Government

Letter from League of Women Voters: Why We Canceled the Debate

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With a sense of real regret the League of Women Voters of New Canaan has cancelled its long standing annual Candidates’ Debate. The decision to cancel was advised by the State of Connecticut League of Women Voters as a result of the League’s strong policy to remain non-partisan. With only one candidate to be featured in the First Selectman spot and only Republican spots in contention for Town Council, the debate did not meet that criterion. The mission of the New Canaan LWV is to encourage the informed and active participation of citizens in government. Our Candidates’ Debate is intended to benefit the citizens of New Canaan.

Government

UPDATE: League of Women Voters Cancels Candidates Debate

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Update 3:40 p.m. Wednesday 

The League of Women Voters of New Canaan on Wednesday afternoon announced that the organization “has decided not to conduct the traditional debates in 2015.” Original Article

Since New Canaan’s incumbent first selectman has decided not to participate in a candidates’ forum scheduled for next month, the nonprofit organization that hosts the event by its own rules will hold no debate for that office, the group’s leaders say. According to a letter dated Sept. 27 from the League of Women Voters of New Canaan, First Selectman Rob Mallozzi has officially confirmed what he had told NewCanaanite.com a few weeks ago—namely, that he will not participate in a forum alongside a petitioning candidate for the town’s highest elected office, for several reasons. According to a letter sent to several people including that candidate, Michael Nowacki, as well as leaders of local party committees, the League of Women Voters “consulted with our moderator and LWV debate expert, and have reached the conclusion that in view of Rob’s decision, there can be no debate for the position of First Selectman.”

“It would be what is called an ‘empty chair’ debate,” the letter said.

Business

New Canaan Playhouse Committee Established to Identify Funding, Uses

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What’s the best way to operate the town-owned New Canaan Playhouse? That’s the heart of the question that the New Canaan Playhouse Committee is charged with addressing, members the Board of Selectmen said Tuesday as they formally appointed a panel of locals from the Town Council, selectmen and Board of Finance to make recommendations concerning future of the Elm Street fixture. While officials have said New Canaan is not in danger of losing the building, the committee will consider funding mechanisms to raise the estimated $3 to $4 million to bring the 1923-built structure up to code, as well as additional uses for the space. “The Playhouse Committee is tasked with the exploration of the public and private options leading to the funding of capital improvements, as noted in the 2015 budget review,” First Selectman Rob Mallozzi said during the meeting, held in the training room of the New Canaan Police Department. The committee is composed of John Engel, Steve Karl, and Joe Paladino of the Town Council, Neil Budnick of the Board of Finance and Beth Jones of the Board of Selectmen.

Around Town

Did You Hear … ?

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The New Canaan Preservation Alliance on Sunday afternoon presented awards to two individuals and five properties in its eighth annual Awards Ceremony, sponsored by Halstead Property. Speakers included Rose Scott Long, the outgoing president, state Sen. Toni Boucher, NCPA Founder and past President Mimi Findlay and Rachel Carley, an historic consultant hired by the Alliance to continue the inventory of New Canaan’s historic houses. The gallery above spotlights award winners, including NewCanaanite.com for the Media Award—a huge thank-you to the NCPA! ***

Manfredi Jewels at 72 Elm St. is holding its Grand Opening party from 12 to 7 p.m. Friday and 12 to 5 p.m. Saturday this week, following an invite-only celebration Thursday of its special collection of Rolex timepieces.

Around Town

‘It’s Part of Why People Come to This Town’: Officials Discuss Future of New Canaan Playhouse

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Possibilities for New Canaan Playhouse include expanding its offerings to include live performances, shifting toward a classic and independent film venue under a public-private partnership or simply continuing as-is with the town footing the bill for sorely needed, high-cost capital improvements, a panel of local stakeholders said Wednesday night. No one in town government is interested in “having a developer come in and ‘mini-mall-ing’ the Playhouse or ‘Gap-ing’ ” the iconic 1923 structure, panelist First Selectman Rob Mallozzi said during a New Canaan League of Women Voters-sponsored discussion on the future of the building. “The idea is, quite frankly and I think legitimately, is we want to keep that an environment for entertainment, and my only hope is that stays as a Playhouse and provides Hollywood shows, or, ideally, it morphs into something much more exciting—a place that houses live entertainment, simulcast broadcasts from major venues across the world on arts and cultural programming, or that shows some more independent movies,” Mallozzi said at the panel discussion, held in the Sturgess Room at the New Canaan Nature Center. “But I think it is a real opportunity for this community to expand the offerings of that theater, and have it run by a private group instead of the town running it, so to speak.”

More than 50 people attended the 2-hour discussion, moderated by the League of Women Voters’ Kate Hurlock. In addition to Mallozzi, panelists included: George Maranis, who had been serving as town administrator when the town acquired the Playhouse for about $2.2 million in 2007; Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tucker Murphy, whose organization is located in the building; Department of Public Works Buildings Superintendent Bill Oestmann; and Jerry Miller, a New Canaan-based attorney and member of the New Canaan Kiwanis Club who is also a founding member of the Ridgefield Playhouse.