News

‘I Frankly Have Had It’: Commissioner Pushes for Police Access to Video Cameras at New Canaan Schools

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A member of the volunteer body that oversees the Police Department said Tuesday that he wanted to reinvigorate a push for access to video cameras that monitor inside New Canaan schools. Police Commissioner Paul Foley asked for an update on “monitoring inside the schools” during the group’s regular meeting. Told by Police Chief Leon Krolikowski that “We don’t have access yet,” Foley asked, “Are we anywhere advancing that progress?”

According to Krolikowski, the superintendent of schools had promised a memo in response to one from NCPD but hadn’t produced it yet. “Could we ask him again to have a memo?” Foley said at the meeting, held in the New Canaan Police Department. “The Police Commission would like to see his memo at our next meeting.

Government

Citing Past Concerns, Town Approves July 21 to Labor Day Season for Pop Up Park

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Saying an originally requested two-month run was too long given opposition from some merchants and residents, New Canaan’s traffic authority on Tuesday night unanimously approved a July 21 to Labor Day (Sept. 3) summer season for the Pop Up Park at South and Elm downtown. Police Commissioner Paul Foley said that although he personally likes the Pop Up Park, a 9-week season starting July 4—what was formally proposed by the volunteer committee that runs it—would be “excessive” given the “outspoken” concerns of some business owners. “I like the concept of the park, I think it’s been fairly successful,” Foley said at the commission’s regular meeting, held in the New Canaan Police Department. “I just think closing it for two months is a bit excessive for everybody else who uses Elm Street and South Avenue.

News

New Canaan Police To Start Fundraising for Second K-9 Dog

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Town officials on Monday night voted unanimously to allow the New Canaan Police Department to start fundraising for a second K-9 dog. Some $75,000 must be raised to acquire the new dog, possibly a Labrador retriever, that focus on narcotics detection as well as the tracking of missing people, Chief Leon Krolikowski and Officer Shane Gibson told members of the Police Commission at their regular meeting. The current K-9 dog, Apollo the German shepherd, performs those tasks as well as patrol and apprehension, they said. A second dog would be used for more community relations—such as demonstrations at schools, churches and events—and would work on a different shift from Apollo and his handler, K-9 Officer David Rivera, they said. Gibson said he understood that Apollo is the department’s priority and “I am more than willing to try to raise the funds and put myself out there to get the money for this second dog.”

“And primarily what the second dog would be narcotics and tracking,” he said during the meeting, held at NCPD headquarters.

Business

Future of ‘Pop Up Park’ Uncertain After Some Merchants Voice Concerns

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After a handful of merchants voiced concerns about how the Pop Up Park at South Avenue and Elm Street affects traffic and business, members of the municipal body that oversees street closures in New Canaan said Wednesday night that they’ll take the feedback into consideration in deciding on the future of the downtown amenity. No immediate decision is needed regarding the Pop Up Park, which saw part of the South Avenue’s first block cordoned off as a pedestrian-only space—with tables, chairs, WiFi, planters, grass, fountain and events—from the July 15 Sidewalk Sale to Labor Day. However, approval from the Police Commission is needed each “offseason” to get the volunteer-run Pop Up Park in place. Launched five years ago, the town had approved an all-summer run in 2015, but the Pop Up Park didn’t run at all that year after some merchants raised concerns. During the commission’s regular meeting Wednesday, some of those who long have said the park creates problems that hurt the downtown and its businesses reiterated their concerns.

Government

Police Commission Votes 2-0 To Extend On-Street Parking on Main and Elm to Two Hours

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Municipal officials on Wednesday night voted unanimously to extend on-street parking limits in the center of downtown New Canaan to two hours. Changing to two-hour limits both the one-way stretch of Elm Street and a central piece of Main—both 90 minutes now—will not only give motorists more time to shop and dine, but also create more consistent parking times overall by bringing them in line with areas just beyond the “magic circle,” officials said during the Police Commission’s regular meeting. “I would go for it,” Commissioner Paul Foley said of the change, recommended last week by the Parking Commission. Foley and fellow Police Commissioner Sperry DeCew voted 2-0 to make the change. Chairman Stuart Sawabini was absent.