Amy Murphy Carroll

Cell Coverage: Town Approves Contract for Updated ‘Street Test’

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Town officials on Tuesday approved a contract with a Seattle-based company for a long-awaited “street test” to understand cellular coverage in New Canaan. The Board of Selectmen voted 3-0 at its regular meeting to approve the $32,500 contract with Ookla. The vendor is the Utilities Commission’s preferred option for the test, the first step in obtaining clean, up-to-date, real-time data before decisions are made on the best ways to address coverage gaps. Commission member Christa Kenin, who presented to the selectmen with Chair Rich Townsend, said the appointed body was attracted to Ookla because “they are able to truly mimic the consumer experience.”

“Other vendors that came forward to us, if you could imagine—I’m oversimplifying it— they would just have an antenna on their car and drive around, but that is just catching a signal,” Kenin said at the meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. 

She continued: “What Ookla does is it is able to measure, is there a signal so can you initiate a call? And also voice and data will be tested in this.

Christa Kenin

Town Clerk: Absentee Balloting ‘Steady’ for Nov. 7 Election

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Local officials said Tuesday that they’ve issued 516 total absentee ballots for the Nov. 7 municipal election, and have received back 305 to count. The overall figures appear to be rising as a result of COVID-19, when larger numbers of residents availed themselves of absentee voting. Even so, data indicate that absentee voting will be down from the midst of the pandemic two years ago, according to Town Clerk Claudia Weber. While the town counted just 158 absentee ballots for the local election in 2019—a year that saw a contested first selectman race—the total jumped to 453 in 2021, Weber said.

News

Letter: Daniel LaGattuta for Board of Education

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Dear Editor,

Please join me in supporting Daniel LaGattuta for a Board of Education position at next week’s Republican Caucus. I had the pleasure of first meeting Daniel eight years ago through the New Canaan Newcomers Club and have spent many summers with his family at the Waveny Pool.  

He is extremely well educated—BA from NYU in mathematics and political science and a PhD in Economics from MIT. He has spent his recent years founding and running, Learning & the Brain, a company that provides professional development for K through12 educators through the creation of education conferences, one-day seminars and summer institutes. 

The combination of his education and career pursuits gives Daniel a unique perspective that would greatly benefit our Board of Education. He is thoughtful and well researched.

Christa Kenin

Letter: Town Council Member Christa Kenin Will Not Seek Re-Election

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Dear Friends and Colleagues,

It has been an absolute honor to serve on the Town Council for the last four years. From my Town Council colleagues, I have learned what it means to be passionate about an issue, committed to a principle, protective of an organization, concerned about the future and respectful of yesteryear. That legacy stays with me. From my constituents, I have discovered perspectives so diverse that it brings a smile to my face and a recollection of the phrase, “this is what makes the world go ‘round.”

And somewhere in between, I have learned patience and humility. 

I have been so very proud to represent my typically under-represented peer group on the Town Council—whatever we are considered these days: young families, middle aged families, school district families, Mead Park families, Saxe playground families, Waveny Pool families, Library families, commuting families, divorced families. Families. 

I wanted to let you know of my decision to not run for re-election to the Town Council.

Christa Kenin

Councilman: Selectmen Erred in Sending Back Mead Park Brick Barn Demo Question

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Dear Editor,

I would like to comment on your recent story regarding the Mead Park Barn. I would like to talk about a “P” word and that word is not ‘Preservation,’ it’s ‘Process.’ Although the concept is less glamorous, it warrants its own respect. I so appreciate all of the New Canaan Preservation Alliance’s hard work and their passion. However, we must deal with the facts before us. Last week, the Board of Selectmen was incorrect to table the demolition contract.