Saying the town appears to be pursuing yet another property acquisition, Selectmen Nick Williams last week pressed New Canaan’s highest-elected official again on what money is exchanged for brokers in such deals.
Addressing First Selectman during the July 11 Board of Selectmen meeting, Williams said, “It’s come to my attention that there might be another acquisition that we’re considering, which you have not apprised me of, or I believe Selectman [Kathleen] Corbet.”
Referring to a local property owner, Don Corbo, Williams added, “The same person who you mentioned by name at our last meeting—I didn’t mention this person’s name—but I just happened to be at Town Hall the week before last and this person was coming out of a meeting with you and Stevie Karl and a few others. And it just strikes me: Why is this person constantly popping up in real estate transactions in town? And I know this same person was intimately involved with the desired sale—I think on your part—of the Police Department building. And you said to me many times, ‘I really want to sell the building.’ It wasn’t about the Police Department or where to put it so much as ‘I really want to sell the building.’ And this individual was the same person that you mentioned in our last meeting was involved in that process… What is the process by which this town, with you in control of this town, buys and sells real estate?”
Moynihan declined to respond to Williams, saying he would “be happy to take that up when Kathleen [Corbet] is here.”
The comments came during a section of the meeting dedicated to general matters before the town.
Williams first raised the question at a Board meeting two weeks prior, citing recent town purchases such as a commercial building at 220 Elm St. (for $6.1 million in 2022) and a house on Grove Street (about $1 million). Officials also have raised the prospect of spending more taxpayer money to acquire the Gulf station at Cherry Street and South Avenue. It last was purchased three years ago, for $4.7 million.
Last week, Williams noted that “at our last meeting, I had kicked out the question about how we as a town dispose of property or acquire property and how we do that from a brokering, intermediary perspective.”
“And you had said, Kevin, that everything basically is done through an RFP and nobody gets any money,” Williams continued.
This exchange followed:
Moynihan: I said on the sell side, Nick.
Williams: On the sell side. Oh OK. And on the buy side, how does that work? Because I’m still not getting answers.
Moynihan: I explained at the last meeting.
Williams: No, you didn’t really. I looked at the meeting like 14 times.
Moynihan: OK.
Williams: Do you want to explain now?
Moynihan: I don’t want to discuss this further today.
It wasn’t immediately clear what new property the town may be pursuing.
Williams, in explaining his question, said, “I’m only talking about the process, Kevin.
Referring to the public works and parks and recreation directors, Williams said, “We have a process. When Tiger [Mann] comes up here or John [Howe] comes up here, they have a process. They go out to bid, they do this, they get multiple bids. What is the process by which this town, with you in control of this town, buys and sells real estate?”
The Board is next scheduled to meet at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.
I’m just wondering who will hold Moynihan’s feet to the fire once our two Selectman are gone? We need new leadership ASAP and an honest person as First Selectman.
The simple answer is residents hold our municipal elected officials ‘feet to the fire’ every 2 years. This is a perfect time to talk directly with the many qualified candidates for elected roles in November about your views.
Anytime someone is the least bit evasive I get suspicious.