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‘It Only Took 15 Minutes To Get the First Complaint’: South Avenue Closure Underway

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[The NewCanaanite.com Summer Internship Program is sponsored by Karp Associates.]

The summer-long closure of a major north-south artery into New Canaan is off to a so-so start, officials said Tuesday. This week, the water company began installing a 36-inch pipe along South Avenue, between Harrison Avenue and Farm Road. The work will continue up until school starts again. According to Public Works Director Tiger Mann, municipal officials started receiving feedback immediately from motorists. “It only took 15 minutes to get the first complaint,” Mann said during a regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. 

Within 10 feet, Aquarion “had to go underneath the waterline, which was unanticipated,” Mann said.

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Pastures Lane Neighbors Sue Town for Failure to Enforce Zoning Regulations

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Neighbors of a Pastures Lane property this month sued the town, saying the municipality has failed to enforce its own Zoning Regulations with respect to a residence on the dead-end road. Specifically, according to a complaint filed June 4 in state Superior Court, two abutting lots owned by a Delaware-based limited liability company—numbers 78 and 92 Pastures Lane—have fences that violate the town’s regulations. 

For example, an eight-foot deer fence at number 78 is higher than allowed and also too close to the road, according to the complaint, filed on behalf of plaintiffs Colleen Shelden and David Schwartz by attorney Todd Lampert of New Canaan-based Lampert, Toohey & Rucci LLC. “The fence does not blend with the natural landscape,” the complaint said. “The fence is not of open design. The fence is especially visible at a distance of 50 feet.

Government

Meet Amy Lehaney, the Town’s New Health Director

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Amy Lehaney started last week in the position of health director for the town of New Canaan, succeeding Jenn Eielson in the role. 

Monroe’s health director since 2022, she had worked for Bridgeport, Stamford, Fairfield and Redding before that. Lehaney earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Saint Bonaventure University in Olean, N.Y. and a master’s in public health from Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven. 

We talked to Lehaney on Tuesday afternoon at her office in Vine Cottage. Here’s a transcription of our interview. ***

New Canaanite: What are your early impressions of Town Hall and the community? 

Amy Lehaney: It’s great. It’s a beautiful downtown.

Government

Town Approves Funds To Repaint the Historic ‘Gores Pavilion’ at Irwin

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Town officials this month approved funds to power-wash and repaint the exterior of a historic structure in Irwin Park. The Gores Pavilion—designed by Harvard Five architect Landis Gores as a winter lodge and summer pool house—was dedicated in 1960 at a grand surprise party arranged by Philip Johnson in honor of Gores himself. During their June 3 meeting, members of the Board of Selectmen approved an $8,690 contract with a Stamford company to power-wash, scrape, prepare and paint the building’s exterior. 

The building was painted about eight years ago, according to Bill Oestmann, superintendent of buildings in the New Canaan Department of Public Works. “It requires overall maintenance on the painting end because of the type of materials that are on that building,” Oestmann said during the Board’s regular meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. “And it’s historic in nature, so we have to keep up with the maintenance on it.

Eric Thunem

Town Council Committee Discusses Next Steps Regarding Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers

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Town officials say they need time to evaluate the merits of a citizen-led campaign to reduce the use of gas-powered leaf blowers in New Canaan. After receiving dozens of letters themselves and seeing similar ones in local news—calling for a reduction for reasons of noise, public health and environmental issues—members of New Canaan’s legislative body are calling for a comprehensive analysis before recommending any change to local ordinances. During a meeting last week of the Town Council’s Bylaws and Ordinance Committee, member Eric Thunem said: “I think we need to hear from a lot more people before we vote on an ordinance that could impact so many more things than just the noise in my backyard. There are a lot of implications that would restrict and change the economics of landscaping.”

Committee members during a June 4 meeting spent nearly one hour discussing the issue. One Committee member, Kimberly Norton, said she was “on board with moving ahead with [restrictions].”

“I think we’ve had an outpouring of letters from the public…there’s lots of interest in the issue, and I think it behooves us to take it forward,” Norton said during the meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference.