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Moynihan: Town Has ‘Reached a Deal’ To Acquire Gulf Station Property

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New Canaan’s highest elected official said during a recent debate that the town has “reached a deal” to purchase the Gulf Station property at South Avenue and Cherry Street. First Selectman Kevin Moynihan during a July 18 pre-Republican Caucus debate said, “We’re working on a transaction—since there’s no press here—we’ve reached a deal to acquire the Gulf Station, to get the Gulf Station next to the library. That was a transaction people said couldn’t be done, and we have a deal to get it done.”

He spoke in response to a question put to Republican first selectman candidates regarding why they’re the best candidates for the town’s top job. It wasn’t clear from Moynihan’s comments how far along the “deal” for the property is, whether its current owners are selling or what the town would do with the .31-acre parcel at 36 South Ave. 

It was purchased for $4.7 million three years ago, by a limited liability company whose principals include a Norwalk man, according to Connecticut Secretary of the State records. 

New Canaan Library owns the rest of the downtown block. The prospect of the town buying the Gulf station first publicly emerged as a Board of Selectmen meeting in April.

Government

Williams: New Canaan’s ‘Fields Committee’ Should Have More People on It

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The town should increase the number of people sitting on a committee that makes decisions about athletic field’s usage in New Canaan, according to Selectman Nick Williams.

Currently, the Fields Committee is composed of three members—Public Works Director Tiger Mann, Parks and Recreation Director John Howe and New Canaan High School Athletic Director Jay Egan. Two additional members of the public with “an interest in athletics” should join them, Williams said at the July 11 Board of Selectmen meeting. “I’m not saying that the Fields Committee hasn’t done a good job—I’m a huge supporter of Jay Egan, always have been,” Williams said at the meeting, held in Town Hall and via videoconference. “We do have only so many fields, and I think we need to look carefully at how those fields are used.”

The comments came during a portion of the meeting dedicated to general matters before the town. First Selectman Kevin Moynihan also was in attendance.

Board of Selectmen

‘I’m Still Not Getting Answers’: Selectman Williams Pushes Moynihan Again on Broker Fees Collected in Town Property Deals

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Saying the town appears to be pursuing yet another property acquisition, Selectmen Nick Williams last week pressed New Canaan’s highest-elected official again on what money is exchanged for brokers in such deals. Addressing First Selectman during the July 11 Board of Selectmen meeting, Williams said, “It’s come to my attention that there might be another acquisition that we’re considering, which you have not apprised me of, or I believe Selectman [Kathleen] Corbet.”

Referring to a local property owner, Don Corbo, Williams added, “The same person who you mentioned by name at our last meeting—I didn’t mention this person’s name—but I just happened to be at Town Hall the week before last and this person was coming out of a meeting with you and Stevie Karl and a few others. And it just strikes me: Why is this person constantly popping up in real estate transactions in town? And I know this same person was intimately involved with the desired sale—I think on your part—of the Police Department building. And you said to me many times, ‘I really want to sell the building.’ It wasn’t about the Police Department or where to put it so much as ‘I really want to sell the building.’ And this individual was the same person that you mentioned in our last meeting was involved in that process… What is the process by which this town, with you in control of this town, buys and sells real estate?”

Moynihan declined to respond to Williams, saying he would “be happy to take that up when Kathleen [Corbet] is here.” 

The comments came during a section of the meeting dedicated to general matters before the town.

Government

Selectmen Appoint New Town Planner

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The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday approved an appointment to one of New Canaan’s most nuanced and closely watched positions. Sarah Carey, promoted earlier this year to assistant town planner, will assume the job of town planner and senior enforcement officer following a 2-0 vote by the Board. “She has done an amazing job as our assistant town planner,” the town’s human resources director, Cheryl Pickering Jones, said at the selectmen’s meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. “She has cleaned up permits, works well with residents, staff, commissioners,” Pickering Jones said. “[Planning & Zoning Commission Chair] Dan Radman is fully on board with us putting her into a permanent position.

Government

Selectman Williams Raises Questions About Fees Collected in Town Property Deals

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During the most recent Board of Selectmen meeting, Selectman Nick Williams questioned New Canaan’s highest elected official regarding fees collected when the town buys or sells real property. Williams told First Selectman Moynihan during the Board’s June 27 meeting that he’s had several Realtors come to him asking how they could participate in the town’s real estate deals. 

 “This is not coming from me,” Williams said during the meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. “This is coming from real estate brokers.”

Referring to the town attorney’s law firm, Moynihan responded, “I think the advice from Berchem Moses is that we always issue an RFP for town property.”

An RFP, or Request for Proposal, is a business document announcing and describing a project, which is released to the public for the purpose of finding the best price. 

Williams brought up the topic during a section of the meeting devoted to general matters before the town. He cited the town’s purchase of 220 Elm St. for $6.1 million in 2022, and two subsequent sales of different parts of the building for about $2.5 million and $1.7 million, according to tax records.