Board of Selectmen

Survey: New Canaan’s Top Priority for Next 10 Years Is Continued Support of Schools

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Locals rank Waveny Park and New Canaan Library as the most-visited facilities in town, while saying that New Canaan’s top priority over the next 10 years is the continued support and improvement of the public school system, according to a recent survey. And while stakeholders are largely content with the quality of life in New Canaan—rating it 8.5 out of 10—reliable cell phone service, traffic congestion, road maintenance and speeding are the top four quality-of-life concerns, according to 2,306 survey responses gathered by a Cheshire-based consulting firm. The total survey responses “equates to about 11% of the town, which is huge,” Town Planner Sarah Carey told members of the Board of Selectmen at their regular meeting, held Dec. 19 at Town Hall and via videoconference. “The goal is 4% so we blew that out of the water, which was great,” Carey said.

Amy Murphy Carroll

Town: Playhouse on Track for May 1 Reopening

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Shuttered since the onset of COVID-19, New Canaan’s movie theater is on track to reopen around May 1, officials say. The approximately $8 million renovation of The Playhouse on Elm Street is “going well,” according to Public Works Director Tiger Mann. “It’s on schedule,” he told members of the Board of Selectmen during an update on the project at their regular meeting Tuesday, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. “It’s actually—I don’t want to say it’s ‘ahead’ of schedule, so let’s just say it’s ‘on’ schedule—but we’re feeling we’ll be able to open a little bit earlier than we originally anticipated.”

The town’s contract with its construction company has the project completed May 30-June 1, Mann said, though “right now they’re looking at April 30-May 1.”

The architects on the job are “confident as well” with that date, he said. “So that’s what we’re gunning towards,” Mann said.

Amy Murphy Carroll

New Board of Selectmen Sworn In at Town Hall Ceremony

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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.