Letters to the Editor

NewCanaanite.com recently received the following letters to the editor. Send letters to editor@newcanaanite.com to have them published here.

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I strongly disagree with comments made by a member of our executive branch to the Charter Review Commission that our town is blessed, not because of an autocratic government, self-interest, and self-dealing, but because of the residents and their civic contributions. Selectman Steve Karl said that evidence of failure is required to revise the Charter, and in its absence, stewardship requires restraint. I present my well-founded evidence for why the Charter Revision Committee must implement change for the benefit of the voters.

Yes, the Town Charter was adopted in 1935, and the town’s annual budget in 1916 was $22,600. In stark contrast for the fiscal year 2026-2027, the town of New Canaan is considering a total expenditure budget of $186.9 million, including schools and town operations. In 1930, the population of New Canaan was 5,456 people. Today, the population is likely 21,300 residents. What worked in the 1930s does not work in the 21st century. The proposed changes to our Charter, made by concerned citizens, are not novel; they are necessary. The recommended changes are essential to address the issues faced by a growing municipality.

In my opinion, it is a deceptive claim to say that of the 169 towns in Connecticut the overwhelming majority would exchange their Charter for New Canaan’s without hesitation, as Karl has stated. Why then do most of these towns elect their Board of Finance, Planning & Zoning Commission, oversee Public Works procurement, and even vote on their school budgets? Because progress and change lead to best practices. The electorate wants to be heard, have a voice in decision-making—not be told by an autocratic government that appoints the members of boards and committees, whose members rarely question their policies.

The creation of the Audit Committee, which Audit Committee I played a key role in establishing in 2014, along with the establishment of the Board of Ethics. Both are appointed by the Board of Selectmen. Although they should appear and operate independently, they do not. They report directly to the Board of Selectmen, not the public. They are appointed by, confirmed and report to the same governmental bodies they are supposed to review and regulate, and their appointments are confirmed by that same body. This creates conflicts of interest, lacks required internal controls, segregation of duties, and independence, and allows the Board of Selectmen to override controls. 

Essentially, those citizens who oppose autocratic government, lack of transparency, and advocate for best practices, are being referred to as rebels. I have heard on occasion that a high level elected town official stated that he does not consider you a New Canaanite until you have lived in town for 30 years.

Now for some evidence:

• New Canaan has the largest bonded indebtedness per capita of the 169 towns in Connecticut, according to my analysis. This artificially defers tax increases to your heirs.

• Our property taxes have gone up geometrically (increased at an accelerated rate), the data show. The BOS has told us the mill rate has fallen. That’s only one part of the equation and belies a total lack of transparency. The mill rate has fallen because our property’s assessed value has risen astronomically. That has resulted in a high rate of increase in local property taxes. Just look at your tax bill. 

• The appointed Board of Finance doesn’t question or materially adjust the proposed budget of the Board of Education or the approved budget from the Board of Selectmen budget, which appoints the Board of Finance. Why?

• The Board of Selectmen recently leased a town-owned property to CinemaLab at $14 a square foot, well below the fair market rate of $70 a square foot, according to my figures—without informing the public. The appointed Board of Finance never questioned this expense to taxpayers that I saw. CinemaLab defaulted and never paid rent. Town funding bodies forgave the default of approximately $340,000 without transparency. The cost of the renovation overruns for the Playhouse property exceeded approximately $4 million which cost overruns were never restricted by the appointed Board of Finance. Why?

• There is no oversight of spending, cost overruns, and non-competitive bidding on contracts awarded by the Department of Public Works. The BOS simply rubber-stamps cost overruns. For example, for nine years the town of New Canaan has spent $31,237,151 more on health insurance than Darien, according to my analysis of the data. The town of Darien has more residents and town employees.

• The appointed Planning & Zoning Commission continues to override existing regulations with impunity (no accountability) to the electorate, in my opinion. One example is permitting a 200-car above-ground parking structure in the 4-acre residential zone. There is absolutely no responsibility for the safety of neighborhood children and residents.

• The town’s Audit Committee chair recently resigned, citing what I read as interference by the Board of Selectmen and the appointed CFO in an attempt to override internal control and procurement deficiencies in our government’s operations, as reported by the Internal Control Study conducted by an independent CPA firm. I believe that the BOS has prevented the report from being released to the Town Council as required. The Audit Committee chair, a highly respected retired senior partner in a Big Four accounting firm, expressed concern for his professional reputation and has resigned. This lack of internal control in procurement and self-dealing by our appointed bodies could cost the town its A+ bond rating and be costly to taxpayers.

The comments to the “appointed” Charter Review Commission exemplify our executive branch’s attempt to influence the independence of the Charter Review Commission. 

The current structure of appointed boards and committees has permitted unchecked self-dealing and non-competitive awarding of contracts that are costly to taxpayers. Members of our government vote on budgets, procurements, and most importantly, appointments to Boards and Commissions in which they have a direct conflict of interest. 

Yes! The examples mentioned are just a few of the failures of our 1935 Town Charter. The Charter is outdated, broken, and in need of revision. The other 169 towns in Connecticut have responded to changes brought on by growth, increased spending, and the need for transparency and responsiveness to the people, unlike an autocratic government.

Those New Canaan residents who seek revision to the Town Charter have offered overwhelming evidence of failure. Stewardship demands change!

Fellow citizens, make your voices heard. Please visit the Town website here and complete the questionnaire provided by the Charter Review Commission. Don’t let self-appointed individuals override or influence what should be an independent Charter Review process.

Demand best practices for the future of your children, family, and the welfare of our town.

Roy A. Abramowitz, CPA

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Later this month, the New Canaan Town Council will consider an ordinance to restrict the use of gas leaf blowers in summer. Most other communities in Westchester and Fairfield Counties, as well as many other municipalities around the country, have already restricted gas leaf blower use, so New Canaan is just catching up with our neighbors on this issue. Here are some questions and answers about the background of this ordinance. 

Why is New Canaan proposing to restrict gas leaf blowers?

Gas leaf blowers (GLBs) are horribly polluting and noisy. Tests have shown that running a gas leaf blower for one hour produces as much pollution as driving a car 1100 miles. GLBs use inefficient two-stroke engines that spew out 30% of their fuel as unburned and hydrocarbons, as well as benzene, formaldehyde and other carcinogens. The PM10 and PM2.5 particles that GLBs emit are linked to asthma, allergies and coronary disease. This is what you and your family breathe every time GLBs are running near you. 

GLBs are far noisier than other lawn or construction equipment, and their noise carries farther and penetrates walls more readily compared to electric blowers. We have all experienced the maddening roar of GLBs in our neighborhoods, making it impossible to be outside in our own yards, to enjoy an afternoon on the patio, or to experience the sanctuary our homes are meant to provide. Even worse, studies have shown that GLB noise contributes to stress and affects children’s cognitive development. The proposed ordinance aims to limit the howling noise and toxic fumes of GLBs in summer, when New Canaan families are most likely to be outdoors and exposed to these harms and when leaf blower use is least needed. 

Aren’t gas leaf blowers necessary for lawn care?

No. Electric leaf blowers have continued to improve in performance and affordability and are already comparable to GLBs, especially for light summer tasks such as clearing grass clippings. In a June 2025 analysis, Consumer Reports reported that electric leaf blowers now match or beat the performance of GLBs, as well as being quieter in every case. The proposed regulation allows GLB use for heavier tasks like clearing fall leaves and storm cleanup, and it includes carveouts allowing homeowners to use a GLB to clear sidewalks, decks or other manmade surfaces. 

Will restricting GLBs raise my landscaping costs?

No. Electric leaf blowers are much cheaper to operate than GLBs, since they do not require gas, oil or maintenance, so they are more profitable for professional use over time. Landscapers are already buying electric equipment since most other communities in our area have already restricted gas leaf blower use, so New Canaan’s regulations will not burden them with new investment costs. They will still be able to use gas blowers for heavy-duty work like clearing fall leaves. 

How will this restriction be enforced? 

The first step of enforcement will be education about the new restriction and about the negative impacts of gas leaf blowers, which will be provided to all town residents. Reminders and education materials will also be provided for the first violation of the restriction. Subsequent violations will be subject to fines, starting at $100 and rising to $250. The experience of other towns with GLB regulations is that violations drop off after the first stage as residents become aware of the new rule and the reasons for it. 

Won’t restricting GLBs drive my landscaper out of business? 

No. Many landscapers are already making the transition to electric equipment, to comply with regulations in other area communities where they work and because of the increasingly compelling economics of electric vs gas blowers. Landscaping workers stand to benefit most from shifting to electric – currently they are exposed to the noise and toxic fumes of GLBs all day long, often without protective equipment. There have been no reports of landscaping job losses in other communities that have enacted GLB restrictions.

Does this mean that other gas lawn care equipment will be restricted too?

No. Because of their inefficient and dirty two-stroke engines, GLBs generate far more pollution and noise than lawn mowers, hedge trimmers and other common gas-powered landscaping equipment. And GLBs are unnecessary during the summer, unlike lawn mowers or hedge trimmers. No other community in our area has restricted other lawn equipment. 

The proposed ordinance is a compromise that allows GLBs in fall and spring, restricting them only in summer when they are least needed and most disruptive to our quality of life. The noise and pollution of GLBs deprives us of the quiet enjoyment we need in our own homes and threatens the health of our families. It is time for New Canaan to catch up with our neighboring communities and free our summers from the noise and fumes of gas leaf blowers. Please email your Town Council representatives (TCDistribution@newcanaanct.gov) to support these sensible restrictions on GLB use, and make your voice heard at the Town Council meeting on Feb. 25.

—Lars Andersson and John Seel