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Town ID’s $695,000 in Planned Capital Spending This Fiscal Year That Could Be Delayed

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Saying New Canaan should consider putting off some capital spending in the near term until a clearer picture of the economy emerges, town officials last week identified nearly $700,000 earmarked for the current fiscal year that could be delayed. Prepared with input from public works and district officials as well as the first selectman, the draft list of more than 75 items total $695,000 and range from small expenditures such $29 for signage and striping up to about $63,000 for a solar project at a town building, documents show. Board of Finance Chair Todd Lavieri said the main question now facing the town is whether the spending could be delayed or deferred “until we have a little more clarity.”

“You guys control this,” Lavieri told First Selectman Kevin Moynihan, Public Works Director Tiger Mann and town CFO Lunda Asmani during the finance board’s April 7 meeting, held via videoconference. “We can’t tell you what to do and how to do this. But I guess it would be our recommendation, or at least our consideration, to hold onto the spending at least for another month until we got more clarity.”

The comments came during a discussion within the finance board and no formal action has been taken on the recommendation. They also came as New Canaan and the nation grapple with a hard stop to the economy that’s seen businesses forced to slow down or shutter altogether for health reasons as unemployment claims soar.

Around Town

PHOTOS: New Canaan During COVID-19 [UPDATING]

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Please email photos to be added to this gallery, with caption information, to editor@newcanaanite.com. 

We will continuously update the community photo gallery above through the COVID-19 emergency. 

Regarding submissions, please send candid photos only—sights and scenes from around New Canaan that capture what’s happening here through the public health emergency. 

Though we will add photos that are taken inside homes or at private gatherings, please keep in mind that we should have the permission of those photographed in those cases and that we are not seeking staged “set pieces.” The photo gallery also should not be viewed as an opportunity to promote the efforts of any specific business or to signal the virtue of any individual, local organization or grassroots effort (we are happy to share such photos in our weekly “Did You Hear” feature). We also are not seeking art—please submit color photos only, horizontally oriented.

Business

Local Businesses and COVID-19: Earth Garden

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For today’s Q&A with a local business, we interviewed Kyle Riccoboni of Earth Garden on Elm Street. Earth Garden is supplying many New Canaan families with flowers and arrangements for Easter, and is offering pickup and delivery though the physical store is closed to the public. 

Here’s our exchange. New Canaanite: Tell me about how you’re operating now. 

Kyle Riccoboni: We are doing deliveries. We can if somebody calls us and places an order we can deliver it. We will have things outside on the sidewalk ready-made for pickup over the weekend.

Business

Local Businesses and COVID-19: Dolce Italian Café

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For today’s Q&A with a New Canaan business owner navigating the COVID-19 emergency and related restrictions, we hear from Andrea Lombardi, owner-operator of Dolce Italian Café on Elm Street. The café is open for pickup 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Here’s our exchange. New Canaanite: You just opened last summer, and then you got hit with this. How are you doing? Andrea Lombardi: Right now we are getting by and we are trying to survive.