NewCanaanite.com (https://newcanaanite.com/tag/steve-karl)
Prisoners of the New Canaan Police Department will be held in Norwalk while its location on South Avenue is under renovation, following Board of Selectmen approval of an agreement.
In her first public address as New Canaan’s highest elected official, Dionna Carlson on Tuesday night vowed to make good on a campaign vow to restore transparency, civility and teamwork to the office of first selectman. Addressing a standing-room-only crowd in the Town Hall Meeting Room during an Oath of Office Ceremony, Carlson said she was “full of gratitude” and felt “a deep sense of responsibility” on taking office. “I want to express my sincere thanks to all of you who supported me during my campaign,” Carlson told the crowd after she and her fellow members of the Board of Selectmen—Steve Karl and Amy Murphy Carroll—as well as Town Treasurer Andrew Brooks had been sworn in by Town Clerk Claudia Weber.
She continued: “Your belief in me and your tireless efforts brought me to this moment, and I am humbled by your trust. As I step into this new role, I want to emphasize that I am committed to working collaboratively with members of boards, commissions, committees and our dedicated staff for the betterment of our entire community. Together, we will strive to address the needs and concerns of our residents and to ensure our town continues to thrive and prosper.”
Referring to the values of transparency, civility and teamwork, Carlson said they’re “not just words on a poster.”
“They’re the guiding principles that will shape my tenure,” Carlson said. “I firmly believe that an open and transparent government is essential for building trust and fostering a sense of unity within our community.
After hearing concerns from residents in the neighborhood and beyond, town officials say they’re planning to remove barricades set up on Conrad Road as part of an effort to solve traffic problems in the “South of the Y” neighborhood.”
Originally, the barricade near the Whiffle Tree Lane intersection was to remain in place for at least five weeks. Its purpose was to prevent morning commuters from cutting toward South Avenue and the Merritt Parkway by pulling off Gerdes Road, which sees voluminous back-up, onto Conrad. Police did warn around the time of that decision that the traffic being diverted would have to go somewhere. On Monday, Public Works Director Tiger Mann said in an email that representatives from his department, including Engineering and Highway, met with police to discuss the situation.
“Due to the large amount of concern received from the residents “Behind the Y”, and elsewhere, regarding the closure we have decided to remove the barricades on Friday, November 10th,” Mann said in an email. He continued, “We have spoken with the BOE and they will be readjusting the bus routes (and timings) likely back to the ones prior to the closure beginning Monday, November 13th. They will be notifying parents of the proposed changes likely by Thursday, November 9th/Friday, November 10th.
Six months after voting against the appointment, the town’s legislative body is scheduled to “reconsider” adding a local man with a unique history in New Canaan to a prominent municipal body. The following agenda item appears on the Town Council’s regular meeting agenda for 7 p.m. Wednesday: “Audit Committee Appointment – Reconsideration of the confirmation of the appointment of Roy Abramowitz as a regular member for a three year term ending December 1, 2025.”
In denying the appointment by a 6-5 vote at its April 5 meeting, Councilmen (as they had weeks earlier) voiced concerns about the process that landed the Abramowitz nomination in front of them. Specifically, they said that since the Audit Committee is a creation of the Town Council itself, its members should be involved earlier in vetting candidates. Formed in 2014, the volunteer Audit Committee helps oversee financial reporting for the municipal government and school district. The Committee has a vacancy left by founding member George Maranis, who resigned. Abramowitz is a CPA in town.
A state Superior Court Judge ruled Tuesday in favor of a local developer’s motion to intervene as co-defendant in the town’s affordable housing-related lawsuit against the state. Despite the town’s objections, Judge Ted O’Hanlan granted intervenor status to the companies that own properties in New Canaan where affordable housing developments are planned. Local developer Arnold Karp is principal at the limited liability companies.
“The court finds that intervenors have demonstrated a valid interest in intervention in this matter,” O’Hanlan wrote in his order, obtained by NewCanaanite.com. The town in December sued the Connecticut Department of Housing, appealing the state’s decision last fall to deny the town’s application for a “moratorium,” or four years of relief from the state statute that facilitated the affordable housing applications (that suit was dismissed). In June, the town sued again, objecting to a “declaratory ruling” from the state agency that bolstered its earlier denial.
Attorneys representing Karp in August filed to become a co-defendant in the case, saying, in part, that he will be directly affected if the town is able to overturn the state’s denial of a “moratorium,” which would grant four years of relief from the state affordable housing law known by its statute number, 8-30g.