The installation of natural gas in New Canaan, a widely anticipated project that this year enters the final piece of a three-year initial phase-in, is currently on hold, officials said Tuesday.
All new natural gas services and installations are considered ‘nonessential’ as per the state Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, according to New Canaan Public Works Director Tiger Mann.
The only work still moving forward is a “resiliency project on [Route] 123 from Little Brook and Lakeview, all the way down into Norwalk, that should be proceeding within the next couple of weeks,” Mann told the Board of Selectmen during its regular meeting, held via videoconference.
“They have a contractor on board. We had a pre-construction meeting last week with the state, so that should be proceeding as normal since it is resiliency and not expansion. We are waiting for news on whether or not and when we can go forward with the rest of the work in town. But as of right now, no new services unless it’s necessary—say, a failed boiler, things of that nature. But the rest of the expansion work is on hold until further notice.”
The installation of a natural gas main in New Canaan commenced in 2018 and included 30 roads. Last year, the project extended five additional miles, with another five planned for 2020. Those seeking hook-ups along the route have three years get that work done before a rolling two-year moratorium goes into effect.
Mann’s comments came in response to a question from Selectman Nick Williams as the Board voted unanimously to approve seven roadworks-related agreements for sealing, repaving and other related projects. First Selectman Kevin Moynihan and Selectman Kit Devereaux voted in favor of the agreements, which totaled more than $2.6 million. Moynihan said that he and the Board of Finance on Tuesday night would start talking about how municipal spending may be reduced for the balance of this quarter as well as the first quarter of fiscal year 2021.