Selectmen Approve Traffic-Calming Work at Conrad and Whiffle Tree

The Board of Selectmen last week approved an approximately $87,000 contract with a New Canaan-based company to further improve a closely watched and historically problematic intersection in the “South of the Y” neighborhood. The town had several stops and starts since it began focusing on relieving high-volume traffic and speeding at the intersection of Conrad Road and Whiffle Tree Lane, including a proposal to install a “mini-roundabout” and a short-lived experiment involving a barricade that drew criticism from residents. Last year, town officials striped the intersection into a three-way stop, according to Public Works Director Tiger Mann. “That was after multiple discussions with the residents and the Police Commission,” Mann told members of the Board of Selectmen during their April 15 meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. 

He continued: “We turned it into a three-way stop with temporary striping to show everyone the delineation of where these—I’ll call it a ‘bumpout’—but it’s basically bringing the intersection in, honing it down to make it a true three-way intersection and not allow you to cut the corners on the tangents. So in order to do so, we’ve got to install some drainage on each corner of each bumpout.”

First Selectman Dionna Carlson and Selectmen Steve Karl and Amy Murphy Carroll voted 3-0 in favor of the $86,767.50 contract with Peter Lanni Inc. to complete the work.

Town Ups Contract with Provider After Rise in Bench Donations

Town officials say that New Canaan is seeing an unusually high number of requests from residents who purchase honorific or memorial benches dedicated to loved ones. Typically, the Department of Public Works receives donations from locals who purchase benches and then the town itself assembles and places them in a location that makes sense—for example, in a park. This year, “we’ve actually had more than we normally have,” according to Public Works Director Tiger Mann. The benches in public places—which are consistent throughout New Canaan, following a Parks & Recreation Commission initiative in 2018—cost about $1,700 each and are purchased through a Gaithersburg, Md.-based company called Country Casual Teak, Mann told members of the Board of Selectmen at their April 15 meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. Normally, the town’s highest elected official, First Selectman Dionna Carlson, approves the purchases herself because the total comes to less than $10,000.

Town Purchasing Four Water Bottle Fillers for Parks, NCHS Track

Town officials on Tuesday approved about $14,000 to purchase four water fountain bottle fillers. 

The Board of Selectmen voted 3-0 in favor of a contract with an Oakmont, Pa.-based company to purchase the Murdock-brand machines. Two of them will be replacement installations, at Mead Park Playground and upper trail entrance to Irwin Park, while two others will be new installations, at the New Canaan High School track and upcoming Waveny Park Playground with a nearby outdoor fitness area, according to Superintendent of Parks Ryan Restivo. The two existing machines are about 10 to 15 years old, he said at the selectmen’s regular meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. 

“The unit at Irwin Park will have a pet bowl feature on it, similar to the one that’s installed at the dog park now,” Restivo said. First Selectman Dionna Carlson and Selectmen Steve Karl and Amy Murphy Carroll voted 3-0 in favor of the $13,942 contract with Equiparts Corp. The selectmen asked whether the cost includes installation (no, and in some cases a live water tap is needed, which requires two contractors including an excavator), whether funds are allocated for the tap (yes), how long these machines should last (20 years) and whether they’ll look good (yes they’re stainless steel and in color).