Around Town

‘His Legacy and Impact Will Live On’: New Canaanites Remember Don Hersam

By |

For Steve Karl, there’s a very short list of New Canaanites whose contributions to the community in business, civic matters, faith and philanthropy exceed what anyone conceivably could imagine in terms of commitment and longevity. They are “the rare residents who have created a legacy and body of work that the rest of us just sit back and wonder how they could possibly have that much time, that much energy and that much love for one place,” according to Karl, himself a lifelong New Canaanite. “Don Hersam was one of those extremely rare individuals,” Karl said this week, days after V. Don Hersam, Jr. passed at age 92. 

“He was the soul of the community,” Karl told NewCanaanite.com. “The centerpiece of the 06840 Mt Rushmore,” he continued. “He loved New Canaan, respected its rich history, and consistently endeavored to make it a better place to live, work, and raise a family.

Board of Education

Selectman Williams Pushes To Fill Open Board of Ed Seat

By |

Selectman Nick Williams on Tuesday pushed to have New Canaan resident Matt Campbell appointed to fill a vacancy on the Board of Education. The school board has had an open seat since former Chair Dan Bennett, a Republican, resigned in April. 

In a decision that drew criticism from some Democrats on the Board of Ed, Republicans on the school board subsequently decided to forgo filling the open seat, saying it could interfere with the party’s July Caucus. Under Section 7-4 of the Town Charter, the Board of Ed can fill a vacancy prior to the next municipal election, where a successor is elected to fill the balance of the term (Bennett’s four-year term expires in 2025). “If the Board of Education fails to fill any vacancy which occurs on the Board within 90 days after the vacancy occurs, the Board of Selectmen may fill such vacancy until the next biennial municipal election,” according to the Charter. Williams during the Board of Selectmen’s Sept.

News

Town Hires Turner Construction for Dunning Stadium Projects

By |

The town last month approved a $38,500 contract to hire a Shelton-based company as construction manager on a multi-part project to improve Dunning Stadium. The Board of Selectmen voted 3-0 in favor of the contract with Turner Construction, which also will provide a guaranteed maximum price or “GMP” under the agreement, with both the town and New Canaan Athletic Foundation. “That was one of the concerns or one of the recommendations or requests from the Board of Finance and the Town Council when we went forward for the funding itself,” Public Works Director Tiger Mann told the selectmen during their Aug. 15 special meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. “We have mirrored exactly what happened at the Police Department,” Mann said.

Government

Selectmen OK Restaurant’s Use of Alleyway by Playhouse

By |

The Board of Selectmen at its most recent meeting approved a license that will allow a new restaurant planned for Elm Street to use a town-owned alleyway that runs along the western side of the movie theater. The owners of Blackbird restaurant are seeking “a secondary means of egress out of the building” at 105 Elm St., according to Public Works Director Tiger Mann. “We’re currently analyzing whether or not this will affect what we’re doing with the Playhouse,” Mann told the selectmen at their Aug. 15 meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. “We don’t think that it necessarily will come into play, but we finalized where we’re coming out into the alleyway and where they’re coming out to the alleyway.

Amy Murphy Carroll

Deadline Passes: Moynihan Will Not Force Primary

By |

New Canaan’s incumbent first selectman did not file papers to force a primary in September, town officials have confirmed. First Selectman Kevin Moynihan, who was soundly defeated by Republican challenger Dionna Carlson at the GOP Caucus last month, had until 4 p.m. Thursday to file with the town clerk. 

Yet, as Town Clerk Claudia Weber confirmed in an email to NewCanaanite.com, no runner-up candidates filed an application. “No one filed a petition for the First Selectman race, and New Canaan will not be having a Primary this year,” Weber said. That means Carlson will face off against Democrat Amy Murphy Carroll for New Canaan’s top job in the Nov. 7 election. 

It also means that Moynihan’s six-year tenure is coming to a close.