Government

Town Adds ‘Veterans’ Category to Discounts at Popular Facilities

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Municipal officials are adding a new category to those who get discounted fees for using popular town facilities such as the Steve Benko Pool at Waveny and pickleball courts at Mead Park. Following a unanimous vote by the Board of Selectmen at its most recent meeting, veterans will now enjoy the same discounts as seniors, including free access to Kiwanis Park and $80 season passes to the pool, Mead Park pickleball and tennis courts and Waveny paddle tennis courts. Parks & Recreation Director John Howe, in proposing an updated slate of fees to the selectmen at the Nov. 18 meeting, called it “the biggest change” to the rates. “We added a ‘veterans pass’ where we’ll give veterans a discount to the regular individual rates,” Howe told the selectmen at the meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference.

Government

‘We Think a Lot of the Misuse Will Stop’: New Fob Entry System Coming to Spencer’s Run Jan. 6

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Parks officials are preparing to activate a new entry/exit system for the dog park in Waveny to ensure that those using the facility are registered to do so. So far this year, where a punch-in code is required to enter Spencer’s Run, the dog park has just 175 dogs who are newly registered or renewed to use it—about 53% of them New Canaan residents. That’s compared to more than 400 registered dogs in the past, according to Parks & Recreation Commissioner Susan Lione. The new system will see users scan a town-issued fob to enter and exit. “We are hoping with the new lock, we will be able to track people and people will be registered, the number of people that are actually using it,” Lione said during the Commission’s regular meeting, held Nov.

Government

Selectmen Approve $14,000 Contract for Bleacher Repairs Throughout Town

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The Board of Selectmen at its most recent meeting approved an approximately $14,000 contract with a North Berwick, Maine-based company to make repairs to bleachers at athletic fields throughout town. The bleachers in need of repair are located at Mead Park, Waveny, Dunning Stadium, Conner Field, Saxe Middle School and the turf fields at New Canaan High School, according to Ryan Restivo, superintendent of parks. “Hussey Seating recently inspected all of our bleachers, and upon approval, will complete all identified repairs,” he told the selectmen at their Nov. 3 meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. “The scope of work includes materials and labor.”

First Selectmen Dionna Carlson and Selectmen Steve Karl and Amy Murphy Carroll voted 3-0 in favor of the $13,945 contract with Hussey Seating Company.

Government

‘Probably the Worst Year’: Irrigation System Failure Affects Mead Park Tennis Courts

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Town officials say an unforeseen problem with a new irrigation system left the popular clay courts at Mead Park in poor condition this summer, though they’re expected to be back up to snuff in the fall. This was “probably the worst year, as far as I’m concerned, we’ve had with conditions, barring the years we didn’t open until June,” Parks & Recreation Director John Howe said of the courts. 

Addressing the Parks & Recreation Commission at its Sept. 10 meeting, he continued: “We ran into a few problems. With the new irrigation system that went into Mead Park … when they put it in, the pump controls went down. This caused us a lot of headaches. Conditions that weren’t great.

Government

Town Approves Contract for Dumpsters at Six Locations in New Canaan

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The Board of Selectmen during its most recent meeting approved an approximately $11,000 contract with a Middletown-based company to provide dumpsters at six locations in town. Those are the Fire Department, Police Department/Emergency Medical Services, New Canaan High School track and tennis courts, and Waveny field bathroom and west parking lot, according to Parks & Recreation Director John Howe. “Those are dumpsters we are using for the public, whether they’re disposing stuff after athletic things or [dog] poop bags or what have you,” Howe told the selectmen during their Aug. 19 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 $10,932 contract with Murphy Road.