Kevin O’Connor has taken over as parking manager in New Canaan, succeeding longtime department head Stacy Miltenberg, who retired.
New Canaan Parking Manager Kevin O’Connor. Credit: Michael Dinan
We put some questions to O’Connor by way of introducing him to the community at this time of transition in parking options downtown.
Here’s our exchange.
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New Canaanite: Tell us a little bit about your own professional background.
Kevin O’Connor: My background includes experience in various disciplines, such as information technology, communications, and project management in the private, public, and non-profit sectors. In New Canaan, I worked at the Glass House for seven years as an educator, as well as supporting both the director of communications and the curatorial team at the Glass House on various projects essential to that organization. At Town Hall, I worked as an assistant to the New Canaan Town Clerk for five years. In that role, I enjoyed the diversity of work and provided assistance and information to all those who interacted with the office.
What attracted you to the position of New Canaan parking manager?
What attracted me to the Parking Department is this past fall, I supported the outgoing manager of the Parking Department, Stacy Miltenberg. I found that I love continuing to serve and interact with people, this time through a different Town department. I enjoy problem-solving and working to find solutions that address customer needs.
What are your early takeaways from the position? What is your vision for the Parking Department?
My early takeaways are that the Parking Department is a busy department, with a complex backend infrastructure. We have a dedicated and professional team working here. No one likes getting parking tickets and I do understand that. My goal in addition to educating and assisting people to park legally, is to do it in an approachable, courteous, and professional manner.
I too have experienced parking issues in New Canaan. The town has grown significantly over the years, putting pressure on the infrastructure and creating challenges for the town to accommodate the increased traffic and parking needs. What we try to do in the Parking Department is educate the public, provide solutions, enforce parking regulations, as well as issuing permits for the various Town commuter lots.