Government

Parking Permit Fees at New Canaan Lots to Stay Flat

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Saying New Canaan’s rail riders have endured enough pain at the hands of Metro-North, town officials decided Friday to keep parking permit fees flat at town lots. The New Canaan Parking Commission had been “somewhat divided” in making its recommendation to the Board of Selectmen for fiscal year 2015, but “ultimately voted to keep everything flat,” Parking Bureau Supervisor Karen Miller said during a special meeting of the selectmen, held at the New Canaan Police Department. Here’s the fee schedule for annual permits:

Railroad/Lumberyard: $540
Richmond Hill: $432
Talmadge Hill: $432
Park Street: $396
Locust Street: $384
Telephone: $396
Center: $120

Selectman Beth Jones—recalling Metro-North’s difficulties, which in the past 12 months have included a collision in Fairfield, derailment with fatalities in Riverdale and seemingly endless weather-related delays and cancelations—said the rail line “has had a hard year and we did raise [the permit rates] last year.”

At least one New York City commuter agrees. Selectman Nick Williams said: “I have been a 20-year-plus commuter and I have never seen anything like this. This is an absolute disaster.”

The selectmen approved the fees unanimously.

Around Town

New Canaan Library, YMCA to Open at Noon

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By Terry and Michael Dinan

NEW CANAAN—With public schools and municipal offices closed for the day with the storm that hit New Canaan overnight, New Canaan Library and YMCA will open at 12 p.m. Wednesday, according to notices on their websites. Snow has given way to freezing rain in New Canaan, and the National Weather Service is calling for up to three inches of ice accumulation here. Franco’s Wine Store via Twitter says it’s open while warning residents about how difficult the roads are. The YMCA says its group exercise and youth classes are cancelled. Metro North said at 8:20 a.m. Wednesday that service on the New Canaan line is was suspended due to power problems near Talmadge Hill station.