Dionna Carlson

‘Leaving an Indelible Mark’: Dr. Harrison Pierce Steps Down from Health & Human Services Commission

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The town’s highest elected official last week honored a local physician and community leader during the COVID-19 pandemic known to generations of New Canaan families. First Selectman Dionna Carlson recalled during last week’s Health & Human Services Commission meeting that the appointed body’s chair, Dr. Harrison Pierce, dropped into her office following Carlson’s one year ago to say it may be time to step down from the role, she recalled. “And I said, ‘Please don’t leave me’ ” and “Please give me a year at least,’ ” Carlson recalled during the Commission’s Dec. 4 meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. “So he was gracious as he always is, in being willing to serve an additional year to help me get on my feet,” she continued.

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Housing Authority: CHFA ‘Very Interested’ in Loan for Affordable Housing at Riverwood

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A quasi-public affordable housing lender appears to be “very interested” in loaning the New Canaan Housing Authority money as the local agency moves toward converting some units at a newly acquired Lakeview Avenue apartment complex into “affordable,” as per the state’s definition, officials say. The Housing Authority last month closed on the former ‘Avalon’ complex—renamed Riverwood at New Canaan—for about $75 million. According to Housing Authority Chair Scott Hobbs, the head of the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority or ‘CHFA’ is said to be “very interested in loaning us money at very favorable rates to convert some units.”

“We’ll see what they’re offering because it’s possible we could cut some of our debt service,” Hobbs said during the Housing Authority’s Dec. 4 meeting, held via videoconference. “It’s possible also if they’re doing this 1% type money or something, it may make sense to make some 8-30g qualified units now.

Government

August Rain Storm Caused $16,000 in Damage to Bristow Park

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The major rain and flooding that hit New Canaan in August, causing property damage throughout town, also required nearly $16,000 in repair to a public park that marked its centennial this year. The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday approved a $15,665 contract with a New Canaan-based company that provided emergency work to address the extensive damage done to Bristow Park during the Aug. 18 storm. “All the trails got washed out,” Public Works Director Tiger Mann told the selectmen during their regular meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. First Selectman Dionna Carlson and Selectmen Steve Karl and Amy Murphy Carroll voted 3-0 in favor of the contract with Peter Lanni Inc. The funds are available in DPW’s storm account.

Board of Selectmen

‘Family Fourth’ at Waveny To Be Held Friday, July 4; Selectmen OK Fireworks Contract

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The Board of Selectmen this week approved a $35,000 contract with a Douglassville, Pa.-based company to provide fireworks at this year’s Fourth of July celebration in Waveny. The Family Fourth will be held Friday, July 4 with a rain date of July 5 and a backup rain date of July 12, according to Tom Stadler, chair of the committee that long has organized the hugely popular family-friendly event. “This is our normal contract,” Stadler told the selectmen at their regular meeting, held Tuesday in Town Hall and via videoconference. “That’s the same amount as last year. It’s not gone up a dime, but the show will be just as good.”

First Selectman Dionna Carlson and Selectmen Steve Karl and Amy Murphy Carroll voted 3-0 in favor of the contract.

Government

Town Appoints Local Internist as New Medical Director

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The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve a New Canaan resident who already has been lending her expertise to the community as the town’s medical director. Dr. Jamie Ruszkowski, who also has worked for the past 18 months as an internist in New Canaan, succeeds Dr. David Reed in the appointed role. 

Jenn Eielson, the town’s health director, told the selectmen at their regular meeting that the Health Department had been introduced to Ruszkowski by Dr. Harrison Pierce, chair of the Health & Human Services Commission. “She’s been volunteering her time working with my staff and she works closely with my nurse Ellen [Samai] and [Sanitarian I/Health Program Planner] Shannon [Vallerie] and I think she’s going to be a natural fit to this role,” Eielson said at the meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. She continued: “We’re looking forward to having her aboard as the medical director.”

According to Ruszkowski’s resume, she earned a bachelor’s degree in molecular and cell biology from the University of Connecticut, a medical degree from Albany Medical College, and completed her internship at Yale. After working as an internist in New Canaan, Trumbull and Westport, she returned to town in April 2023 as principal of Comprehensive Care of New Canaan P.C., located in The New Canaan Medical Groups on East Avenue.