Though more than one dozen residents raised their hands to serve on a committee that’s expected to guide New Canaan’s affordable housing strategy, town officials said this week that they still can’t agree on which volunteers to appoint.
Under a newly written Section 4B of the Town Code, the Affordable Housing Committee is to include one member each from the Planning & Zoning Commission, Housing Authority, Town Council and Board of Finance, as well as five members of the public.
It would be appointed by the Board of Selectmen.
The following people have expressed interest in joining, according to the town’s response to a public records request filed by NewCanaanite.com:
- John Goodwin [Note: Goodwin withdrew his name in early October.]
- Dave Harvey
- Christine Hussey
- Gail Lavielle
- Krista Neilson (P&Z member)
- Hilary Ormond (Town Council member)
- Julia Portale
- Robert Strong
- Michael Sweeney (Housing Authority member)
- Maria Weingarten (Board of Finance member)
- Jeff Stein
- Jane Stoddard Williams
- Jeff Williams
- Christopher Wilson
During Tuesday’s Board of Selectmen meeting, Selectman Kathleen Corbet asked when the Committee would be appointed.
First Selectman Kevin Moynihan said, “From what I understand, we don’t have consensus aroniud nominees, so I’m not sure how we’re going to move this forward. And for the same reasons we’re talking about, it’s probably better that the new team decide.”
He appeared to refer to the Board of Selectmen that will take office following the local election on Nov. 7. Corbet and Selectman Nick Williams have said they will not seek re-election, and Moynihan lost at the Republican Caucus.
The discussion arose during a portion of the meeting dedicated to general matters before the town.
If the Committee will not be appointed by the current Board of Selectmen, then the selectmen “should obviously communicate that,” adding that she “really hoped it would [make the appointments.”
Moynihan said that “unless we get consensus, there’s too many people making a political storm.”
It wasn’t clear what he was referring to.
Williams said that the door for the current Board of Selectmen to make the appointments may not have closed.
“I will say this: Everybody that I’ve met with is terrific,” Williams said. “This is the same problem we had with the Utilities Commission—we have too many good people and not enough spots, and that is a bit vexing and unfortunate and I’m sorry for that. But I hope that door hasn’t closed fully.”
Corbet reiterated that she hoped the selectmen would appoint the Committee.
“I don’t want politics to get in the way of good governance, so let’s move forward,” she said. “We have two more meetings, so there’s hope.”
The specter of the Affordable Housing Committee had arisen earlier in the meeting while discussing proposed appointments to P&Z, including a new alternate member in Kristina Larson.
Prior to voting, Corbet said, “One of the things, Kevin, that you said we are not going to be putting forward appointments until the next round with the new Board of Selectmen coming in. And this one in particular to me, I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Larson even though I did reach out to her. But I think her term ends December 1st, 2023. I don’t understand what the rush is. And that’s the beauty of having alternates on bodies such as P&Z and the Board of Finance, so when you do have openings the alternates step up and they fill in. So there was not really a rush I think in this particular case, and I want to stick with what you originally pledged, that—”
Moynihan interjected, saying flatly, “I didn’t pledge anything. Don’t put words in my mouth.”
Corbet countered that Moynihan had “said to us”—appearing to refer to herself and WIlliams—that the selectmen would make “no appointments other than the Affordable Housing Committee, which unfortunately seems to be delayed again.”
“But I feel this is something that can be handed off to the new Board of Selectmen,” she said.
Williams said he was “guided by Dan Radman,” referring to the P&Z chair.
Moynihan said that “the chairman asked that we make appointments” and that he would “defer” to those wishes.
Corbet said she had contacted Radman, as well as P&Z Secretary Krista Neilson “and they weren’t aware of this, actually.”
When Moynihan said “yes they were,” Corbet said, “I’ll just tell you what I heard back from them. They appreciate it, but again just trying to follow the process here and this is an appointment that basically ends on December 1st, 2023. It makes no sense to do this.”
Moyinhan and Williams voted in favor of the P&Z appointments, with Corbet deferring.
The Board of Selectmen as currently constructed is next scheduled to meet Oct. 17.
“ I don’t want politics to get in the way of good governance “ Perhaps you should speak to Steve Karl and Penny Young about their false charade and self dealing with my audit committee nomination. Afraid I would do to a good a job and request internal auditing.
I’ve worked with Gail Lavielle on projects in the past and know she’d be terrific in this role.
I’m surprised Gail Lavielle wants to be on the Affordable Housing Committee. Didn’t she just move here last summer?
How about “someone” on the committee who might be an affordable housing advocate? I believe most who have throw their hats in the ring might bring a preconceived bias. Additionally, maybe “someone” who hasn’t already voiced an opinion on the CT 169 strong website or voted against all three applications might be a start.
The New Canaan political sentiment is widely known and the town has already spent over $500,000+ fighting a 30 year old state law!
An interesting source of data is Data.Ct.gov. It shows affordable housing for all 169 towns and cities in CT. Of the 169, only 30 are at the 10% requirement. Other than Stamford and Norwalk almost all of the others are former manufacturing cities. While the law may have been on the books for 30 years, it hasn’t been effective and won’t be in the current form. It’s not a NC issue, not a Fairfield County issue, and not an affluent community issue. While not doing anything won’t work, having huge complexes in limited space won’t work. Hopefully the AHC will be able to help.