Around Town

‘The Perfect Summer Evening’: Wednesday Night Concerts Kick Off at Waveny

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The NewCanaanite.com Summer Internship Program is sponsored by Carriage Barn Arts Center. A decades-old New Canaan tradition has made its return. The Waveny Summer Concert Series, organized by the New Canaan Department of Parks & Recreation, started off strong on a chilly Wednesday at sundown, with a delightful evening of ‘50s doo-wop music. For Jane and Dean Kaplan, the weekly concerts have long been a fixture of their summer plans.  

“It’s beautiful, the music is great, it feels like summer, it’s just wonderful,” said Jane Kaplan when asked about what keeps her coming back. 

While the opening night with the band The Royal Kings was a bit chillier than usual, it didn’t hinder their enjoyment. 

“So far it’s a little cold, but it actually feels good, it’s nice,” Jane Kaplan said. Starting at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday nights through August, the Summer Concert Series brings a wide variety of live music here to our town, covering genres from Country Western to Big Band.

Election 2023

Election 2023: Steve Karl Announces Candidacy for Selectman [Q&A]

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Steve Karl, a four-term Town Council incumbent who has served as the legislative body’s chair since 2021, on Monday announced his candidacy for selectman. He will seek the backing of New Canaan Republicans at the party’s caucus on July 25. We put some questions to Karl. Here’s our exchange. New Canaanite: What is your background professionally and in terms of living and volunteering in New Canaan? 

Steve Karl: I am a lifelong resident of New Canaan and fifth generation to live in New Canaan.

Anne Kelly-Lenz

‘We Should Not Gamble with the Taxpayers’ Money’: Councilman Calls for More Oversight of Capital Projects

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Saying cost overruns have resulted from a change whereby the Town Council is less involved in and informed of planning for major capital projects than it has been in the past, one member of the legislative body this month called for a return to stronger oversight. In the past, the Town Council “appropriated the monies for the design” of a project and “the development of the drawings” before it goes out for bid, according to Cristina A. Ross. “We’ve abandoned that and we’ve gone from concept to budgeting to approval,” Ross said during the Council’s April 5 meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. “We don’t see anything else in the middle. We don’t know what the project is going to look like, for the most part, unless we insist.

Cristina A. Ross

‘Process Wins Out’: Town Council Rejects Committee Nominee 

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In a rebuke of New Canaan’s highest elected official, the Town Council last week declined to appoint a nominee for a municipal committee that helps oversee financial reporting for the town government and school district. The legislative body during its April 5 meeting voted 6-5, with one abstention, against appointing Roy Abramowitz to the Audit Committee. 

As they have in the past, Councilmen opposing the appointment voiced concern with the process that landed the Abramowitz nomination in front of them. Specifically, they reiterated that since the Audit Committee is a creation of the Town Council itself, they should be involved earlier in vetting candidates. One of the Council’s vice chairs, Penny Young, said that nothing’s bothered her “more than the events that have accompanied the nomination of the Audit Committee.”

Appearing to read from a prepared statement at the meeting, held in Town Hall and via videoconference, Young said, “Transparency and process are key components of sound and healthy government. And that includes the Town Council in making our decisions, as over my tenure on the Town Council I have stood strongly in support of these two dynamic concepts—transparency and process.

Government

Town Council Approves Fiscal Year 2024 Budget; 3.12% Increase over Current Spending

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New Canaan’s legislative body last week approved a budget of $166.6 million for fiscal year 2024, a 3.12% increase over current spending. The Town Council at its April 5 meeting voted 12-0 in favor of the budget, which takes effect July 1. 

Chair Steve Karl said in a town-issued press release that it’s been “a challenging year given the current backdrop of rising costs and inflationary pressure on most major budget categories.”

“The town faces many of the same challenges the private sector is experiencing, including the rising interest rates, cost of energy, healthcare, labor, and materials,” Karl said. “We managed to keep the increase raised by taxation flat over the past four years, but this year may bring a modest increase to our tax bills. On a positive note, our town departments and Board of Education have done a great job holding the line and controlling costs as much as possible without sacrificing the finished product our residents have come to expect.”

In addition to Karl, those voting in favor of the budget were Town Council Vice Chairs Mark Grzymski and Penny Young and members Robin Bates-Mason, Rita Bettino, Tom Butterworth, Luke Kaufman, Mike Mauro, Maria Naughton, Kimberly Norton, Hilary Ormond and Cristina A. Ross. The annual budget process is a months-long undertaking that starts in the fall and comes before the public at Board of Selectmen hearings in January before moving to the Board of Finance and, finally, the Town Council.