pool at Waveny and pickleball courts at Mead Park. Following a unanimous vote by the Board of Selectmen at its most recent meeting, veterans will now enjoy the same discounts as seniors, including free access to Kiwanis Park and $80 season passes to the pool, Mead Park pickleball and tennis courts and Waveny paddle tennis courts. Parks & Recreation Director John Howe, in proposing an updated slate of fees to the selectmen at the Nov. 18 meeting, called it “the biggest change” to the rates. “We added a ‘veterans pass’ where we’ll give veterans a discount to the regular individual rates,” Howe told the selectmen at the meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference.

News

Disorderly Charge for New Canaan Man, 61

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Police last week arrested a 61-year-old New Canaan man and charged him with disorderly conduct. 

At about 9:56 p.m. on Nov. 25 (a Tuesday), officers responded to a Thurton Drive house on a report of a dispute, police said. There, officers established probable cause for the misdemeanor charge, according to a police report. The man was arrested and taken to headquarters for processing. Police withheld details, saying it’s a domestic matter.