Government

Eyeing New Uses, Town Approves Funds To Restore, Repaint Colonnade at Mead Park

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Town officials have approved nearly $12,000 to enter into contracts with two area companies to clean and paint the marble Greek columns of the colonnade in Mead Park. A WPA project that originally had been a wading pool and was converted into a “victory garden” following World War II, the grassy colonnade area hosts community events such as the recent cherry blossom festival, an annual breakfast hosted by the New Canaan Beautification League and junior prom photo gatherings. Parks officials since last year have discussed ways to spruce it up so that the colonnade offers more uses. The Board of Selectmen at its most recent meeting approved an $8,780 contract with Norwalk-based Royal Restoration and $11,855 with Stamford’s Aladdin Services to clean up and paint the marble columns. “I think it’s money well spent,” First Selectman Rob Mallozzi said at the July 25 meeting, held at Town Hall.

Government

Town Approves Purchase of Pedestrian-Activated ‘Flashing Beacons’ Alerting Motorists to Foot Traffic at Weed and Elm

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Motorists traveling northbound on Weed Street soon will need to pay attention to a flashing beacon indicating that pedestrians have entered a crosswalk leading to a heavily used new sidewalk at the Elm Street intersection. Town officials last week approved the $16,600 purchase of new pedestrian-activated push-button beacons to alert motorists when people have entered the soon-to-be-striped crosswalks on foot. The funds are coming from a state grant that New Canaan put in for and received, which also paid for the new sidewalk along the west side of Weed, from Elm to Irwin Park, according to Joe Zagarenski, senior engineer in the Department of Public Works. “I understand this has the support of Traffic Calming and the Police Commission,” Zagarenski told members of the Board of Selectmen during their July 25 meeting, held at Town Hall. “These also have a 90 percent adherence rate, so they are very effective,” he said.

Business

Town To Purchase 24 New Recycling Bins for Downtown, Public Areas

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Town officials on Tuesday morning voted in favor of the $10,000 purchase of 24 new green metal recycling receptacles in New Canaan. The town by state mandate must have a recycling receptacle for every garbage bin placed in a public area, according to Don Smith, assistant superintendent of solid waste with the New Canaan Department of Public Works. Yet as of this week, Smith said he had counted 31 garbage bins around New Canaan and “more than half do not have a recycling bin,” Smith told members of the Board of Selectmen at their regular meeting, held at Town Hall. The town is purchasing the two dozen “slatted body outdoor metal waste receptacles” from Port Jefferson, N.Y.-based Global Industrial. “They are gorgeous,” First Selectman Rob Mallozzi said.

Government

Mallozzi Will Not Seek Primary; First Selectman Congratulates Moynihan, Republican Nominees

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First Selectman Rob Mallozzi said Monday that he will not seek a primary for Republican endorsement for New Canaan’s highest elected office. In an email to NewCanaanite.com, Mallozzi said he is “presently hard at work doing the Town’s business and also working on my future plans.”

“I know a primary was going forthcoming had I won on Tuesday. However, I could never subject my family, and our community, to any more of the negative rhetoric and disharmony a protracted election season could bring should I have followed the path set by other candidates. I am very comfortable with my decision.”

A three-term incumbent, Mallozzi lost at the July 18 Republican caucus to challenger and Town Councilman Kevin Moynihan by a 612-602 margin. In his email, he thanked “all that came out and voted last Tuesday.”

“And I am buoyed by the wonderful outreach and encouragement I have received ever since,” he said.

Government

Republican Officials: 10-Vote Margin at Caucus Does Not Meet Standard for Recount

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Noting that the 10-vote margin in a vote for New Canaan’s highest elected office does not meet the standard for a recount, officials said there will be no such ballot review following the July 18 Republican caucus. Incumbent First Selectman Rob Mallozzi, who lost to challenger and Town Council member Kevin Moynihan 612-602 at the caucus, had requested the recount two days later. Yet, as Republican Town Committee Chairman Patrick Donovan cited in a response to the request, under the rules adopted by the Republican caucus, votes will be recounted “in the event that five (5) or fewer votes separate the top two candidates for any office.”

In the emailed response forwarded to NewCanaanite.com, Donovan also pointed out that the caucus is a temporary assembly of registered Republicans in New Canaan, while the Republican Town Committee itself is an entirely separate organization. “The RTC, its officers and the Moderator of the Caucus do not have the power to overturn the rules that were adopted by the Caucus of New Canaan’s Republican Electors on July 18, 2017,” the response from Donovan said. It continued: “The Caucus Rules were distributed to all candidates prior to the Caucus, posted and made available at the Caucus prior and during the Caucus.