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‘It Only Took 15 Minutes To Get the First Complaint’: South Avenue Closure Underway

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The summer-long closure of a major north-south artery into New Canaan is off to a so-so start, officials said Tuesday. This week, the water company began installing a 36-inch pipe along South Avenue, between Harrison Avenue and Farm Road. The work will continue up until school starts again. According to Public Works Director Tiger Mann, municipal officials started receiving feedback immediately from motorists. “It only took 15 minutes to get the first complaint,” Mann said during a regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. 

Within 10 feet, Aquarion “had to go underneath the waterline, which was unanticipated,” Mann said.

Government

Town Approves Funds To Repaint the Historic ‘Gores Pavilion’ at Irwin

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Town officials this month approved funds to power-wash and repaint the exterior of a historic structure in Irwin Park. The Gores Pavilion—designed by Harvard Five architect Landis Gores as a winter lodge and summer pool house—was dedicated in 1960 at a grand surprise party arranged by Philip Johnson in honor of Gores himself. During their June 3 meeting, members of the Board of Selectmen approved an $8,690 contract with a Stamford company to power-wash, scrape, prepare and paint the building’s exterior. 

The building was painted about eight years ago, according to Bill Oestmann, superintendent of buildings in the New Canaan Department of Public Works. “It requires overall maintenance on the painting end because of the type of materials that are on that building,” Oestmann said during the Board’s regular meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. “And it’s historic in nature, so we have to keep up with the maintenance on it.

Government

Town Approves Contracts for Fencing Upgrades at Mead, Saxe

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Town officials last week approved a pair of contracts for sports facility fencing at Mead Park and Saxe Middle School. The Board of Selectmen during its regular meeting June 3 approved about $82,000 in contracts for fencing at the Mead Park pickleball courts and large baseball field, as well as a replacement fence at the Saxe baseball field near the YMCA and South Avenue. A major part of the projects is upgrading the fence gauge from nine millimeter to six millimeter, according to Superintendent of Parks Ryan Restivo. 

“This change provides a thicker, more durable coated material that will enhance longevity and durability of the new fencing installations,” Restivo told the selectmen during their regular meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. First Selectman Dionna Carlson and Selectmen Steve Karl and Amy Murphy Carroll voted 3-0 in favor of the contracts with New Canaan-based Gannon Rustic Fence ($14,680) and P&C Fence of Bridgeport ($67,390). The fencing at the Mead pickleball courts is failing, Restivo said, and two baseball fences—the perimeter at Mead Park’s large field and the backstop and dugout at Saxe—both need replacement.

Government

Selectmen Approve Furniture Contract for Waveny House Wedding Rooms

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Furniture will be put into the brides’ and grooms’ rooms at Waveny House as preparations are made for what officials are calling an “off the charts” wedding schedule. On Tuesday, the Board of Selectmen approved a $14,299.10 contract with Raymour & Flanigan to furnish Waveny House’s wedding rooms.

“We’ve done substantial updates on these rooms, including painting them a nice cashmere color,” Parks & Recreation Director John Howe told the selectmen at their regular meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. “The next step is to get furniture in them.”

First Selectman Dionna Carlson and Selectmen Steve Karl and Amy Murphy Carroll voted 3-0 in favor of the contract. The project is covered in the bride and groom rooms update section of the town’s budget. Parks & Recreation Office Manager Beatrice Watkins detailed the process of finalizing the contract.

Board of Selectmen

Selectmen Approve Water-Related Repairs at Waveny House, Work To Start in June

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Repairs for moisture and water infiltration problems at Waveny House will start in June, with the hope of finishing “phase one” of the project in October, officials say. On Tuesday, the Board of Selectmen approved a $653,775 contract with New Haven-based G.L. Capasso Inc. to address Waveny’s ongoing leakage issues. The selectmen also approved $14,400 for interior kitchen repairs within the contract. “This approach will fix 95% of the leaks, and we will be able to reassess and do a deeper dive if further repairs are necessary,” Department of Public Works Senior Engineer Joe Zagarenski told the selectmen at their regular meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. First Selectman Dionna Carlson and Selectmen Steve Karl and Amy Murphy Carroll voted 3-0 in favor of the contract.