Government

Conservation Commission Chair Proposes Solution To Build Up ‘Land Acquisition Fund’

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The chair of the Conservation Commission this week proposed a new way for the town to help build up its reserve fund for acquiring land to preserve as open space. The Town Council created the Land Acquisition Fund in 2017, prompted by Aquarion’s effort to subdivide and sell a 19-acre parcel at the end of Indian Waters Drive. 

Since then, the Fund has accumulated just $150,000, Conservation Commission Chair Chris Schipper told the Board of Finance during its regular meeting Tuesday night. “We looked at 11 years of conveyance fees,” Schipper said during the meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. He added: “The town can charge a 25 basis point real estate sales conveyance fee through a Connecticut statute that allows it. And the intention, the legislative intention of that statute was the town would use those monies to preserve open space for future generations.

Board of Finance

Proposal for New Police Station on Saxe Baseball Field Unveiled

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A team assembled by First Selectman Kevin Moynihan on Wednesday night unveiled a proposed new $23.5 million police station that would be built on a Saxe Middle School baseball diamond. The two-story, approximately 24,000- to 25,000-square-foot glass-and-brick exterior building would sit on 3.6 acres running east off of South Avenue, along a line of trees that separates the school property from the New Canaan Y (see videos embedded above and below), according to a presentation from a New Britain-based architectural firm. 

The new station would also include an underground level with a shooting range, and 89 parking spots would be spaced across about 36,000-square-feet around the building, according to Eric Rossi and Chuck Boos, a specialist and founding principal, respectively, at Kaestle Boos Associates, Inc.

The Saxe ballfield was one of about a dozen potential sites that the firm’s representatives, Moynihan, New Canaan Department of Public Works officials and a former Police Commission chair have been studying out of the public eye for months and it’s “the site that’s risen to the top of the heap,” Rossi said. “This site is fairly flat,” he told members of members of the Board of Selectmen, Board of Finance and Town Council gathered at Town Hall and via videoconference for a special meeting. 

“It’s an existing [baseball] field, 60-foot baseline [baseball] field. Using the site allows us to get all the redundancies and all the site and mechanical systems that we need to get into police station in an easy way. The generator can go on-grade.

Colm Dobbyn

Letter: Colm Dobbyn for Town Council 

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To the Editor:

I don’t often write letters endorsing candidates because, like many of you who have lived and volunteered in this town for several decades, we are friends, neighbors, and volunteers who work and live harmoniously for 364 days of the year. 

On Election Day, however, we must decide among many well-qualified candidates from both sides. Some vote strictly by party, others do not. For this year’s race I highly recommend Colm Dobbyn for Town Council. He has lived in New Canaan for 26 years, has served on Inland Wetlands Commission for 14 years, while raising two children and brings to the table a sharp analytical mind. Colm can focus on the issues, rather than play politics. His only agenda is to do the best he can to serve all of us to make New Canaan a fine community. According to the town website, the primary responsibilities of Town Council encompass bylaws, ordinances and approval of appropriations.  These are all skill sets that Colm Dobbyn possesses.

Around Town

Letter: Town Council Candidate Colm Dobbyn ‘Smart, Thoughtful, Fair-Minded and Caring’

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Editor,

Colm Dobbyn is exactly the kind of resident we need on Town Council. He is smart, thoughtful, fair-minded and caring. As a corporate attorney, currently at MasterCard and formerly at PepsiCo, Colm has experience in analyzing complex problems and identifying creative solutions. He has applied these skills very effectively on the Inland Wetlands Commission, on which he has served for ten plus years—as I have for the last seven. Colm is a very good listener and a thought-leader able to persuade other commission members to support his clear-sighted and balanced point of view.

News

Letter: Colm Dobbyn for Town Council

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The town of New Canaan is very fortunate to have Colm Dobbyn offering his time, skills and expertise to become a member of our Town Council. His 35-year legal background, 26 years living in New Canaan, corporate role with MasterCard, and experience on the Inland Wetlands Commission give him the skills and background to be a very effective member.  

I have participated with Colm knocking on the doors of our New Canaan homes and asking our residents what issues are important to them.  t is clear he has listened and as a result has formulated a platform that he will work diligently to execute.  

Colm’s focus will be: (1) commitment to supporting excellent New Canaan public schools; (2) protecting the distinctive character and environment of our town; (3) open and transparent government; (4) to seek to make New Canaan’s legislative entity more responsive to the concerns of our residents; and (5) will advocate for all of the people.  

I strongly support the election of Colm Dobbyn for Town Council

Rich Lurie