Government

Town Council Approves 2 Percent Increase To Budget for Fiscal Year 2017

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Praising the diligence of municipal workers and volunteers, as well as district officials for the granular level of detail made available in their own spending plan, the Town Council on Wednesday unanimously approved a total budget for next fiscal year of $141,121,088. The first budget passed since the widely discussed Audit Committee was put in place, it marks a 2.09 percent year-over-year increase, including a 3.66 percent bump in the Board of Education’s operating budget (driven mainly by health insurance costs). For the first time in recent memory, no one spoke during the public comments section of the final budget hearing. Town Council Vice Chairman Steve Karl publicly thanked the Police and Fire Departments, New Canaan Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Department of Public Works, including its highway division, New Canaan Library and others. Addressing the Board of Education—several members of which attended the meeting with Superintendent of Schools Dr. Bryan Luizzi and Director of Finance and Operations Dr. Jo-Ann Keating, among other administrators—Karl called their budget presentation “amazing.”

“You worked real hard, you guys came prepared and had the most information we have ever had, so thank you for that,” Karl said during the meeting, held at Town Hall.

Around Town

Did You Hear … ?

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Congratulations to New Canaanites Jan and Tom Stadler, whose new granddaughter, Katherine (Kate) Florence Stadler, was born March 2 to Lauren (nee Striffler) Stadler and Sean Stadler of Stamford. Lauren’s parents, Anne and Steve, also live in Stamford. Lauren is a teacher in Stamford and Sean is an architect in New York City. Sean is a 2001 New Canaan High School graduate where he played football and baseball. Tom Stadler is known to many as Administrative Officer of New Canaan in the First Selectman’s office and the various other activities he has been involved in such as New Canaan Baseball/Softball, the New Canaan Community Foundation, Family Fourth, and New Canaan Chamber of Commerce.

Around Town

New Canaan Chamber of Commerce Adds Eight Directors

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The New Canaan Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the addition of eight new members to its Board of Directors as well the creation of a new, dedicated board composed of past chamber presidents that will help oversee the organization’s charitable foundation. Nimble, engaged and innovative, the new chamber directors form an exciting group of business and organization leaders in town, according to Tucker Murphy, executive director of the chamber. “Our mission is ‘connecting community with commerce,’ and we kept those four words very much top of mind in putting together this board,” Murphy said. “Our new directors not only represent successful local businesses stories—they’re also deeply involved in our town. Beyond participating in chamber events such as the Sidewalk Sales, Holiday Stroll and Taste of the Town, they actively fundraise for community agencies, volunteer with service organizations and connect with each other for their mutual benefit.”

The newly appointed directors each have started serving a 3-year term, and they are:

David E. Hoyle Esq.—Hawthorne, Ackerly & Dorrance
Lisa Oldham—New Canaan Library
Mamoune Tazi—Le Boudoir
Anna Simons—New Canaan Pediatric Dentistry
Michael Dinan—NewCanaanite.com
Ben & Elaine Young—New Canaan Dance Academy
Sara Koch—Oxygen Fitness
Kinsey Ferguson—Vineyard Vines

Helping to acclimate them are three current directors who now form a new executive committee for the chamber: Steve Risbridger of Reynolds & Rowella is president, Tom Stadler of the Town of New Canaan First Selectman’s Office is treasurer and HamletHub’s Rachel Lampen is secretary.

Around Town

‘Pretty Good Doggone Show’: Waveny Fireworks Revenue Up $20,000

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Final figures from the New Canaan Family Fourth show a year-over-year increase of $20,000 in revenue—a figure that covers losses from the prior year and puts the volunteer-run event on solid footing, officials say. Anchored by the Waveny fireworks, the popular gathering garnered around $75,000, according to Tom Stadler, who serves as chairman of the Family Fourth Committee. A combination of rising costs the prior year—due mainly to police seeking straight pay instead of a comp day in 2014 (an $18,000 cost)—and a drop in family passes, had put the Family Fourth fund in a precarious state, prompting Stadler and the committee to push for greater community support. This year, Stadler said, all but three police opted to “bank” the day, which helped control costs, and greater numbers of residents seem to have purchased passes at $35—up from $30, Stadler said. “Right now I feel very good about [the health of the fund],” Stadler said.

News

Letter: ‘Thank You’ for Supporting the New Canaan Family Fourth at Waveny

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On behalf of the Family Fourth Committee, I would like to thank all who supported the 35th Annual New Canaan Family Fourth Celebration at Waveny Park by purchasing an entrance pass and attending this Independence Day celebration. All week the weather forecast presented a challenge for us, but we ended up with a beautiful day and clear skies. The fireworks show was spectacular. It was another memorable 4th of July celebration……an outstanding evening of family fun, wonderful music, great food and a fantastic fireworks display. Your financial support makes this great New Canaan tradition possible; whether you drove in or walked in, thank you for buying an entrance pass.