News

Putnam Road Sidewalks To Be Replaced This Summer

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Town officials on Tuesday approved the replacement of sidewalks on Putnam Road, following a discussion regarding the use of a “new” company for the municipality versus a longtime partner. Ultimately, First Selectman Dionna Carlson and Selectmen Steve Karl and Amy Murphy Carroll voted 3-0 in favor of awarding the $488,543.75 contract to Stumpers LLC. The Shelton-based company bid $10,000 below Peter Lanni Inc., a New Canaan business with a long and successful track record of work here, according to Tiger Mann, director of the Department of Public Works. “Stumper is new,” Mann told the selectmen at their regular meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. “I did reach out to the community to find out about them.

Government

Town Approves $50,000 To Install Second Pump at ‘Steve Benko Pool’

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Municipal officials last week approved an approximately $50,000 contract with a Bethel-based company to help assure the continuous operation of the popular town pool at Waveny Park. Purchase of a second main pump for the Steve Benko Pool will make the facility “a much better place as far as I’m concerned,” according to Parks & Recreation Director John Howe. 

“It will allow me to sleep,” Howe told members of the Board of Selectmen at their Feb 25 meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. 

He continued: “What this is, a few years ago, we were able to buy a second main pump. We have one pump that filters all the water. If that goes offline for any reason, we have to close the pool. We have to have constant filtration in order for the pool to stay open.

Amy Murphy Carroll

Selectmen Put Off Vote on Redo of ‘Bridegroom’s Room’ at Waveny

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Saying they need more information, members of the Board of Selectmen this week put off voting on contracts for a future “bridegroom’s room” at Waveny House. Building officials came to the Board at its regular meeting Tuesday seeking approval for two contracts that would see a chandelier installed in a former IT Department office that the town now wants to convert into the groom’s room for weddings at Waveny. The room also would be painted, but the selectmen said they first need to understand how many lower wall electrical outlets are in it, and also what color it will be. “I don’t think we’re ready,” First Selectman Dionna Carlson said of voting on the contracts, totaling about $15,000. “I don’t think we’re ready for this one.

Government

‘I Don’t Understand What It Takes’: Selectmen Push Back on Registrar’s Request for Higher Pay

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The Board of Selectmen following a strained discussion at its most recent meeting voted 2-1 to increase the compensation for each of New Canaan’s registrars of voters by 3%, to $41,200. 

The figure is far less than the $52,000 that one of the registrars, Joan McLaughlin, had been seeking. In addressing the selectmen at their Jan. 7 meeting, McLaughlin said her work doubled with the introduction of early voting in Connecticut last year, as well as a recent shakeup of state legislature districts that resulted in three more for New Canaan. McLaughlin, who serves two-year terms as the Republican registrar in New Canaan, said during the meeting that she worked an average of 32 hours per week last year (up from 20 to 22 hours per week in the past) and that the higher figure was due to 14 days of early voting. “I have 14 days of early voting that starts at 10 o’clock in the morning and ends at 6 o’clock at night,” McLaughlin said during the meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference.

Government

Fitness Stations at Waveny To Be Removed Next Month, Making Way for New Equipment

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The broken and outdated equipment in a fitness area located on a grassy, tree-shaded island across the Orchard Field parking lot in Waveny will be removed next month, officials say. Set for a widely anticipated replacement, the 60-by-60-foot all-abilities fitness area often draws children who mistake it for playground equipment, according to Selectman Amy Murphy Carroll. “Multiple times, men and women are trying to use it, and it’s swarmed by kids,” Murphy Carroll said during Tuesday’s regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. 

She added that no one is blaming the kids for doing so. “I know the actual equipment has little signs on it, which every kid in the world would ignore,” Murphy Carroll said. “And the parents probably don’t even see it, to be fair.